Tag: David Montgomery

Detroit Lions and a home playoff game just feels different

Detroit Lions and a home playoff game just feels different, a game preview from Russell Brown

For the first time since the 1993 season, the Detroit Lions are hosting a home playoff game. Reading that sentence out loud is just weird. Maybe that’s why this all feels so different.

During most of this season for the Lions, I said it felt foreign to me. It was like I had just gotten married and was going on my honeymoon to a foreign country. I didn’t know the lay of the land or what to expect, but I knew I was going to have a good time.

Going into every game this season, I never knew what to expect but regardless, I knew I was going to have a good time watching this football team.

Why?

Because this appears to one of the most complete Lions teams in recent memory. Every game outside of the debacle in Baltimore, the Lions have competed. They didn’t always need a 4th quarter comeback because in some of the games this season, they just dominated. That type of domination hasn’t been seen by a football team here in some time.

Depending on how this all plays out, it could be the most complete Lions team ever. But throughout all of the success this team has had, everyone seems to forget about it. Much of that is because they’re blinded by the return of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford to Detroit.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been the biggest Matthew Stafford fan since his arrival into the league in 2009. But let’s not forget, he was the one that wanted out of here. He didn’t want to go through another rebuild. He wanted to be part of a winner and we can all respect that. I’m not questioning the blood, sweat and tears that Stafford poured into his tenure in Detroit.

However, I’m not going to be terrified of his return to Detroit. He never won anything in Detroit. Let’s not forget that. Sure, it’s not all his fault but there were games where the Lions needed him to have a game and he didn’t do that. The same can’t be said about Jared Goff.

When it felt like everybody was out on Jared Goff, the Lions current regime of Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes rolled the dice on him. Like it or not, that gamble has been paying off. For example, look at the season finale against Green Bay last year. Goff didn’t play out of his mind and sure he didn’t need to but he played well enough for the Lions to win and go 9-8 on the season.

Move on to this season and look at the success the Lions had. It’s one of the most efficient offenses in the NFL. They won the NFC North for the first time ever and as we know, they won their first division title since 1993. Jared Goff can say he accomplished that here. There’s a lot of quarterbacks that can’t say that — including Matthew Stafford. So let’s remember that this matchup is about Goff just as much as it is Stafford.

With the injury to Sam LaPorta, I can understand the concern on the potential of the Lions offense. But let’s not forget that the Lions offense was fifth in offensive DVOA for the 2022 season. They did that primarily with Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra at tight end. If LaPorta doesn’t play, it would flat-out suck to lose his production to this offense but it shouldn’t be the only factor on if the Lions win or lose against the Rams.

It’s simple.

Jared Goff has to play well. The Lions have to run the football successfully and the defense needs to make some stops. If those things happen, the Lions should win this game.

Running the football is possible regardless of the Rams having Aaron Donald in the middle of their defense. After all, they do allow 106.8 rushing yards per game. The combination of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs has led to over 1960 total rushing yards and an average of 4.89 yards per carry. Meanwhile, the Rams allow 4.9 rushing yards per carry against ’11’ personnel (one running back and one tight end. The Lions run ’11’ personnel 64% of the time (18th in the NFL).

Defensively the Lions should expect big things from Aidan Hutchinson. He finished with 11.5 sacks and 101 total pressures this season. During the last two games of the season he forced a fumble and had five sacks. With how Matthew Stafford likes to side step and step up into the pocket, don’t be surprised if Hutchinson is on top of his game to ensure he gets home with his pressures.

Additionally, the Lions secondary is led by the veteran presences of Cameron Sutton and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Both players know what it takes and it’ll on them to ensure the secondary stays composed and is communicating successfully when covering Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. Personally, I’d love to see the rookies, Brian Branch and Jack Campbell, with big performances in the Lions home playoff game.

After all, Branch was timed with the 4th fastest sack on the season at 2.27 seconds in week 16, per Next Gen Stats. Could you imagine if Branch got to Stafford a time or two in this game.

