Post by D6 on Dec 27, 2020 3:22:11 GMT -5
Thoughts in ****
Quick observations: Lions giving off 2008 vibes after embarrassing 47-7 loss against Bucs
Updated Dec 26, 2020; Posted Dec 26, 2020
Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – December 26, 2020
By Kyle Meinke | kmeinke@mlive.com
Kyle Meinke - mlive.com
Read articles written by Kyle Meinke for mlive.com.
DETROIT -- The Lions have lost more games than anyone in NFL history. They were the first team to lose 16 games in a season. They’re still the only team to exist for all the Super Bowls and not make any of them.
Nobody has ever lost quite like the Detroit Lions, and nobody watching the Detroit Lions has to be told that. The futility speaks for itself.
But it doesn’t feel like an overreaction to say three years after Matt Patricia was hired to bring his defense to Detroit, this defense just might be the worst in franchise history.
They headed into the final two games needing to allow fewer than 850 yards to avoid setting the franchise record for defensive futility, then gave up 410 yards of it in the first half of their 47-7 loss against Tampa Bay on Saturday afternoon at Ford Field. Yes, 47-7. That 40-point deficit was just six points off the franchise record.
The Lions (5-10) allowed 588 yards for the game, even though Blaine Gabbert played the entire final two quarters.
Yes, that Blaine Gabbert.
Tom Brady led Tampa Bay to touchdowns on five of his six series and sprayed scoring passes all over the yard to Rob Gronkowski, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown. He completed 22 of 27 passes for 348 yards overall while helping the Bucs sprint to a 34-0 lead at halftime.
Yes, a 34-0 lead. At halftime.
That 34-point deficit was just one point off the Lions record, and again, this is the Detroit Lions we’re talking about. Nobody has ever lost quite like them, and even they had almost never lost quite like this.
Then the Lions got the ball to open the second half. D’Andre Swift fumbled on the first play, and Blaine Gabbert replaced Brady and threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Gronkowski on his very first play. So for those scoring at home: Detroit was just one point off its worst halftime deficit in team history, then gave up another touchdown just two plays into the second half -- despite the fact Detroit got the ball to open the second half, and Tampa had mercifully lifted its quarterback.
They trailed 47-7 before they ever even crossed into Tampa territory, with the lone points coming on a punt return by Jamal Agnew. The offense never did score. The numbers are so crooked as to almost strain belief. Unless, of course, you’ve been paying attention to the Matt Patricia era in Detroit. Because the Matt Patricia era in Detroit -- from bragging about rocket science to whatever this is -- strains belief. And they’re left with a noncompetitive mess that could go down as the worst defense ever in the long, sordid history of this franchise.
Of course, it’s not like the Lions got many breaks either. They played this game without defensive starters like Trey Flowers, Danny Shelton, Jamie Collins, Desmond Trufant and Jayron Kearse, not to mention struggling first-round pick Jeff Okudah. They also lost every defensive position coach to COVID protocols, along with coordinator Cory Undlin. Robert Prince was the interim interim head coach. Throw in the firing of Brayden Coombs, and Detroit was without all three coordinators.
That left a research assistant, Evan Rothstein, to call plays for a defense that was among the worst in the league at full strength, and now was missing five starters. Against anybody, Rothstein wouldn’t have had much of a shot. Against Tom Brady, well, you get this -- one of the most uncompetitive halves of NFL football you will ever see.
It also didn’t help that Matthew Stafford left the game after just one series after rolling his right ankle. He tried to get a tape job on the sideline and gut it out, but remained in so much pain that he couldn’t put any pressure on the foot. Detroit called a cart to take him to the locker room, but the prideful Stafford refused, instead hopping in frustration up the tunnel. With that, you have to wonder whether his season is over.
Detroit wraps up the season, mercifully, next week against the Minnesota Vikings. It has now lost seven of its last nine games and officially has double-digit losses for the third straight season. The last time that happened: 2008-10.
Sure seems like this team is drawing a lot of comparisons to 2008 these days, doesn’t it?
