Post by D6 on Nov 24, 2023 0:02:27 GMT -5
Thoughts in ****
Instant observations: Trouble continues to brew for Lions in Thanksgiving loss
Instant observations: Trouble continues to brew for Lions in Thanksgiving loss
Updated: Nov. 23, 2023, 4:09 p.m.|Published: Nov. 23, 2023, 3:47 p.m.
Lions vs. Packers Thanksgiving game
By Kyle Meinke | kmeinke@mlive.com
DETROIT -- Dan Campbell wanted the Lions to play their best football coming out of the bye.
Instead, they continue to play some of their worst.
They were able to battle back for dramatic, final-minute wins against the Chargers and Bears the last two weeks, but their luck ran out in a 29-22 loss on Thanksgiving against the Green Bay Packers. Quarterback Jared Goff lost two early fumbles as the Packers surged ahead, led by Jordan Love completing 12 of his first 13 passes and connecting on a pair of scoring passes that stretched the margin to double digits.
Goff lost another fumble in the third quarter, then misfired on a pair of fourth downs as Detroit tried to mount another late comeback against the Packers. He connected with Josh Reynolds on a 12-yard touchdown pass to draw Detroit within a touchdown with 41 seconds left, but the Lions couldn’t land the onside kick and never touched the football again.
**** The Lions got outplayed by a Packers team with a few key injuries on both sides of the ball. It turned out to be the injury to Lions LG Jonah Jackson, the Lions only player with an injury designation, that had the greatest impact in the game. Both Colby Sorsdal and his replacement (in the 2nd QTR), Kayode Awosika, struggled in this game. The overall Lions Offensive Line had its worst game of the season. But the LG play adversely affected the rest of the O-Line and the overall Offense. By being out, Jonah Jackson is probably helping his value as an UFA IN 2024. The Lions definitely need him back for the remainder of the season and in the playoffs, if the Lions qualify. Jared Goff clearly needs to protect the ball better. It was most evident on the fumble that was forced by Packers Interior D-Lineman Karl Brooks, after Goff took off running. Goff and the Lions receivers seemed out of sync on many plays.
The Lions problems in generating a pass rush, especially with a 4 man rush, was the biggest problem for the Lions on Defense in this game. I question the decision by the Lions to put Julian Okwara on the Game Day Inactive list. ****
Now 8-3, the Lions head into December still occupying the second spot in the NFC. They now have an uphill battle to overtake Philadelphia (9-1) for the top seed, but still hold a two-game lead over Minnesota for control of the NFC North with just six games to go, and are in great shape to host at least one playoff game in January.
Anyone would have taken all of this at the outset of the season.
Still, it’s impossible not to worry about where this team is trending after struggling against three straight losing teams, two of which are at the bottom of their own division.
**** I'm very concerned about the way the Lions have been playing. The Packers are improving rapidity. But to lose to them at home, with all of the key injuries the Packers had going into this game, is the new low point of the season. The NFC North race is far from over. ****
The defense has struggled all season against top offenses and quarterbacks, and has been struggling against everybody lately. They allowed 38 points twice in the last month, struggled to contain Justin Fields until the final moments against Chicago, and was overwhelmed by Love on Thanksgiving.
**** Jordan Love deserves plenty of praise for his winning performance in Detroit today. He did get away with at least one very dangerous throw across the field. The Lions problems in generating a pass rush far too often made Love's performance possible. ****
The first-year starter uncorked a 53-yard bomb to Christian Watson on the very first play from scrimmage, and needed just five plays before finding Jayden Reed for a 10-yard touchdown. The Lions were able to match that touchdown drive with one of their own on a 7-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Sam LaPorta, but Love came right back the other way for yet another score, this one a 7-yard strike to third-string tight end Tucker Kraft.
**** Both Christian Watson and Jaylen Reed stepped up big time for the Packers today. ****
Love completed 12 of his 13 passes while building a lead that swelled to as many as 17 points, and helped flip the field position late with a 37-yard scramble on third-and-1. He finished 22 of 32 passing for 268 yards, three touchdowns and a 125.5 quarterback rating -- his best start ever in Green Bay.