The anticipation of this playoff game is unlike anything I’ve felt before. Not only am I going to the game but I’m taking my son. As I tell friends and family, it’s something we may never see again so I had to jump at the opportunity. It’s hard to tell if it’s because this game is at home or if it’s just because this Lions football team is different.

But everything feels different.

The Lions won 12 games, won their division and were robbed of the two-seed and potentially the top-seed of the NFC and somehow they’re being overlooked in this matchup. Stafford this and Stafford that, I personally don’t care. He’s no longer here and Goff is the guy now. It’s plain and simple.

I stand with Goff and this football team. They’re being underestimated for this playoff game and I truly feel like their goal is to get back to Dallas. We’ll see how it plays out but it’s the most excited I’ve been for a football game in my life. I can’t wait to see the NFC North banner and I can’t wait to hear the roof of Ford Field pop off. Good or bad, this will be a game we talk about for the rest of our lives.

 

Lions film review: Amon-Ra St. Brown was best offensive player vs Cowboys

Lions film review: Amon-Ra St. Brown was best offensive player vs Cowboys

Moving on from what happened at the end of the Cowboys and Lions game, it’s time to give kudos to a bunch of players for their performances in that game. When looking at the offensive film, one of the first players to standout was wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

To no surprise, St. Brown is the leading receiver for the Lions this season. Additionally, he’s having a career year with 112 receptions for 1,371 yards and nine touchdowns. Against the Cowboys, he had six receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown.

On Saturday, five of his receptions went for first down and so far this season, 70 of his receptions have gone for first down (tied for 3rd best in the NFL). Let’s jump into the tape and review why St. Brown was the best offensive player for the Lions against the Cowboys.

No matter the play, it felt like every single time St. Brown got the ball against the Cowboys, positive results happened. Looking at the play above, the Lions come out with a twins bunch formation to the left. With the tight end and another receiver to the right, I’d essentially label this as a 2 x 2 set with their ’11’ personnel (one running back and one tight end).

Once the ball is snapped, you can see St. Brown step back and turn to Jared Goff for the ball. Being that this play is a designed wide receiver screen, it’s an easy pitch-and-catch for the quarterback and receiver. One of the keys to focus on is left guard Jonah Jackson pulling on this play. With Jahmyr Gibbs and Jackson both going away from the ball, this pulls the inside linebackers away from pursuing towards St. Brown.

As you can see, the pass is completed and St. Brown gets a good block from Jameson Williams. Meanwhile, left tackle Taylor Decker gets out in space and blocks the safety that was over the top. With that, St. Brown is explosive and able to run after-the-catch for the first down.

As we’ve seen this year, St. Brown has carried the football a couple of times. However, his best carry of the season came against the Cowboys. When looking at the play above, you can see the Lions come out in their ’12’ personnel (one running back and two tight ends). With that, they have two receivers to the left of the formation. Jameson Williams is labeled as the ‘X’ receiver and in the slot is St. Brown.

Prior to the snap, Jared Goff puts St. Brown in motion and hands it off to him after the snap. On this play, the offensive line reach blocks to the left and it draws most of the defense in that direction. However, the key is from tight ends James Mitchell and Sam LaPorta.

Both of them go opposite of the offensive line. Despite slipping, Mitchell is able to seal off the defender playing on his outside shoulder and LaPorta is able to get out in space. This gives an opening for St. Brown and he takes full advantage with an 11-yard carry and first down.

Lastly, I want to focus on one of the final plays of the game for the Detroit Lions. This one is the touchdown that put the Lions in striking distance to either tie or win the game. Looking at the play above, you can see the Lions come out with their ’11’ personnel (one running back and one tight end) in a 2×2 set.

At the bottom of the screen, you can see St. Brown and Kalif Raymond bunched together. They run hi-lo concept and this particular one would be called Diagonal. In this instance, Raymond runs a corner route and St. Brown runs a diagonal route, also known as a bench or flat route.

As you can see, the defense works vertical with the Raymond on his corner route. This creates a throwing window and enough separation for St. Brown to do something after the catch. He does just that with his effort and ability to extend the football over the pylon for the touchdown. This was a great play design with even better execution from the Lions.

