number20

I 100% agree with you sagnam that Johnson was special - it sucks he’s gone - but some people out there act as if the guy invented football. And while Morton and Campbell had plenty of dogsh*t play calls this season, I honestly don’t believe Ben could’ve done much better with that depleted, patchwork OL of inexperienced rookies and 2nd-year guys, practice squad guys, and broken down veterans. Set aside all the noise about scheme and game planning and play calling… the Lions simply weren’t winning their 1-1s on the IOL, game after game. Most of the time it didn’t matter what plays were called - nothing works if the entire interior gets routinely manhandled. Look at Chicago’s OL last season. One of the league’s worst. Caleb Williams was sacked 3rd most in NFL history, and their running game was near the bottom of the league. Ben had money to spend… and look where they are now. Ben's good but he has lots of help

Johnson didn't prop up anything - he cleaned house. Shelton, Jenkins, and Davis from last year's starting OL are all gone. He completely rebuilt a new one, and it's definitely not average. 3rd in pass blocking (86.8 efficiency), 4th in run blocking. Ranked 2nd overall by PFF in December. The interior is elite with Thuney and Dalman. Ben Johnson was spoiled last year with an all-world veteran center, Decker mostly still playing at a high level, Sewell, solid guards, and depth. With so much talent, athleticism, and especially experience, he could run just about any play he wanted. And it would usually work. He knew he'd have to recreate something similar in Chicago for his offense to work, so he did

They do. And I wonder how long Chicago's expensive, off-the-rack OL will hold up (it's not exactly a youth movement). Still, Ben Johnson falling into their laps was galactically stupid luck. That franchise is so dysfunctional top-to-bottom - they have no clue what they’re doing. Ben stepped in and singlehandedly turned that entire thing around while they all stood by picking their noses. Beefing up the OL was so obviously his doing. Without Johnson, it’s doubtful those players get signed because the OL was never a priority with Poles. The guy had the second-cheapest OL in the league last year. It'll be interesting to see how deep of a run they make in the playoffs

Pains me to say, but I actually think the Bears might be the new Lions. You can see what Ben’s doing. He now has his dominant bully OL, and I’m predicting he spends a high pick on a game-breaking running back next year. He knows what Gibb’s did for the Lions - there’s no way he’s settling for Swift. He already added his LaPorta. He wants his Sonic and Knuckles, He’s clearly building what he had in Detroit

Ben Johnson was smart to choose the Bears. We all know he needs an elite OL for his offense to work (and multiple quality TEs). He had that Detroit, and Chicago offered him the resources to go buy one for his new team. Thuney $51 million ($33 guaranteed), Dalman $42 million ($28 guaranteed), Jackson $54 million ($30 guaranteed)… he built a juggernaut OL that stayed healthy most of the year and should be a fixture for the next few. And he inherited a young RT who’s become a solid player. It was the whole key to their success this year. Unfortunately the Lions just don’t an open checkbook like that. MB’s right

After next week's blowout loss to the Bears, the Lions will finish the season last in the division with a losing record. That SB window has definitely closed

Yay. The big battle for last place

A big part of that was Branch. His importance gets routinely overlooked. You saw yesterday what the run defense is without him. It's like taking a queen off your chessboard. I doubt the Steelers rip both of those 45yd TD runs with a healthy Branch in the secondary. He and Jack Campbell were pretty formidable together. I think the offense will be fine. Something needs to be done about the defense as a unit though. Yes the back end is completely drained, but we're out of excuses for the first two levels. They've been relatively healthy the last few games, no starters or key players out. Something's not working. And I have a feeling Holmes is just going to run it all back

I figured they'd struggle a bit as well, but... not facing a realistic chance in December of finishing under .500

Neither do I

Of course not. It was a questionable call. Sure looks like he got pushed into the safety by Porter, or at least steered into him. Seems more incidental than anything worthy of a flag. Certainly enough to warrant a no-call

Congratulations Dan Campbell. You've officially been Lionized

Picked to win the North by many. Super Bowl pick by some. And they likely won't even make the playoffs. Even the most cynical, negative Lions fans didn't see this coming.

Getting their sh*t pushed in at home by the Vikings and Packers was the difference this year. Division was theirs for the taking

Fitting