Week Seventeen: Detroit Lions (8-7) @ Minnesota Vikings (7-8)

[number20]

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

[Sports_Freak]

40 minutes ago, RatkoVarda said:

if a team lead by Matt Patricia played like this, people would be calling for his immediate dismissal

Dan's built up a lot of goodwill and I am not calling for his head, but this was a gutless performance

Calling for MCDC or Holmes dismissal would be like spitting into the wind. Unless they quit, their job is safe for at least a few more seasons. And our window is still wide open, there's a lot of talent to work with for a new OC. We should have our pick of coordinators.

[Sports_Freak]

6 minutes ago, number20 said:

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

Disagree. Totally.

[lordstanley]

4D chess. 

 

[Sports_Freak]

21 minutes ago, Hongbit said:

I’m still on board with Dan Campbell.  I trust that he will make changes and get this team back on track.  That being said, he was ****ing terrible this year.   Many reasons the team failed but he needs to take a solid share of the blame.   

I really don't wanna see him calling plays. He's an excellent motivator but calling plays may be too much for him. Too much on his plate.

[Sports_Freak]

3 minutes ago, lordstanley said:

4D chess. 

 

2nd coming of the Wayne Fontes years, making the playoffs every other year. 😅😅

[lordstanley]

13 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

I really don't wanna see him calling plays. He's an excellent motivator but calling plays may be too much for him. Too much on his plate.

The defense completely fell apart after he starting play offensive plays. Coincidence? Of course the injuries to Arnold, Joseph and Branch hurt, but maybe he had to neglect the defense somewhat.

[buddha]

they lost because their players arent good enough or arent playing well enough.

it happens.

the rams were **** two years ago and are now one of the best in the league.  same could happen to the lions next year.

but what built their team - offensive line dominance - is over.  they need some major talent additions.  and no, brad, that doesnt mean we trade up for a kid from zimbabwe in round 3 hoping he can play 4 years from now.

[Jason_R]

It was a disaster of an offseason, losing both coordinators and their all pro center after the draft. And it was a disaster of a season, starting on the offensive side of the ball. 

Morton cannot come back as OC. Maybe you demote him to pass game coordinator but he can’t come back as OC. Especially since every talented and available OC candidate will want the job.

I’d like to see them hire a retired HC with defensive experience to mentor Sheppard. 

[Jason_R]

3 minutes ago, buddha said:

they lost because their players arent good enough or arent playing well enough.

it happens.

the rams were **** two years ago and are now one of the best in the league.  same could happen to the lions next year.

but what built their team - offensive line dominance - is over.  they need some major talent additions.  and no, brad, that doesnt mean we trade up for a kid from zimbabwe in round 3 hoping he can play 4 years from now.

Zeitler was an underrated loss. They need to sign a vet. 

[MichiganCardinal]

33 minutes ago, number20 said:

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

Finishing last is fine. Jets, Titans, and Cardinals next season.

The window is not closed. I think that’s silly.

[MichiganCardinal]

3 minutes ago, Jason_R said:

Zeitler was an underrated loss. They need to sign a vet. 

My favorite part of the 2023 line was that it felt like they had six starting linemen, because of Glasgow’s versatility off the bench.

There were times this year it felt like a one man staff.

[buddha]

the idea that they can survive with just draft picks and undrafted free agents isnt going to cut it.  they simply havent brought in enough cheap talent in the last two drafts.

holmes' first three drafts built a great foundation for a 15 win team undone by injury, but the last two have been subpar and its hurting them.

again, it happens, but the vibe around the lions shifted from plucky underdog to spoiled, entitled, and cocky.  do i need another press conference where brad calls out reporters about where he was right?  do we always need to promote from within?  to take our udfa's and assume they can always be the "next man up"?

time for some soul searching in allen park.

 

[Sports_Freak]

The top seeds in both the NFC and AFC last season aren't even making the playoffs this season. True parity...

[Shinzaki]

OT and DE at the top of the draft.  S and TE after that

[Nate7474]

This team/organization is nowhere close to done. Their schedule was brutal this year and injuries piled up in specific positions. You add that to being to inexperienced along the line and it doomed their season. I have no doubt that they could run it back healthy next year and probably win the division. I do think Holmes will make the needed roster changes even if we don’t always agree with him and Campbell will make changes to his staff. 

[Nate7474]

3 minutes ago, Shinzaki said:

OT and DE at the top of the draft.  S and TE after that

Linebacker could be a big need if Anzalone isn’t back, which I don’t think he will be. 

[Shinzaki]

2 minutes ago, Nate7474 said:

Linebacker could be a big need if Anzalone isn’t back, which I don’t think he will be. 