On his podcast, The St. Brown Bros Podcast with The 33rd Team, this drive was discussed. Amon-Ra had stated that before the drive, he got dabbed up by Dan Campbell and was told “we’re going to win this game.”

Regardless of the ending, the Lions final drive lasted 1:18 and they went 75 yards in 9 plays. During the drive, St. Brown was targeted 3 times with 2 receptions for 25 yards and a score. It’s been a joy to watch St. Brown throughout his career but especially this season. He’s had a career year and it’s been a big part to why the Lions won the NFC North and have a home playoff game. Look for him to dominate in the final weeks of the NFL as he’s “ready to run through a brick wall.”

Studs and Duds for the Lions “loss” against the Cowboys

With a heartbreaking defeat, here are the Detroit Lions Studs and Duds in this week’s “loss” against the Dallas Cowboys

In a hard-fought battle that ended with a questionable call, the Detroit Lions fell short, marking their fifth loss of the season against the Dallas Cowboys with a final score of 20-19.

While the offense struggled to find its rhythm, the defense stepped up and showcased a clinic, slowing down the typically dominant Cowboys offense on their home turf. The Lions continued to exhibit their aggressiveness, executing a successful fake punt deep in their territory and opting to go for the win rather than settling for a tie and heading into overtime. Had it not been for a highly controversial call from the referees at a critical juncture in the game, the Lions might still be in the running for the top seed in the NFC.

It’s undeniably a tough situation when the outcome hinges on referee decisions. Nevertheless, let’s delve into this week’s Lions Studs and Duds from their “loss” against the Cowboys.

Lions commitment to the run game is making a difference

The Lions commitment to the run game on offense is making a difference for the whole team

Several weeks ago, the Detroit Lions suffered their 4th loss of the season. It was by far the worst loss of the season and one that wasn’t expected from this team. The vibe towards the Lions was that they were losing their way and everything they were doing seemed difficult.

However, the last two weeks have told a different story. The Lions have shown strong performances on offense and they’re beginning to look like the team we saw earlier in the year. Much of the success is due to their commitment in the running game.

Currently, the Lions average 141.1 rushing yards per game. That’s the 3rd best in the NFL and they’ve discovered a good balance between running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.

Weeks ago against Chicago, it felt like they went away from them when they went down 10-0 in that game. Even when they took the lead 13-10 at halftime, it felt like they had gained some momentum and would start running the football more. Their first two drives in the second half totaled 6 plays for 11 yards and only one was a run play. That play went for a total of four yards.

Between Gibbs and Montgomery in that game, they only had 21 total carries but both backs were averaging over 6 yards per carry. The Lions turning the football over didn’t help but had they stayed committed to both running backs in that game, I think there would have been different outcome.

Over the last two weeks, they’ve flipped the script. Between Montgomery and Gibbs, they’ve totaled 60 carries for 320 yards and four touchdowns. Meanwhile, that’s good for 5.33 rushing yards per carry.

As we’ve seen all season, getting the ball in the hands of Jahmry Gibbs is important. He runs hard and is one of the most explosive running backs in the league. As for Montgomery, he’s consistent between the tackles. He sheds initial contact well and is always falling forward for positive yardage.

In week 17, the Lions face one of their toughest tasks of the season by traveling to Dallas to take on the Cowboys. While the Cowboys have one of the best defensive units in football, they’ve shown they can lose games when they can’t stop the run.

Going back two weeks ago, the Cowboys got absolutely shredded on the ground by the Buffalo Bills. They gave up 266 rushing yards on 46 carries and three touchdowns against them. Last week against the Dolphins, they showed improvements by only allowing 91 rushing yards on 26 carries.

In total this season, the Cowboys have an average run defense. They allow 115.7 rushing yards per game and have given up 13 total rushing touchdowns this season.

If the Lions want any chance of beating the Cowboys, they will commit to running the football and chewing up the clock. They’ve shown they can do it against just about every single one of their opponents. Gibbs and Montgomery have proven to be one of the most consistent duos in the league and the Lions should continue to lean on them.