**** The improvement that Jordan Love made in recent weeks has been enormous. A month ago, I had huge doubts that Love was going to be the Packers long term answer at QB. Now, I think there's a very realistic chance that Love is the Packers long term answer at QB. ****
Another week, another quarterback having his best day against Detroit. At this point, you have to worry about the state of the defense, which has played like one of the league’s worst for a month-plus now.
**** The Lions certainly need James Houston back at a relatively healthy level.****
You have to worry about Jared Goff, too.
He’s turned the Lions’ offense into one of the league’s best over the last calendar year, and has been especially good at taking care of the football. But he followed up his three-pick game on Sunday with a three-fumble game on Thanksgiving, two of which came in the first quarter, and one of which was returned by safety Jonathan Owens for a touchdown. With the defense whiffing against Love on the other side of the ball, Detroit fell behind by double digits for the third time in five weeks.
**** IMHO, the forced play that Jonathan Owens returned for a TD was much more on Corby Sorsdal (who was beat by Kenny Clark), followed by Taylor Decker, than on Jared Goff. Rashan Gary made a great play by causing the forced fumble, after beating Decker. I'm not even sure that it definitely was a fumble. At the very least Goff came close to make a forward pass. Regardless, Gary hit Goff's throwing arm. ****
Does that really sound like a team ready for the playoffs to you?
Luckily they have another six weeks before the postseason arrives, and remain virtual locks for the tournament. But with the way they’ve been trending on defense and at quarterback, obvious work remains for this memorable season to remain on track in January.
****The Lions are still mathematically in great shape to make the playoffs. But even making the playoffs should be taken for granted. ****
Let’s get to some more instant observations:
-- Aaron Glenn, right now. The time for answers is right now. Glenn’s been talking up this defense for a long time now, and the time for him to show what he’s talking about -- what his defense is about -- is right freaking now, before this wonderful season goes up in flames. The Lions were able to battle back for consecutive dramatic wins against the Chargers and Bears despite woeful defensive performances, but they got another dud on Thanksgiving against Jordan Love, and the offense wasn’t nearly good enough to make up for it this time. Detroit now has a bottom-five EPA over the last month, and it has come against three straight losing teams. What happens when the Lions face someone actually good? Like, you know, in the playoffs? They just need competent defense, and their offense will carry them to a lot of wins. But these days, there not getting even close to that low bar. There isn’t enough pressure on the quarterback -- they never sacked Love, the fourth time this season they were blanked -- and there definitely isn’t enough coverage in the back end. Why are receivers getting so much cushion? Where are the adjustments? When are the answers going to come? Will they come?
**** The Packers coaches had more answers in this game than the Lions coaches. ****
-- What happened to Jared Goff? Not only has he been really good for the last two calendar years, he’s been really good at protecting the football too. He gave away the football just five times in the first nine games of the season -- and now he’s given it away six times in the last four days, throwing three picks against Chicago and then losing three fumbles against Green Bay, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Goff first lost the football while under duress by former Michigan star Rashan Gary, and Jonathan Owens returned the loose leather for a score that buried Detroit in a 20-6 hole. Then on the very next series, Goff was trying to make too much happen on a scramble and lost another fumble on third-and-5. Then as the Lions tried to battle back from a 29-14 deficit in the fourth quarter, Goff coughed up the football again when hit by Gary on fourth-and-7.
**** If the Lions Offensive Line continues to play like the unit did against the Packers, fumbles and interceptions are inevitable. ****
Goff missed a wide-open Sam LaPorta on a third-down play, killing another drive, and was flagged for a costly grounding penalty at the end of the first half. He also threw a couple footballs at the feet of Jahmyr Gibbs on short routes in the flat. He had happy feet all afternoon, never looked all that comfortable, and finished 29 of 44 passing for 332 yards, two touchdowns and the three turnovers. He’s now played two of his worst games in a year in back-to-back weeks.