**** The ankle injury to Matthew Stafford not only derailed the Lions Offense. It likely led to the Bucs getting 1 to 2 more possessions on Offense in the first half. The Lions Defense was overmatched entering the day. With practically no help from the Lions Offense, the Lions Defense was on the field most of the first half. The result became predictable once Chase Daniel showed once and for all that he's no longer a viable # 2 QB option in the NFL.
If Matthew Stafford is ruled out of the season finale vs. the Vikings, if Darrell Bevell wants to be an NFL Head Coach in the future, he must start David Blough. Granted, Blough will likely make his share of mistakes. But at least with Blough, the Lions have a vertical passing game. The injury to Stafford on the Lions first possession was unfortunate and it led to a non competitive game. Yet, the injury also should make the next Lions GM realize that he needs a better # 2 QB than Daniel. ****
Let’s just get onto some observations.
-- I know how much Matthew Stafford wants to play for his team, for his city, and it’s commendable. It’s one of the few redeeming things about this team. This might be the worst defense in franchise history. The running game has produced exactly one 100-yard rusher and continues to rank in the bottom half of the league. Eight starters didn’t play in this game. Five coaches didn’t coach in this game, and that doesn’t include the special teams coordinator who was fired for insubordination. So, yeah, Matthew Stafford playing through torn cartilage in his ribs and a partially torn ligament in his throwing hand is one of the best things going on in Detroit right now. Having said that, it’s time to shut him down. Nothing good can happen by trying to play through the ribs and the hand and now the ankle injury that shut him down after just one series against Tampa Bay. Detroit finished the game with its third-string center thanks to the injuries to Frank Ragnow and Joe Dahl. Time to pull the plug before something bad happens. There’s just no upside whatsoever to playing him against Minnesota next week.
**** I realized Joe Dahl didn't play in the 2nd Half but there was no mention in the TV broadcast of the game that the decision was injury related.
If Matthew Stafford is healthy enough to play effectively, my guess us he will play vs. the Vikings. The ankle injury by itself easily could prevent him from playing.****
-- It actually looked like the defense might build some momentum to start the game, with Jahlani Tavai busting through the line on the blitz and sacking Brady. Yes, that Jahlani Tavai. Yes, really. Of course, Everson Griffen jumped offside on the play. Brady had all day to find Chris Godwin for an 8-yard chain-mover on the re-do, connected with Mike Evans on a 33-yard bomb on the very next play, hit Rob Gronkowski with a 33-yard touchdown pass two plays after that and Tampa never, ever looked back.
**** Everson Griffen clearly was offside on the play. The play result turned out to be the beginning of the end for the Lions in the game. As for Jahlini Tavai, his limited athletic ability and lack of awareness showed up in pass coverage in this game. Not a surprise. ****
-- Watching Chase Daniel fail to cross midfield on eight drives offers a chilling reminder of just how badly Bob Quinn bungled the quarterback position. He used the third overall pick on a cornerback instead of a quarterback like Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert because he thought he could win this season. But that hasn’t happened, and it’s not like Jeff Okudah has even been a plus-contributor anyway (and now he’s on injured reserve). Instead, Quinn spent $10 million to go get a veteran quarterback to back up Stafford, and now that veteran backup couldn’t even cross midfield on 10 series. What a waste of time and resources.
**** The Chase Daniel contract and overall decision to sign him turned out to be a huge mistake.
It remains to be seen if Tua is going to stay healthy enough and long enough to be a long term solution.
Justin Herbert looks like a long term solution. Far better than Joey Harrington, the Oregon QB the Lions took with pick # 3 in 2001. Having said this, it's best for Herbert that he wasn't drafted by the Lions because of the results of the Harrington selection. ****
-- Listen, D’Andre Swift looks like a playmaker. Running, catching, doesn’t matter. The guy is explosive. But man has the guy been prone to big mistakes too. He dropped the game-winning touchdown pass in the final seconds against Chicago, then fumbled at the goal line last week in Tennesee before fumbling on the first play of the second half against Tampa Bay. One play later, Rob Gronkowski was standing in the end zone with his second touchdown of the day and a 40-0 lead.