While the Lions have already won the NFC North, they can put pressure on the rest of the NFC by beating the Cowboys and continuing to fight for the number one overall seed in the NFC playoffs. One of the key ways they do that is with a continued commitment to the ground game.

 

Lions film review: Offensive line gives this team an identity when healthy

Lions film review: Offensive line gives this team an identity when healthy, from Russell Brown

It’s no secret that the Lions offensive line is one of the best in football. When they’re not healthy, the offense can still score. However, when the starting five (from left to right) of Taylor Decker, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow and Penei Sewell are on the field at the same time, this team becomes different.

Their identity changes.

The whole script changes for the offense because they’re able to run the ball more effectively and quarterback Jared Goff gets far more comfortable in the pocket. Will Burchfield from 97.1 The Ticket, had a great post on X that showcased the importance of the Lions starting offensive line. It read:

When the starting offensive line is on the field together, the Lions are 5-0 and average an NFL-leading:

  • 38.4 points per game
  • 421.2 yards per game
  • 179.4 rushing yards per game
  • 5.5 yards per carry
  • Goff has a passer rating of 121.73

If this offensive line can stay healthy as the Lions push to the playoffs, it could be a fun winter for the fans and this team. When looking at the game against the Broncos, it was evident that the offensive line gets after it. They’re physical up front and create endless opportunities for the offense.

With 185 rushing yards and 448 total yards of offense against the Broncos, it was one of the best offensive performances on the season from the Lions. They went 5-for-10 on 3rd down and they converted on their only 4th down conversion of the game. Let’s look at the film to see some of the best blocks of the day from this Lions offensive line.

If you’re a defensive lineman and you get aligned between right tackle Penei Sewell and right guard Graham Glasgow, I wish you the best of luck. Those two together make it a tough day for the opposition when they get to combo block.

The play above is a perfect example. Highlighted are Glasgow and Sewell, and they’re going to double-team Dre’Mont Jones (Broncos DL 93). With the defender aligned in the B-gap as a 3-technique, it makes it a much easier block. Once the ball is snapped, they crash into the defender and take him for a ride.

Jones is one of the better defenders for the Broncos. However, he’s faced with a tough match-up on this rep. They turn him and clear him out of the way so Jahmyr Gibbs isn’t met immediately by contact.

The most consistent and potentially, most dominant offensive lineman for the Lions is Penei Sewell. He’s been so good when run and pass blocking. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Sewell has allowed a 2.8% pressure rate this season. That would be the lowest total for any offensive tackle in football.

Looking at the play above, it’s a pass play for Jared Goff and the Lions. But once the ball is snapped, you can see Sewell highlighted. Once the defensive lineman attacks the outside shoulder of Sewell, you can see that Sewell is under control and not panicking. His foot speed is good but his hand speed is quick and ready to attack. Meanwhile, he hits a snatch-trap technique on the defensive lineman. This forces the defender into the dirt and helps give Goff a clean pocket.

Additionally, look at right guard Graham Glasgow. He looks for work once he knows that Sewell has secured the defensive end. So rather than standing still, Glasgow turns his head inside and gets the ribs of the defensive tackle. Meanwhile, Decker and Jackson do a nice job on an exchange for the left side. Goff is kept clean, it allows the routes to develop and it ultimately leads to a first down for the Lions.

The last play I want to focus on is one where quarterback Jared Goff is given plenty of time. In previous weeks, it felt like Goff was rushing through his reads and progressions. Against the Broncos, he looked more comfortable and much of that is due to the starting offensive line being on the field.

Looking at the play above, the Lions come out in a shotgun formation and once the ball is snapped, the Broncos four-man rush is immediately stopped in it’s tracks. This allows Goff to move in the pocket and scan the field. In the process, he finds Jameson Williams wide open in the middle of the field for a a first down.

Against the Broncos, Goff was only sacked twice and was only pressured 8 times (per Pro Football Reference). He looked more comfortable and much of that is due to the offensive line. Additionally, the Lions offensive line paved the way for the Lions to pile on 185 rushing yards. It was a big win for Detroit as they got their 10th win of the season. It’s evident that when the offensive line is healthy, they give this offense and team a new identity.

