Week Nine: Minnesota Vikings (3-4) @ Detroit Lions (5-2)

[Sports_Freak]

I just hope I never have to listen to Tom Terriffic do another Lions game. The guy is absolutely horrible.

[TP_Fan]

19 minutes ago, NYLion said:

I have to call you out for this because usually I ignore your ridiculous rants, this is a completely moronic take and I know that's your thing but to call Dan Campbell a loser? You deserve the 2008 Lions or to be a Browns fan which is fitting for your posting style.

I didn’t call Campbell a loser.  Morton and Fipp.  

[Sports_Freak]

4 minutes ago, GalagaGuy said:

Can we trade for their OC?  

Love or hate our coaches, we're stuck with them all season. Not too many contenders fire their coordinators mid-season.

[Sports_Freak]

21 minutes ago, NYLion said:

I have to call you out for this because usually I ignore your ridiculous rants, this is a completely moronic take and I know that's your thing but to call Dan Campbell a loser? You deserve the 2008 Lions or to be a Browns fan which is fitting for your posting style.

That's why so many people have this idiot on ignore. His posts only show up when somebody responds to him. He ruins the game for most people with his constant complaining.

[GalagaGuy]

2 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

Love or hate our coaches, we're stuck with them all season. Not too many contenders fire their coordinators mid-season.

Campbell took over offensive play calling back in 2021 and said he didn't see it as being a big deal.  Just saying.  

[Jason_R]

2 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

Love or hate our coaches, we're stuck with them all season. Not too many contenders fire their coordinators mid-season.

The defense did not play all that badly today. Arnold was back and had a big play. The team had two terrible roughing the passer penalties called against them. Those hurt.

I am not sure what the problem was with special teams, but there were a few lineman injured, and I wonder if mahogany would have been in on that field goal attempt that got blocked.

The biggest problem is offensively. I wonder if Dan will do what he did with Anthony Lynn, and start being more hands-on about what he expects the offense to look like I hope he does.

[Motown Bombers]

 

[GalagaGuy]

I want to see someone ask Bates what happened on that blocked FG.  The ball hit the dude in the forearm and it's not like he leaped 6 feet into the air so I have to assume Bates screwed up and kicked it way too low.  

[lordstanley]

2 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

 

 

 

[Jason_R]

3 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

 

 

[Sports_Freak]

1 minute ago, Jason_R said:

The defense did not play all that badly today. Arnold was back and had a big play. The team had two terrible roughing the passer penalties called against them. Those hurt.

I am not sure what the problem was with special teams, but there were a few lineman injured, and I wonder if mahogany would have been in on that field goal attempt that got blocked.

The biggest problem is offensively. I wonder if Dan will do what he did with Anthony Lynn, and start being more hands-on about what he expects the offense to look like I hope he does.

Yeah, with all that pressure, more sweeps and screen passes should have been called for. Just dropping Goff back in a pocket that kept breaking down wasn't too impressive. Just being stubborn and not making the necessary adjustments. 

[Motor City Sonics]

Everybody just calm down.  They were never going 15-2 again and you know what?   Too many people thought this would be an easy game.  I was worried about that because I think maybe the team thought that too.   I jokingly picked Vikings 34-13 today but I honestly thought they might win today.  

   Learned a lesson today

But also - this is the NFL and you have to bring your A-game every game. 

The Panthers are not better than the Packers and the Vikings are not better than the Lions, but they were today

The Giants beat the Eagles a few weeks ago, they aren't better.    The Falcons are not better than the Bills, but they beat 'em.  

 

Two positives out of this

1 - A weakness or two was exposed just before the trade deadline and that's important to know NOW.    O-Line is good, but inconsistent.  It's tough to get good O-lIne players at the deadline, but they do need some help there.  

2 - Some losses are wake-up calls and this was one

I do believe the streak of not losing two in a row will stay intact.   The Lions will be an angry and hungry team against Washington.    I have very little doubt that they'll lose that one.  

We're kind of lucky that the Packers lost today, and as far as angling for the #1 seed and all that.   I don't know, but I almost think it's better for the Lions to have some doubters going into the postseason.  I think they eat that up.   

 

Plus, there are people who don't know how they are going to acquire food right now.  So it's silly to let something as trivial as this ruin your evening.  

[holygoat]

2 hours ago, GalagaGuy said:

I want to see someone ask Bates what happened on that blocked FG.  The ball hit the dude in the forearm and it's not like he leaped 6 feet into the air so I have to assume Bates screwed up and kicked it way too low.  

