Welp! It’s going to be a long season, Lions fans. What would you rather have: A 42-21 beat down like the Lions had Sunday against the Packers, or a second-half collapse that leads to a last-second loss like they had in the first quarter? In 2020, it looks like that’s going to be your weekly decision.
As always, I have thoughts on this game. These are those thoughts.
Remember what winning felt like?
Alright everyone, lets pile into the DeLorean, check the flux capacitor and set the date for October 27, 2019. Way back when we learned the results of Lizzo’s DNA test and the “Joker” movie had everyone talking. It was a simpler time, a happy time. Remember how you felt Monday morning, after the time the Lions last won a game? Me neither. It’s been so long since Lions fans have felt that feeling. Almost a year. We started this journey dancing to that Lizzo song and now we’ve turned in this:
Just people manically laughing at incompetence while they wait for the season to be over so they can start their day dreaming over again.
The defense did not improve at all
When it’s all said and done, you’ll remember the Lions defensive performance since 2018 as one of the major reasons the Lions fired Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia. They are incapable of stopping the run, they can’t rush the passer, and the corners can’t cover anyone. If you have one of those of the problems, it’s pretty bad. To have all of them is as painful as falling into the Sarlacc Pit.
The Lions consistently ignored potential upgrades in free agency and the draft over the last three years in favor of players that worked in the system in New England. The let good offensive linemen walk and brought bad offensive linemen in, among other things.
Good Stuff
While it looks like it’s going to be a bad season, we should talk about some good things. After a heartbreaking dropped ball in Week 1, Swift came out and had a pretty good game in Week 2. He showed that he’s going to be a problem in the receiving game. He finished with five catches for 60 yards. The Lions have a guy here that could be really good someday soon.
Seems clear that Hockenson is going to be a big part of this offense going forward. It’s still early, but it looks like Hockenson has improved and Matthew Stafford really likes to throw to him. He’s a mismatch for linebackers with his size and speed and he gets open a lot. Stafford threw to him a ton in camp and it looks like that’s crossing over into the regular season.
The Lions made NFL history on Sunday
The Lions become the first team in NFL history to lose 4 straight games in which they had a double-digit lead, according to @EliasSports.
Detroit has lost 11 straight games, its most since losing 19 in a row from 2007-09, including the first-ever 0-16 season in league history. pic.twitter.com/VCpZsI6mIl
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 20, 2020
Anyone watching anything good right now?
This team is so bad that in the middle of my football column I’m going to ask what everyone is watching on TV. I’m curious about what you’re watching Sunday afternoon to make you feel better? For me it’s “The Office” or “Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air.”
Wait……what’s that?….I’m being told I need to continue to talk about this game against my will. Alright, I’ll do it I guess.
Penalties continue to be a problem
It’s going to be a long season, so here’s a drinking game for you to do on Sundays. Grab your favorite liquor. I prefer whiskey myself. Get yourself a comfortable spot on the couch or recliner chair. You’re going to need that for when you pass out. Then take a drink every time the Lions shoot themselves in the foot with a penalty.
You would have been a few sheets to the wind on Sunday with multiple 15-yard penalties committed by Detroit. Blocking after calling for a fair catch, hitting a defenseless receiver to the head, horseback tackles. The Lions did them all. The Lions also played their hits too. You know, holding and offsides, those sort of things. The Lions may never fix this problem.
Dagger Time Check In
Hey guys. I’m just checking in to see if it’s Dagger Time yet? No? Okay, when does that start?
It’s laughable at this point that the Lions created a slogan for themselves and even hung a banner in their stadium and completely failed to live up to it. Dagger Time will live in infamy as the thing Lions fans look back on and make fun of the team for. Just like the time they hung a banner for making the playoffs or fired a coach with a winning record.