Lions vs. Broncos: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction

Lions vs. Broncos: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction for the Week 15 matchup in Ford Field

This week’s Detroit Lions game accelerates the timeline. A Saturday night game against the Denver Broncos means today’s morning pot of coffee gets nursed a lot longer. It’s a short sip kind of day in getting ready for the Week 15 prime-time matchup — one that could clinch a postseason berth for the Lions.

Here’s what is going through my mind about the game as we gear up for the final Lions home game before the calendar flips to the new year.

Why I think the Lions will win

  • I sense a return to an offensive game script and plan that better plays to the Lions’ strengths. Namely, running the ball and Jared Goff operating more play-action passes with better route spacing concepts. The Lions offense, and coordinator Ben Johnson, have veered away from those fundamentals lately and it’s not working. Johnson, Goff and Dan Campbell are too good, too smart, to keep failing by emphasizing things they don’t do so well. A healthy (fingers crossed!) offensive line will help, too.
  • It’s a great matchup for the Lions to get back to those offensive basics. The Broncos have the league’s worst run defense in yards per carry and also yards per carry on 1st downs. The combination of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery is a very real problem for Denver’s defense. So too is Lions rookie Sam LaPorta at tight end.So too is Lions rookie Sam LaPorta at tight end.
  • The Broncos are stylistically similar to the Bears, the Lions’ last opponent. It won’t take a radical crash course for Campbell and his coordinators to shift game plans on a short week. Meanwhile, Denver travels to Detroit having played the Chargers in a late-afternoon game last Sunday. L.A. runs a very different style of defense and also offers a contrasting passing game style and type of receiver than what the Broncos will see in Detroit.

What worries me about the Broncos

  • The matchup of the Lions secondary against Russell Wilson and the Denver passing game. The Lions CBs have played poorly in outside coverage for a few weeks now, and the safety play in the downfield passing game has been even worse. Wilson’s passing largely emphasizes either short throws or long throws. He averages less air yards per attempt than Goff and isn’t as accurate throwing down the field as his Lions counterpart, but Wilson’s willingness to let it fly and try for the big play is an issue. They’re a big-play team more than a long-drive, wear-you-down kind of offense. These Lions have had problems with offenses like that (Seattle, Baltimore, Green Bay).
  • Denver’s defense blitzes over 31 percent of the time, seventh-most in the league. And they’re not particularly good at it; their QB pressure rate of 5.2 percent (from Pro Football Reference) is 29th. By contrast, Detroit’s defense ranks 3rd in QB pressure percentage. However, Goff has really struggled with decision-making and ball security when pressured lately. Since the bye in Week 9, Goff has the league’s worst QBR when under pressure. Factor in Denver’s ability to create takeaways (12 in their last five games) and this could be a real issue.
  • I always worry about a kohai challenging a senpai, and that’s what Campbell is facing by coaching against his mentor, Sean Payton. It’s an abstract state of discomfort for me that could very well be nothing. But it might be something, something that could impact even a good coach like Campbell.

Final score prediction

I’m leaning on the Lions getting back to what was working so well earlier in the season. Those things all should translate very effectively against a tough but vulnerable Broncos team. If the coverage remains broken and the Jared Goff/Ben Johnson combination has another bad day, it’s likely to be ugly for the home team. I think the Lions remember who they are in this one and come away with a much-needed win. Lions 31, Broncos 20.

Snap count notes from the Lions Week 14 loss to the Bears

Lions snap count notes on the RB mix, DL rotation, Hutchinson never leaving the field, rookies and more from the loss in Chicago

It’s always interesting what stories the snap counts from a game tell about a team. For the Detroit Lions in the Week 14 loss to the Chicago Bears, it shows a team that made some questionable personnel choices.

Take the running back splits. David Montgomery played just 23 of the Lions’ 65 offensive snaps. Jahmyr Gibbs has taken over the lead-back role lately and that was reinforced in Chicago, with the rookie playing 41 snaps. Both Gibbs and Montgomery rushed for 66 yards in the game. Third RB Craig Reynolds played one. Montgomery played just one of Detroit’s 11 snaps in the third quarter.

