MichiganCardinal

They announced a Ford Field white out about a month ago. We will see how well the fanbase can read.

Brock Wright to IR. Whiteside back on the roster. Awosika is downgraded to out. Likely looking at Decker-Colon-Glasgow-Ratledge-Sewell tonight. Malik Cunningham was elevated from the practice squad. Will be curious to see if they activate him and if he's used in a trick play package tonight or if it's a red herring / emergency replacement for ASB.

A good stat proving what I am trying to say, the Lions under Campbell are 14-5 against the spread after a loss under Campbell. Even better, they are 7-1 against the spread following a loss where they were the favorite. The one loss was back in Week #5 of 2022 when they got shut out by the Patriots after that stupid 48-45 loss to the Seahawks. It's just incredibly unlike them to not come out punching after a loss, especially a loss where Vegas pegged them as the better team.

I'm not going to disagree about the differences between this year's team and the '23 and '24 teams. Short of both lines figuring some stuff out rather quickly, this team is not going to win a Super Bowl, which is not something I thought about either the '23 or the '24 teams until the moment they were officially eliminated from the playoffs. Now, I don't think it's completely out of the question that they do figure some stuff out rather quickly and maybe make a run, particularly after they get Mahogany back. It's not as if we've never seen this offensive line perform at a high level, they did it this year against Chicago, Baltimore, and Cleveland, and all three of them have good to great defensive fronts. Likewise with the defensive line against good offensive lines in Baltimore and Tampa. We've seen this team play at a championship-caliber level at all levels, though not since at least Washington. Ultimately, I don't think they're completely incapable of returning to it. But, none of that was really my point. I'm only making a point about this game being played tonight. Despite the line troubles, I don't think this team is about to roll over and die. Despite what I've seen of this team against Philly, New York, and Green Bay, I just don't think it's in their DNA. And while I think the Dallas offense is rather explosive, I think their defense isn't very good and that they aren't particularly well coached. They have given up the second most points per game to opponents this year behind only Cincinnati, and we saw what our offense did to Cincy, even with Gio Manu making his debut as a starter.

The last three years, every time you have counted this team out -- really counted them out -- they come back punching. I don't think spirits have been this low in the fanbase since probably when they were 1-6 in 2022 and everyone was ready to restart the coaching search. I don't think they're quite the complete package -- offense, defense, special teams, and coaching -- sufficient for them to say "just kidding" about what we have seen for the last month and go on a tear, finish 5-0, win the North, and go on a postseason run. I think they have the capacity to do that and the talent to do that, but I think for whatever reason (mostly the trenches) things just aren't clicking right now. They need to take it a game at a time. That said, I do think we see an inspired performance tonight. This is where Campbell has thrived. Primetime, under the lights, after a week of hearing a lot of very loud doubters. If the Cowboys aren't prepared to take an early punch, it could get ugly. But, I do think they will be prepared to take that punch, will have some motivation of their own after losing by 38 in Jerry World last year, and will make it an exciting game. Detroit 31 Dallas 27

I refuse to post about the draft yet, but ask me again in like 36 hours and that sentiment may have changed.

Could be better, could be worse. ASB a game-time decision. Meanwhile: For the love of everything, line up Hutch against Nathan Thomas and DO SOMETHING.

You would think that firing your coach prematurely would at least give you a leg up on hiring a replacement. Plan A was Cignetti. Plan B was Rhule. Plan C was panic. It would be pretty funny if they go back to Bill O'Brien. He's really impressing with his 2-10 record at Boston College. Whoever they get is screwed though. They have a cupcake schedule next year that Franklin would have killed. Michigan and USC are their hardest opponents. He probably would have had them 10-2 or 11-1 and right on the playoff bubble. Instead, their recruiting class is dead last in FBS and they will still probably go around 6-6. Should probably consider keeping the buyout low on whoever they hire.

This is actually pretty remarkable as analytics goes. I know their DNA is shutting down the run, playing sticky coverage, and forcing 3rd and long... but why would any defensive back want to come here when you're just leaving them on an island? This is a roster management problem, not a talent one. Not to mention, the run defense hasn't been as stout as it needs to be if that's going to be your plan.

So is Laken Tomlinson. Holmes needs to assemble the Lions Draft Pick Dream Team to break this curse once and for all.

The problem will be protection. The Dallas pass rush is decent. The offense will need to find quick looks, utilize misdirection, and for the sake of all that is holy establish the run to allow for some effective play action. And so OF COURSE Penei hurt his shoulder at practice and was an NP today while Awosika hurt his foot and was an LP. I WANT OFF THIS RIDE!!

They moved the ball fairly well against Green Bay despite ASB going out on the first drive. 24 points should have been enough if the defense wasn't so bad. Dallas has a worse secondary than Green Bay.

After the week this team has had, they should really just open a can of whoop ass on the Cowboys. With every reason in the world to count them out, come out and win this game 41-10 or something.

