The Lions are in deep, DEEP trouble. They're 0-3 and their next 2 games are at Seattle (which is almost guaranteed to be a loss) and home against Arizona (who are currently 3-0 and the favorites to win the Super Bowl). Unless something EXTREMELY unexpected happens, the Lions will be 0-5 when they finally see Chicago. That's not a mathematical elimination from the playoffs, but it's as good as. The Lions had one of the toughest opening schedules. A 2-3 record would've been decent and a 3-2 record would've been phenomenal. They could still potentially come out of this 2-3, but they've already played the weakest 3 teams in that 5-game stretch, and the remaining 2 are the hardest stadium to win in and the top team in the NFL.
A good team would've started 3-0. The way the Chargers game played out, the Lions just needed to hold serve in the 2nd half and could've come away with a win. The Vikings weren't sneaking up on anybody and look like a decent team, but the Lions would've beaten this team last year. Denver definitely left the door open. Not only did Detroit not take advantage, they handed the game over in the 4th quarter.
I hate the "Same Old Lions" refrain. It's my least favorite phrase in football, followed by "illegal use of hands to the face, automatic 1st down" (seriously, why is this an automatic 1st down when it wasn't even a penalty 2 years ago? The penalty isn't commensurate with the crime). "Same Old Lions", or SOL, is a phrase almost GLEEFULLY uttered by Lions fans when the team fails. I've been particularly upset by this recently, since the team has been on a bit of an uptick. The phrase didn't fit. They weren't failing in the same way as before. They were reaching higher levels. There was positive traction. Not all failures are created equal, and the Lions' recent failures were of a more noble stripe. SOL refers to a particularly pathetic type of failure, the type of failure that makes you wonder how the people involved make it through the day without crapping themselves.
This 2015 Lions team is a throwback to the SOL Lions. I wonder how guys like ST Coordinator Joe Marciano make it through the day without wetting himself. I wonder what exactly (if anything) goes through OC Joe Lombardi's mind when he game plans for a particular opponent. Jim Caldwell has gone on record saying he doesn't think the play-calling is an issue, he thinks it's all in the execution. I'm sorry, but that's bullshit. I mean, yes, they don't always execute the plays well. Stafford is turning the ball over like crazy & the line can't block. That doesn't change the fact that the game plan is TERRIBLE. It's like Lombardi is drawing up an offense as though he's coaching the 2011 Saints. Execution is a problem in that these Lions CAN'T execute this game plan like the 2011 Saints. Lombardi needs to draw something up that both matches the opponent AND the current personnel. I was hoping he would bring some innovation to the offense, but really all he's done is copy Sean Payton and expect Stafford to be a vintage Drew Brees. That dog won't hunt, Monsignor.
There have quietly been a couple of bright spots in this otherwise disappointing offense. Ameer Abdullah has looked totally legit. His stats aren't especially impressive so far, but I think that's more a product of how the Lions are using him. He's looked very good when he's gotten the ball, and I think he'd be gashing off a few more longer runs if the Lions would stick with him for another 10-12 carries. You have to weather a bunch of 1-2 yd runs to get that running game going. Eric Ebron has improved, although he doesn't yet look like the game-changing TE he was purported to be. Theo Riddick has looked REALLY good, when he's gotten the opportunity. Lombardi has the play-makers he needs to make this a pretty good offense. A better O-line would certainly help, but you can work around that.
This team is in dire straits. They NEED to win both of the next 2 games to have any hope at all of doing anything. They're already a super longshot to make the playoffs, at 0-5 they would need to finish 11-0, 10-1 to make it as a wild card, unless they somehow beat out Green Bay and Minnesota for the division (EXTREMELY unlikely). Even at 1-4, they're basically out. 2-3 is doable, but I don't think they're beating Seattle AND Arizona right now.
Here's what needs to happen:
The Offensive Line has to work. Right now they can't run block and they can't pass block. Lombardi could scheme better to help them out, but I think the biggest problem with the line is that they are incorporating players that haven't played together before, and cohesiveness is most important with the line. If they can gel, this season could turn around QUICK.
Levy comes back at 100%. The Lions don't really have a defensive game-changer. DeAndre Levy is that guy. The defense has more or less kept them in the game and the offense hasn't held up its end of the bargain. This defense needs to be better than average, but to do that they need stars on the field. Levy is a Pro Bowl caliber talent, despite the fact that he's never made the team (INJUSTICE!). With a healthy Levy on the field, the Lions defense will have that edge they are currently missing.
The Offense has to diversify. Right now the Lions aren't throwing it down the field and they aren't running much. Everything is happening within 10 yds of the line of scrimmage. They need to run it more (preferably off-tackle more than this up the middle stuff) and they need to go vertical. They have 2 or 3 serious vertical threats who are being used like possession receivers, or in the case of Ebron, as a pass-blocker (1. Expecting him to stop Von Miller on a pass rush is hilariously stupid, and 2. Nice job on the Key & Peele celebration, Von!). Golden Tate says opposing defenses know what plays are coming, and that isn't surprising because I usually know what plays are coming. I don't care what Caldwell says, this is the #1 problem with the offense.
Take care of the football. The Lions are averaging 2.7 turnovers per game, most of them committed by Stafford. The defense has done a pretty good job at generating turnovers, but the offense does a better job of giving it back. Stafford has committed 6 of the Lions' 8 turnovers, so the onus is mainly on him to improve here.
If those 4 things all happen, everything is on the table with this team. If they don't, expect them to be drafting in the top 10 again, maybe top 5.
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