Blocking was stable in this one. Kayode Awosika got the starting nod at right guard with Graham Glasgow playing center for the injured Frank Ragnow. The entire starting line played all 65 reps. Extra tackle Dan Skipper was on the field for five. Blocking tight end, James Mitchell played 11 snaps and still hasn’t seen one passing game target for the entire season.

Jameson Williams continues to grow into the No. 2 receiver role, trailing only Amon-Ra St. Brown (57) in snaps with his 38. That’s two more than Josh Reynolds, who led the Lions in receiving in Week 14 with three catches for 44 yards and a touchdown. Williams got one target and one handoff in his time on the field.

Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson continues to play almost every snap. In this game, Hutchinson played 64 of the 71 defensive reps, a 90 percent rate. Hutchinson played very well and is in tremendous physical shape, but leaning on a pass rusher to go for 90 percent of the snaps is asking a lot. It’s a reflection that the team doesn’t trust the defensive front without its top player.

The EDGE snap count breakdown:

Hutchinson: 64

John Cominsky: 50

Julian Okwara: 17

Romeo Okwara: 8

Isaiah Buggs got the majority of the Alim McNeill replacement reps at DT, playing 43 of the 71 available snaps. Rookie Brodric Martin didn’t record a stat, but he was on the field for six snaps in his first action since Week 8. Levi Onwuzurike also failed to record a stat in 14 reps.

Kindle Vildor made his Lions debut in the secondary with 17 reps. Some of those came at the expense of Jerry Jacobs, who played 53 snaps, or 75 percent. Veteran safety Tracy Walker did not play on defense, only appearing on special teams.

Two defenders only played one snap: LB Malcolm Rodriguez and DB Will Harris. Rodriguez did not appear at fullback in this game.

The Lions are not playing like legit playoff contenders anymore

The Lions are not playing like legit playoff contenders anymore, writes Russell Brown, with a litany of reasons why

Not even going to lie, I’m not sure what to call this piece. Essentially, just join me for a therapy session where we put it all out on the table and talk this one out. It’s needed after the Detroit Lions just got embarrassed on the road against the Chicago Bears.

Losing always sucks, and winning in the NFL is a tough thing to do. But this Lions football team has had dominating performances this season and gritty wins where they scratch and claw back. In Chicago, they looked flat and unprepared.

Throughout the season, the Lions have been near the top of lists for one of the better teams in the NFL. Unfortunately, the last four or five weeks have told a different story. It appears that the coaching staff isn’t making in-game adjustments and if they do, they’re very limited.

Defensively, I’m not even sure where to begin. Recently, I wrote an article breaking down the poor fundamentals and coaching decisions made defensively. I stand by that article, and while there have been some improvements in generating more pressure, the defense has been hindered by poor play calls, coverage lapses, and undisciplined play. The game against the Bears today showed that.

During parts of the game, Aaron Glenn would call line stunts with his defensive line, but against a mobile quarterback, why wouldn’t you just try to contain him? Furthermore, why not use your best edge rusher (Aidan Hutchinson) to continue to set the edge?

Instead, it’s 3rd-and-goal, and you have him twist inside so a defensive tackle can try to chase down Justin Fields. And if a line stunt wasn’t called, then shame on Hutchinson for playing undisciplined and not staying on the outside.

Additionally, the coverage lapses continue to happen every single week. The Lions make mediocre quarterbacks look good by letting them get in rhythm with ease. Derek Carr of the Saints was torching Detroit before he got hurt. Jordan Love of the Packers had one of his best games against the Lions on Thanksgiving. And Lamar Jackson had arguably the best game of his career against Detroit in Week 7 this year. Outside of the lucky bounce to Brian Branch against the Saints, it feels like it’s been weeks since the Lions’ secondary has made a play with any type of significance.