The stakes in the game aren't there any more. It feels intuitively like it is worth less to the average fan who does not care who wins. I'm pretty sure I won't watch, even though I will likely watch most of the playoffs. I'm sure millions will, but it doesn't seem as must-watch as it once was. In 2023, let alone pre-2014, a game between #1 12-0 Ohio State and #2 12-0 Indiana would be massive. One team makes it, the other doesn't(?) Or should they anyway? The stories write themselves. Now they're just playing for maybe a first round bye. They will very likely both get one regardless. Could you blame Day or Cignetti if they rested some starters in the second half? I don't think they will, an undefeated season and Big Ten Championship are on the line. But what do those mean in the grand scheme of things when just playing in the game is enough to compete for a national championship? And when any rematch would be played at a neutral site anyway? I don't think NBC sells this game unless they are worried about the money they would make on the game itself.

To be abundantly clear, I'm not one of these fair-weather knee-jerk fans calling for firings. That's some of the dumbest nonsense on the internet today, and there is a lot of dumb nonsense on the internet. But I do think it's fair to be critical - or at least frustrated - at a second consecutive season where the Lions should be contending for a Super Bowl, only to see the season start coming off the rails as injuries pile up.

Moseley I'll accept as a boom-bust kind of free agent acquisition who wasn't meant to play a significant role, but he was then re-signed to the team for the following year. He was meant to see the field. I imagine it's hard to coach a team when you have a spot, even a role spot, earmarked for a player who then never makes it onto the field and who you can't rely on being out there. Davenport I'll push back on though. He was signed to be the edge across from Hutch last year, and then re-signed for the same role this year. And he's played in what, five games total? And was totally absent on Thanksgiving. His absence has caused guys like Muhammed, Lacy, and Wheat to be forced into playing time, despite not being very high quality NFL players. Muhammed has been riding the NFL practice squad rotation for six teams, while Lacy and Wheat were picked up off of waivers after being released elsewhere just this year. And other times they're forcing a square peg into a round hole playing Alim at DE. Fans are usually wrong, myself included, but it's hard to deny this team would be better with a real pass-rushing threat (who is consistently on the field) across from Hutchinson. It feels like that's been the case ever since they drafted him. Maybe that can be Hassanein, when he gets healthy again. Frustrating.

Levi's back issues were a known thing from his days at Washington, although he missed no games and no one predicted they would be such a huge problem in the NFL. Paschal had his melanoma diagnosis at Kentucky. Again fair to point out that it didn't cost him any games over three years, but that was also something the Lions knew of and selected him anyway. I do think Holmes tends to overlook the injury histories of players when he sees their talent outweigh the risk. And that's great when it works out (see: Levi in 2024, Jamo). But for as many guys as it's worked out for, it feels like twice as many never actually see the field (see: Levi in 2025, Davenport, Moseley, Rakestraw).

Ehhhh I don’t really fault the Lions for that one. He’s only got 90 pass rush snaps because you might as well have 10 players on the field if they run it at him. A team like Dallas can afford to have a player who only contributes 5-10 snaps per game. But he won’t be on the field if Detroit can gain five yards between 1st and 2nd down.

I understand on an intellectual level Holmes’ philosophy on injured players. “Everyone is injured in the NFL, if you can get an ‘Injury prone’ talent in the 2nd round who would otherwise be a 1st round talent, do it.” Same for free agency but with money. And then just rotate everyone and try to keep them all on the field. I get it. It makes sense. But you’re now looking at a second season derailed by many of those injury prone guys not being on the field. Levi and Paschal saw a combined zero snaps this season. Davenport has been a complete non-factor over two seasons. I’m not going to Monday Morning QB the NFL Draft, especially not with the hits Holmes has had. But two 2nd round replacements on the defensive line who actually see the field would make a world of difference about now.

What I get for being optimistic

With how doom and gloom it's been around here (and yes, how mid they have been playing), it's easy to miss that they are only 2 games out of the 1-seed with a tiebreaker in hand over the 1-seed. To be clear, I'm not saying that the Lions are going to be the 1-seed. But it's not as if anybody is lighting the world on fire in the NFC right now. Every time you think there is a clear front runner, they drop a game they shouldn't. If the defense returns to how they played early in the season and the offense can score 24 points per game, they'll likely beat the Cowboys, Steelers, and Vikings. Rams would likely be a one-possession game, one way or the other. You beat the Bears by 30 last time you saw them. It hasn't been pretty, but they've done enough so far to be on the graphic. From December on, it's just about who is going to get hot. But to your point about talent, if you asked 14 NFC teams right now whether they'd rather play the Lions or Bears in a must-win game this Sunday, I bet you get 14 "Bears" without much thought. As you said, this team is one of the most talented in the NFL, it's just not clicking right this second. Feels like they need to open a can of whoop ass against the Cowboys to right the ship.

Coaching buyouts and contracts are out of bleeping control.

They’re no more legit than the 2024 Vikings. Analytics don’t lie. Analytics call them one of the worst 9-3 teams in NFL history. They’re overdue for an ass kicking of their own.

LSU is going to bankrupt their state through head coaching buyouts. When Kiffin goes 8-4 in 2029, how much will they have to pay him?

Offense looked identical to last year. Rushing wasn’t good but got a few plays. Took advantage of one turnover, compared to two last year. Passing was nonexistent. Defense was worse than last year, in part due to Ohio State having an actual game plan. But ultimately nobody paid $10MM for this performance. Underwood has to be so much better.