True..I think Anzalone took a step back this year..he may want a change of scenery 

[Jason_R]

13 minutes ago, Shinzaki said:

True..I think Anzalone took a step back this year..he may want a change of scenery 

He is not coming back. Makes too much. And they may have to sign two safeties. 

[Mr.TaterSalad]

37 minutes ago, Shinzaki said:

OT and DE at the top of the draft.  S and TE after that

I don't think they see the need at DE as most in the fanbase do. They really seem to like Marcus Davenport for some reason, even though it's been 3 years since he's shown any kind of productivity on ur field. I agree it's a huge need, but do they? 

[Mr.TaterSalad]

1 hour ago, buddha said:

the idea that they can survive with just draft picks and undrafted free agents isnt going to cut it.  they simply havent brought in enough cheap talent in the last two drafts.

holmes' first three drafts built a great foundation for a 15 win team undone by injury, but the last two have been subpar and its hurting them.

again, it happens, but the vibe around the lions shifted from plucky underdog to spoiled, entitled, and cocky.  do i need another press conference where brad calls out reporters about where he was right?  do we always need to promote from within?  to take our udfa's and assume they can always be the "next man up"?

time for some soul searching in allen park.

 

Admitting you are wrong is one of the harder things to do in life. Hard because it sucks to be wrong about something and have to acknowledge it. But also hard because of the psychology of the human ego and mind. Some people lack the capacity go admit they are wrong because their ego has them jaded and certain about their decisions. For others, they may see what they are doing is wrong but are to arrogant, afraid, or proud to admit they are wrong.

I don't know if any of this applies to Brad, Dan, or the front office. This offseason will tell us for sure. As you said, they need to do some soul searching and reevaluate their plan of action as far as roster construction goes. They need to recognize the mistakes they've made in talent evaluation in the draft. They need to recognize how aggressive they've been in trading up and that it hasn't always worked. In some cases, it's been to their detriment. They need to understand that just as you can't build a team entirely through free agency, you can't expect every draft pick to hit either. You're going to have to shore up your roster holes (and even acknowledge where the holes are to begin with) through free agent signings. It doesn't mean you go crazy, blowing money on the marquee talent that's available, but pieces will assuredly have to be added. 

If Brad goes out and gives another one of those receipts press conferences again after this subpar ass season, there will be a lot of people who turn on him. They need to eat a big slice of humble pie, be introspective, understand where things went wrong, and admit that to themselves, if nobody else. 

Edited 8 hours ago by Mr.TaterSalad

[Sports_Freak]

41 minutes ago, Nate7474 said:

This team/organization is nowhere close to done. Their schedule was brutal this year and injuries piled up in specific positions. You add that to being to inexperienced along the line and it doomed their season. I have no doubt that they could run it back healthy next year and probably win the division. I do think Holmes will make the needed roster changes even if we don’t always agree with him and Campbell will make changes to his staff. 

Yes, I mostly agree. OL help, a safety and a DL along with an offensive coordinator seem like obvious needs. But the tough schedule? We weathered the teams that we thought would be tough, it was the losses within the division that did us in. If we lose to the Bears, we'll be 1-5 in our division.

[MichiganCardinal]

46 minutes ago, Nate7474 said:

This team/organization is nowhere close to done. Their schedule was brutal this year and injuries piled up in specific positions. You add that to being to inexperienced along the line and it doomed their season. I have no doubt that they could run it back healthy next year and probably win the division. I do think Holmes will make the needed roster changes even if we don’t always agree with him and Campbell will make changes to his staff. 

I agree. I don’t think they’re that far away. The 2023 Eagles lost six of seven to end the season before winning it all in 2024. The 2018 Niners went 4-12 before going to the Super Bowl in 2019. There are more examples. Good organizations have bad years. They bounce back.

I really don’t think this team is the 2024 Commanders. What guys like Jared, ASB, Gibbs, Hutch, Alim, etc. have done is not a flash in the pan. They’re talented. The team needs screws tightened and fat trimmed. It needs a real OC.

”When you knock us down we’ll get back up, smile, and it’ll take two shots to knock us back down.” (Paraphrasing). This is a new test, but I think Campbell and Holmes have earned the fans faith to try to get it done.

[Hongbit]

The offensive talent should put the Lions as the top choice of available OC’s.  Zack Taylor, Mike McDaniel, Kevin Stefanski, Brian Daboll are all guys you don’t want as head coach but  would make great play callers next season.  

[ewsieg]

I suspect my thought here is likely baseless, but in the NFL one of the things i've always heard is 'If team X is healthy, they can win it'.  It's a violent sport.  Seems like at least for the last few years we're one of the worst with injuries.  Just a couple of unlucky years?  At some point, is it valid to question why we seem to be one of the most injured teams?