**** Next season' D'Andre Swift will no longer be a rookie and hopefully will be more fortunate from an injury standpoint. Swift should benefit greatly if there's a much more normal off-season than was the case this year. He needs more hands on coaching with fundamentals. ****
-- In Week 16, Detroit’s third-round pick finally recorded his first NFL statistic. Julian Okwara was activated from injured reserve this week and came off the bench to record two tackles, including one for loss. Hard to think of this as anything but a disappointing rookie season for Okwara. Seems like there’s a lot of that going around.
**** Though it was garbage time, Julian Okwara did a good job. He clearly has substantial upside potential. ****
-- Everson Griffen made his return after missing two games due to testing positive for COVID-19. Griffen recorded a sack for the fourth time in just six games with Detroit, which is impressive, but also jumped offside on the third play of the game. Detroit’s defense could have gotten off the field right there. Instead, well, you already know.
**** The # 1 issue with Everson Griffen with the Vikings over the years was his history of jumping offsides. Huge mistake by Griffen in a game the Lions had very little margin of error. ****
-- Joe Dahl earned a second start at center with Frank Ragnow still working his way back from a fractured throat. Then Dahl left the game in the third quarter with a back injury, forcing someone named Evan Brown into the game at center. Brown was signed to the practice squad earlier this season and was elevated for the week.
**** Joe Dahl's snap when no one was ready ( I realize the play clock was winding down ) led to a 3rd Down sack.
When factoring in Dahl's injuries and contract, he might have played his last game for the Lions. ****
-- Brayden Coombs called a fake punt in the fourth quarter without his head coach’s knowledge or approval. That’s insubordination. In the NFL, that’s a fireable offense. And for a Lions organization that’s trying to get its house in order after the Matt Patricia era, it makes sense they would fire Coombs, no matter how popular he was or how good his special teams were. And make no mistake, his special teams continue to be very good. Coombs has been talking for weeks about how the return game was close to busting out, and Jamal Agnew did just that, returning a punt 74 yards for a touchdown in his first game since Coombs’ firing. That snapped Tampa’s 40-0 scoring run to open the game and accounted for Detroit’s only points of the day.
**** The Lions need to re-sign Jamal Agnew. He's a differential player. ****
Of course, Mike Ford was flagged for taunting on the play while the Ford Field DJ started playing “Can’t Stop Me Now.” Guys, you allowed the first 40 points of the game. Everyone can stop you. Perhaps you should save the taunting for when you’re not a citywide embarrassment.
**** Taunting never should occur. That much more when you are still down by 34 points! Boneheaded play! ****
-- Agnew has returned four punts for touchdowns in his career, by the way, a franchise record. His five return touchdowns overall are a league high since he was drafted in 2017. It never worked out for him as a cornerback and he’s rarely been more than a gadget guy at receiver, but that man can flat out return the football. Will be interesting to see how the Lions handle his contract situation. Agnew is eligible to become a free agent in March.
**** The Lions need to be proactive well before the start of the FA period in Mid March in getting Agnew re-signed.****
-- Safety Tracy Walker earned the start with Jayron Kearse in street clothes because of a hip injury. It was Walker’s first start since Nov. 1. He finished with a team-high nine tackles, including one for loss.
**** Tracy Walker did a pretty good overall job in this game. However, the Lions were hurt by Jayron Kearse being out. ****
-- Punter Jack Fox officially averaged the highest gross (49.4) and net average (45.1) by any player in NFL history through his first 50 attempts.
**** This was far from Jack Fox's best game. But it was still a decent punting performance. ****
-- Long snapper Don Muhlbach played in his 259th career game, moving him into a tie with Hall-of-Famer Jackie Slater for 38th on the all-time list. That’s impressive. He’s second in Lions history, trailing only Jason Hanson. Of course, playing so many games for the losingest franchise ever means he’s seen a lot of hard days as well. He’s now dressed for 164 losses. Only six men have ever lost more games than that guy. He says he hasn’t made a decision on whether to return next year, but it’s hard to imagine anyone deserving to finally win more than that guy. He’s wrapping up 17 seasons without ever winning a division title, without ever so much as winning a playoff game. And with the Lions headed for another reboot, it’s unclear what his future holds.