Sure, there was a drive today that got extended for the Bears on a missed call. On 3rd down, there should have been an intentional grounding call made on Fields. However, that doesn’t mean players should just stop making plays. The missed call led to Hutchinson jumping offsides on 4th-and-13. Fields fired a deep pass to D.J. Moore for a touchdown. This gave the Bears the lead and they never looked back.

We can blame the officials for missing the intentional grounding, but the defense just needed to make the stop. If the Lions come out with a two-high safety look on 4th and 13, why is Aaron Glenn calling for his free safety to become a buzz defender? Is he trusting Jerry Jacobs to run in stride with D.J. Moore, or was it a miscue on the defenders? It’s hard to tell without being in the room, but either way, it’s frustrating that these miscues continue on a weekly basis.

That leads me to the offense where offensive coordinator Ben Johnson gets a lot of “free passes” in Detroit. Much of that is due to his success in the first half and the creativity he’s had with the offense. However, his game plans in the second half have been dreadful in recent weeks. None was worse than in Chicago.

The Lions were held to zero points in the second half today. This is while the execution from Jared Goff and the offense remained terrible. Every drive was stalled by false starts and delay of game penalties. Meanwhile, when the run game would get going, Ben Johnson would change gears and try to have Goff throw the ball.

This is odd since it felt like Goff never got in rhythm, and he potentially had the worst game of his Lions career today. He went 20-of-35 for 161 yards and a touchdown. Additionally, he had two interceptions, was sacked four times and had a costly fumble that led to a Bears touchdown.

Since Week 7, Goff has thrown seven interceptions and has had four fumbles lost. It is hard to win football games when you take the ball out of the hands of your playmakers and put it in the hands of your quarterback — who continues to make mistakes.

Now don’t get me wrong; Goff doesn’t deserve 100% of the blame. We all know the type of quarterback that he is because we’ve seen it throughout his career. But, his pass-catchers did him no favors today. Amon-Ra St. Brown had three drops today, and Jahmyr Gibbs had one that looked destined to be a touchdown. The Gibbs drop led to the Lions going for it on 4th-and-10 from the Bears 35-yard line and ultimately, the drive ended in an interception. Give Goff like 95% of the blame.

One of my biggest gripes for the offense — why did the Lions stop running the football? Running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery were both averaging 6.0 yards per carry. For a team that has been identified to run the ball and play smash-mouth football, they sure have lost their way.

They’re passing on 1st-and-10s and running on 3rd-and-10s. It’s real head-scratching stuff for an offensive coordinator who once upon a time had a bag full of tricks. Now it feels like all he’s got is an empty bag and potentially a one-way ticket out of town to become the head coach for another team.

It feels like the Lions are just reliant on fighting and bully their way to victory. However, when a team fights and continues to punch back, this Lions football team plays differently. When it happens, they make mistakes and lose their identity. At least, that’s what’s been happening as of late.

That brings up the question on if the Lions have lost their way? It’s starting to feel like it. About a month ago, it felt like they were going to walk away with their first division title since 1993. Even though they appear to be a certainty to get into the playoffs, it’s hard to believe that they’ll make any type of push with their current play.

I know the coaches and players are going to “ignore the noise” and not hang their head on one loss. That’s what they’re supposed to do. But they’re also supposed to make adjustments during the game and, most importantly, win the games they’re supposed to win.

This game in Chicago could have been a win. It should have been a win.

One of the main reasons it should have been a win is that going into this game, there were a lot of questions surrounding the Chicago Bears. Much of it was surrounding their head coach Matt Eberflus. There’s been plenty of belief that he was entering this game on the hot seat. This opened up questions on if Justin Fields was going to be the future quarterback of the team. It even led to Fields being asked about it from the media.

The distractions were there for the Bears and they still found a way to look past them. For Eberflus, he had never won back-to-back games as a head coach. He did that for the first time in his career after beating the Lions today.

With far too many close calls in recent weeks and not much changing, I start to wonder if the potential of this team has already passed them by for this season. Are they just too many players away still from being the championship contender we all hoped they were? Have the injuries caught up with them? Is Jared Goff really going to be the guy in Detroit for the next four or five years? How long can Aaron Glenn keep getting away with his blunders on defense?