Yes, he kicked it low. No idea if there was a problem with the spot or if Bates just kicked it poorly.

[Shinzaki]

You don't block...you don't win. 

At leadt the Pack lost too..

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQkbjAqjurZ/?igsh=MXhuYTF1cG5qbzNuMg==

[Jason_R]

“John Morton’s offense has now delivered the two least successful offensive performances at Ford Field of the entire Dan Campbell era in the last two games.”

[MichiganCardinal]

I don’t feel like the issue with Morton is the blitz (as was said in a reply to the tweet Jason_R posted), it’s just as if he doesn’t have any clue how to use his weapons.

Maybe the blitz makes everything harder when your offensive line isn’t playing well, but Morton is calling plays like he’s still coaching the Jets or Broncos. You have so many weapons that can score on any given play. Let them do what they do best.

[romad1]

The Commanders got butchered by injuries.  This game is going to be two ambulances racing. 

[Jimbo]

Great post.  I totally agree.  This is the NFL and there are games like this all the time.  This just seems like one of the worst games I saw them play in a while, especially after a bye week.  Not sure if it was not being prepared, over confidence in the players, or just a combination of stuff.  I definitely am not as confident in this team after this game although that's the NFL.  Hopefully this is another one of those wake up games.  Biggest concern is definitely the OL.  Would love to see them add a couple of depth guys at the deadline.

 

 

12 hours ago, Motor City Sonics said:

Everybody just calm down.  They were never going 15-2 again and you know what?   Too many people thought this would be an easy game.  I was worried about that because I think maybe the team thought that too.   I jokingly picked Vikings 34-13 today but I honestly thought they might win today.  

   Learned a lesson today

But also - this is the NFL and you have to bring your A-game every game. 

The Panthers are not better than the Packers and the Vikings are not better than the Lions, but they were today

The Giants beat the Eagles a few weeks ago, they aren't better.    The Falcons are not better than the Bills, but they beat 'em.  

 

Two positives out of this

1 - A weakness or two was exposed just before the trade deadline and that's important to know NOW.    O-Line is good, but inconsistent.  It's tough to get good O-lIne players at the deadline, but they do need some help there.  

2 - Some losses are wake-up calls and this was one

I do believe the streak of not losing two in a row will stay intact.   The Lions will be an angry and hungry team against Washington.    I have very little doubt that they'll lose that one.  

We're kind of lucky that the Packers lost today, and as far as angling for the #1 seed and all that.   I don't know, but I almost think it's better for the Lions to have some doubters going into the postseason.  I think they eat that up.   

 

Plus, there are people who don't know how they are going to acquire food right now.  So it's silly to let something as trivial as this ruin your evening.  

 

[Jason_R]

Can we get back to play action please?

[Mr.TaterSalad]

 

[Mr.TaterSalad]

1 hour ago, Jason_R said:

Can we get back to play action please?

You have to be able to run the ball first and this offensive line yesterday gave them no opportunity to do so.

[RatkoVarda]

2 units played like crap, and they were just a Monty fumble and a FG "block" away from pulling it out. still a really talented team. Morton is going to get sidelined if he cannot figure out how to use these weapons.

[MichiganCardinal]

15 hours ago, Motor City Sonics said:

Everybody just calm down.  They were never going 15-2 again and you know what?   Too many people thought this would be an easy game.  I was worried about that because I think maybe the team thought that too.   I jokingly picked Vikings 34-13 today but I honestly thought they might win today.  

It's not so much that they lost to a well-coached divisional opponent as it is how they lost. The Vikings were laying 9.5 yesterday. That's the largest upset spread-wise in Campbell's tenure. They haven't lost a game they were favored to win by 8+ since Thanksgiving 2023 against the Packers, when Love played out of his mind. No one on the Vikings played out of their mind yesterday.

The offense played like ****. Particularly the offensive line. They looked completely mystified as to the Brian Flores defense. The special teams unit got completely clowned.

That's frustrating, and it shouldn't happen in November. Now, no one should be hitting the panic button by any means, but this is a game you look back on and want back if you're a game back on the Packers in December needing help.

[Jason_R]

1 hour ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

You have to be able to run the ball first and this offensive line yesterday gave them no opportunity to do so.

There is no rule that says you have to have a certain number of rushes or yards per carry before you use play action. This is a team identity question. This offense has no identity under Morton. 

[Motown Bombers]

I wouldn’t be opposed to experimenting one game with Goff as the play caller.