Tag: Detroit Lions vs. Washington Redskins

Special teams miscues killed the Lions in loss to the Redskins

The Detroit Lions special teams failed in the Week 12 loss to the Washington Redskins

Normally the Detroit Lions win the special teams battle. It’s been one of the few things the Lions have reliably done well in 2019. But in Washington, the special teams not only failed to be an asset, they also bore a significant portion of the blame for the loss.

Matt Prater missed his first field goal attempt. His 39-yard attempt into the wind fluttered wide right like a hummingbird getting blown by an industrial fan. Missed field goals in inclement conditions happen to everyone, even Prater, but it was still a critical miss for a team that lost by three points.

Prater made his next attempt, but the ensuing kickoff was an unmitigated disaster. Normally Sam Martin kicks off, and he’s one of the best at placing the kicks. Prater left this one a few yards shorter than ideal, and the tackling and containment on Steven Sims was simply dreadful,

Martin wasn’t healthy enough to handle the kickoff duties. He wasn’t particularly good at his regular punting gig, either. His first punt–from the Washington 39–pinned the Skins at their own 5-yard line. He couldn’t pin them inside the 20 on any of his other three punts that were well within the distance of making that happen.

It wasn’t just the guys who make their living with their feet who struggled.

Detroit fielded six Washington kickoffs. Ty Johnson had two returns, getting the Lions to start at their own 24 and own 30. It’s not awful, but it’s not helping.

With Jamal Agnew inactive due to injury, speedy Marvin Hall took over as the primary punt return man. He probably won’t get that opportunity again. Aside from Hall leaving the game on crutches, his decision to field a punt inside his own 2-yard line while running backward cost the Lions 18 yards. That’s an extra first down the team couldn’t afford to surrender. Being reminded of Stefan Logan is never a good thing for a Lions return man.

 

Injuries forced the Lions to play 11 rookies vs. Washington

It’s not an excuse for the loss. It’s a fact of life in the NFL that injuries happen and the depth will be tested. Detroit’s depth is being tested harder than most teams right now, and it failed in Washington.

The list of the injured Lions is almost longer than the roster members who aren’t walking wounded. Check the Week 12 inactives list for Detroit’s game in Washington.

Matthew Stafford remained out with his broken back. Center Frank Ragnow, the Lions’ best offensive lineman and the man responsible for the line calls, also missed Sunday’s game. So did top defensive linemen Trey Flower and Da’Shawn Hand. Don’t forget safety Tracy Walker, the most consistent player in pass defense on the roster.

Between those guys who couldn’t go on the active roster and the ample list of running backs and linemen on IR already, several rookies were thrust into action.

Four players were active for a regular season game for the first time in their rookie careers. Draftees Austin Bryant and Isaac Nauta joined UDFA Beau Benzschawel and Cowboys draft pick (signed off their practice squad) Michael Jackson picked up their first game checks.

They were among 11 rookies playing in the game. Nearly a quarter of the Lions roster for the Redskins game was rookies. Some played well, including CB Amani Oruwariye snagging his first career interception.

It’s not an excuse for the loss. It’s a fact of life in the NFL that injuries happen and the depth will be tested. Detroit’s depth is being tested harder than most teams right now, and it failed in Washington.

Matt Patricia has taken over some of the Lions’ defensive playcalling

Patricia’s defense played pretty well in Washington considering they were without four injured starters

While it’s still unclear exactly how often it’s happening, Lions head coach Matt Patricia admitted after Sunday’s loss in Washington that he has taken over at least some of the team’s in-game defensive playcalling.

In one of the first questions of his postgame press conference, Patricia stated he has taken over calling the defense during certain points of the game from coordinator Paul Pasqualoni.

“I have a lot of different roles on game day,” Patricia said. “Certainly from that standpoint, I’m very active in the communication from all phases of the game – all three phases – and so there’s going to be plays out there that I can call. There’s going to be plays [Pasqualoni]’s calling. There’s going to be plays out there that certainly are just automatic for us.”

Earlier this season, Patricia insisted Pasqualoni was the one, and the only one, making the in-game defensive calls. How much is Patricia calling?

“I don’t know,” Patricia responded when asked the percentage he’s calling. “I’m not going to get into that stuff. Again, I’m not really going to get into the details. It changes week by week.”

Other than the final scoring drive by the Redskins, Detroit’s defense played well in Washington. The Skins managed just 13 first downs and 230 total yards. That’s not exactly a prime accomplishment, however; Washington started rookie QB Dwayne Haskins and ranked in the bottom five of just about every offensive statistical metric entering the game.

Lions fans vent frustration on Twitter after dreadful loss to the Redskins

Because sports talk radio isn’t available until Monday…

Detroit Lions fans are not happy, not one bit. Losing to a lousy Washington Redskins team in a sloppy, mistake-filled game will raise anyone’s blood pressure. Doing that for the team’s fourth loss in a row and seventh defeat in eight games will bring out the anger.

Many fans vented their frustrations on Twitter, where yelling into the social media abyss is a rite of passage for the disgruntled.

A lot of times the reaction is apathy. That level of acceptance has yet to hit with the freshness of the foolishness that the Lions called football on Sunday.

Some of the best reactions:

There were many fingers to point in the loss. Here are a few choice ones…

Lions look to leave Washington with second win ever

The Detroit Lions will travel to Washington where wins have historically been hard to come by. In fact, they’ve only won there once — ever.

The Detroit Lions will travel to Washington on Sunday, where wins have historically been hard to come by.

Overall, Washington leads the series 30-14, although, the Lions have won the last four meetings, including a 2013 win at FedEx Field, which marked the first time the Lions had beaten the Redskins on the road — ever.

A trip down memory lane

Until 2013, the Lions had made 21 trips to D.C. and suburban Maryland, and then traveled back home with a loss.

Matthew Stafford led the Lions with 385 yards and two touchdowns. Calvin Johnson finished the game with six receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter that would prove to be the dagger.

The Lions’ tough defensive unit, led by Ndamukong Suh, contained Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III en route to nine hits, two sacks, three forced fumbles (one lost) and an interception.

When the Lions (3-6-1) take the field against Washington (1-9) on Sunday, it’s hard to fathom that they will be aiming for only their second all-time win in the nation’s capital. Nonetheless, they need to take advantage of key matchups and clean up their defensive play. Erik Schlitt gave us the Honolulu Blueprint for the Lions to come back to Detroit with win No. 4 on the season.

4 reasons why the Lions will beat the Redskins in Week 12

The Lions are struggling but draw the ideal opponent in the 1-9 Redskins

The Detroit Lions desperately need a win. Losing six out of their last seven games has driven the team, and the loyal fans, to dire straits.

Thankfully the NFL schedule brings good tidings to Detroit in the form of the Washington Redskins in Week 12.

Washington is 1-9 and in chaos. They fired coach Jay Gruden earlier this season. They’re in a battle with their best player, left tackle Trent Williams, over mishandling his cancer diagnosis. Their point differential of minus-128 is 100 points worse than the 3-6-1 Lions bring to FedEx Field.

They haven’t even led in a game since Week 6, whereas the Lions are one of three teams to hold a lead in every game. In short, the Lions might not be playing very well, but Washington is on a different level of bad football.

Here are four reasons why the Lions will snap the losing streak and beat back the host Redskins on Sunday.

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