**** The high 3rd Down throw to Sam LaPorta that ended a 2nd QTR drive, was very costly. That's a play Goff had enough protection. ****
-- The Lions stood pat on defense at the trade deadline, but were thrilled to be able to acquire Donovan Peoples-Jones at the trade deadline. But through two games, he’s been a total no-show. He didn’t catch his only target in his debut last week, and the only time his name was called on Thanksgiving was when he lined up illegally on what appeared to be his first play of the game. Jameson Williams is trending up, but with Marvin Jones now separated from the team, Detroit still needs more depth at receiver. Through two games, Peoples-Jones hasn’t helped at all.
**** DPJ lining up Offside was the play right before what turned out to be the sack/ forced fumble/ return for a TD by Owens. DJP erased a 3 yard rushing gain by Jahymr Gibbs, that would have been the situation 3rd and 4, instead of 2nd and 12.****
-- Dan Campbell has stolen possesions and won games with his daring ways. No one has gone for it more times since that man took over in Detroit, and no one has faked more punts too. He’s done it backed up in his own territory, like in Kansas City, which led to the Lions’ first points at Arrowhead and helped set the tone for a huge win. But those are gambles for a reason -- they don’t always work, even when the odds are in your favor -- and a big one backfired against Green Bay. Campbell dialed up another fake punt backed up in his own territory in the third quarter, and Jalen Reeves-Maybin picked up just 1 yard on the direct snap. Three plays later, Jordan Love uncorked a 16-yard touchdown pass to Christian Watson on third down, stretching its lead out to 29-14 with 3:30 left in the third quarter. There’s no doubt Campbell’s daring ways have helped the Lions, but this one put another nail in their coffin against Green Bay.
**** Attempting a Fake Punt is one thing. Doing it with a play call that didn't look like it would be a successful fake, is the issue I have with the call. Based on the Packers look, the Lions should have punted. ****
-- Rookie Colby Sorsdal earned a second straight for Jonah Jackson at left guard, but was pulled in favor of Kayode Awosika at halfitme. Sorsdal had some struggles last week too, but Dan Campbell said he was impressed with how the fifth-round pick finished the game. Four days later, there were more struggles, Jared Goff faced pressure on 45% of his dropbacks in the first half, and Sorsdal got the hook during intermission.
**** The hook occurred before intermission. ****
-- For the second straight week, Jameson Williams caught two passes that made a big impact. He took a short slant for 13 yards on third-and-7 to extend a scoring drive in the first half, then hauled in a 38-yard catch-and-run that helped advance the football during that failed comeback in the fourth quarter. He can fly, that’s for sure, and the catches are starting to come too.
**** Jameson Williams is making progress, but he also apparently didn't look for the Flea Flicker Pass that he should have made the adjustment too. Williams has been inconsistent as a blocker in the last couple of games, but the effort is there. ****
-- The loss snaps a four-game winning streak against Green Bay, and a seven-game winning streak against the NFC North, both of which are franchise records in the Super Bowl era. Detroit has now lost seven straight games on Thanksgiving overall, dating back to Matt Prater’s game-winning field goal against Chicago in 2016.
**** The Lions lost 16 out of the last 20 games on Thanksgiving Day, and 18 out of the last 23. Pathetic, considering the Lions have been home on a short week for all of these games. ****
-- And with that, the advanced analytics everyone has been waiting for: 55 gallons of cranberry sauce, 100 gallons of gravy, 500 pounds of corn on the cob, 700 pounds of green beans, 1,500 turkey legs, 2,000 pounds of stuffing, 3,500 pounds of turkey, 3,000 pounds of mashed potatoes and 3,500 slices of pie. Thanksgiving at Ford Field, a tradition unlike any other.
.............
This new thread is a continuation of the following thread:
Lions vs. Packers preview: Game # 11 ( 2023 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1948/lions-packers-preview-game-2023?page=1&scrollTo=9371