All of these questions continue to circle in my head. This is unfortunate since this team is entering the final month of the season. There’s a lot to fix, and it’s all fixable, but the question is, can this Lions team fix it? I sure hope they don’t end like all of the other teams we’ve seen before them…with heartbreak and disappointment.

3 Lions earn spots on PFF’s All-Improved team for 2023

3 Lions earn spots on PFF’s All-Improved team for 2023, one of which might really surprise fans

We’re getting to the time of the season when lists and honors for the full season start trickling out. One of the first comes from Pro Football Focus.

PFF revealed it’s “All-Improved Team” for 2023. Three Detroit Lions make an appearance, including one that might be a surprise.

Running back David Montgomery, right tackle Penei Sewell and defensive tackle Alim McNeill made the cut.

McNeill is no surprise. The DT changed his body, becoming more of an attacking interior presence in his third NFL season. He’s second on the Lions in sacks (5) and has been among the most disruptive tackles around the league.

Montgomery is a bit of a surprise, in that he was already an accomplished back for the Bears. PFF explained it nicely,

It helps that Montgomery is rushing behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, but his vision and ability to break off big runs have still improved. Montgomery is recording an explosive run on 28.3% of his rushing attempts, the highest mark of his career, and he has rushed for a career-high 10 touchdowns. Sometimes, a change of scenery can get the best out of a player, and Montgomery is having a career year in Detroit.

Then there’s Sewell, who had already established himself as one of the NFL’s best offensive tackles over the course of his first two seasons. He has indeed improved, especially before struggling a bit the last two weeks,

Sewell’s 90.0 overall grade is the best among all NFL tackles by a considerable margin — Tyron Smith is second with an 86.5 grade — and he has allowed just 12 pressures all season. He was already a rising star, but Sewell is going to be considered one of the best in the game for a long time.

It’s a nice recognition on a list that typically includes players more like McNeill — guys who leap from average to noteworthy impact players.

One curious omission: linebacker Alex Anzalone. The follically gifted backer is having a career year, and it’s reflected in his PFF grades. Anzalone has an overall grade of 76.6 and a coverage mark of 77.3, both of which are handily the best of his seven-year NFL career. He also has a career-high three sacks.

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Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard could be a bad matchup for soft Saints run defense

Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard could be a bad matchup for a soft Saints run defense. New Orleans has gotten gashed in recent weeks:

It’s taken some time for the Carolina Panthers to figure out what they have in Chuba Hubbard — the young running back was a non-factor when the New Orleans Saints took down the Panthers back in Week 2, totaling just two carries for 16 yards on the evening. But he should be in line for a heavier workload during Sunday’s rematch, which is bad news for a soft Saints run defense.

Hubbard just put up 104 rushing yards with a pair of touchdown runs on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ top-10 run defense. A week earlier, he ran for 45 yards and another touchdown while gaining 47 receiving yards. He’s emerged as Carolina’s top option in the backfield.

And that could be a problem for New Orleans on Sunday. Look at some of the performances the Saints have allowed to running backs after coming out of their bye week:

  • Jahmyr Gibbs: 8 carries for 60 rushing yards
  • David Montgomery: 18 carries for 56 rushing yards and a touchdown
  • Bijan Robinson: 16 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown; 3 catches for 32 yards and a touchdown
  • Tyler Allgeier: 10 carries for 64 yards

Those are just some of the highlights. Dennis Allen’s defense has gotten pushed off the line of scrimmage far too often, not just in the last two games but in the last few years. Their run defense was once known for strong anchors and quick reaction speed to plug gaps and force teams to pass. But it’s been eroded over time and now opposing offenses don’t have any fear when dialing up a run. It’s a big problem.

While the Saints may be favored to defeat the Panthers this week, Hubbard’s rise to prominence and the porous New Orleans defense in front of him gives Carolina an opportunity to at least keep it close, if not try for an upset on the road. The Panthers may have just one win this season but they aren’t an opponent the Saints can afford to overlook. Watch out for No. 30 on Sunday.

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