**** Don Muhlbach's contribution to Jack Fox having a Pro Bowl season, should continue to provide dividends for the Lions, long after Muhlbach is done playing in the NFL. ****
-- Chris Spielman, hired as a special assistant to Rod Wood and Sheila Ford Hamp, still isn’t in Allen Park. But he was at Ford Field for the game, and spent much of warmups on the field chatting with players and having a long conversation with Wood. Spielman is advising the search for general manager and head coach, and will continue in a full-time role when those searches are over. Spielman was Detroit’s second-round pick in 1988 and still holds the franchise record for tackles.
**** The highlight of the day for the Lions was Chris Spielman being on the field before the game in his new job with with the Lions. ****
-- The Lions held a moment of silence before the anthem for Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, who passed away last week after a battle with COVID. Napolean and Lions director of security Elton Moore were close friends.
**** Good job by the Lions organization under a extremely difficult circumstance. ****
......
This new thread is a continuation of the following thread:
Lions vs. Bucs preview: Game # 15 ( 2020 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/853/lions-bucs-preview-game-2020
Quick observations: Lions giving off 2008 vibes after embarrassing 47-7 loss against Bucs
Updated Dec 26, 2020; Posted Dec 26, 2020
Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – December 26, 2020
By Kyle Meinke | kmeinke@mlive.com
Kyle Meinke - mlive.com
Read articles written by Kyle Meinke for mlive.com.
DETROIT -- The Lions have lost more games than anyone in NFL history. They were the first team to lose 16 games in a season. They’re still the only team to exist for all the Super Bowls and not make any of them.
Nobody has ever lost quite like the Detroit Lions, and nobody watching the Detroit Lions has to be told that. The futility speaks for itself.
But it doesn’t feel like an overreaction to say three years after Matt Patricia was hired to bring his defense to Detroit, this defense just might be the worst in franchise history.
They headed into the final two games needing to allow fewer than 850 yards to avoid setting the franchise record for defensive futility, then gave up 410 yards of it in the first half of their 47-7 loss against Tampa Bay on Saturday afternoon at Ford Field. Yes, 47-7. That 40-point deficit was just six points off the franchise record.
The Lions (5-10) allowed 588 yards for the game, even though Blaine Gabbert played the entire final two quarters.
Yes, that Blaine Gabbert.
Tom Brady led Tampa Bay to touchdowns on five of his six series and sprayed scoring passes all over the yard to Rob Gronkowski, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown. He completed 22 of 27 passes for 348 yards overall while helping the Bucs sprint to a 34-0 lead at halftime.
Yes, a 34-0 lead. At halftime.
That 34-point deficit was just one point off the Lions record, and again, this is the Detroit Lions we’re talking about. Nobody has ever lost quite like them, and even they had almost never lost quite like this.
Then the Lions got the ball to open the second half. D’Andre Swift fumbled on the first play, and Blaine Gabbert replaced Brady and threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Gronkowski on his very first play. So for those scoring at home: Detroit was just one point off its worst halftime deficit in team history, then gave up another touchdown just two plays into the second half -- despite the fact Detroit got the ball to open the second half, and Tampa had mercifully lifted its quarterback.
They trailed 47-7 before they ever even crossed into Tampa territory, with the lone points coming on a punt return by Jamal Agnew. The offense never did score. The numbers are so crooked as to almost strain belief. Unless, of course, you’ve been paying attention to the Matt Patricia era in Detroit. Because the Matt Patricia era in Detroit -- from bragging about rocket science to whatever this is -- strains belief. And they’re left with a noncompetitive mess that could go down as the worst defense ever in the long, sordid history of this franchise.
Of course, it’s not like the Lions got many breaks either. They played this game without defensive starters like Trey Flowers, Danny Shelton, Jamie Collins, Desmond Trufant and Jayron Kearse, not to mention struggling first-round pick Jeff Okudah. They also lost every defensive position coach to COVID protocols, along with coordinator Cory Undlin. Robert Prince was the interim interim head coach. Throw in the firing of Brayden Coombs, and Detroit was without all three coordinators.
That left a research assistant, Evan Rothstein, to call plays for a defense that was among the worst in the league at full strength, and now was missing five starters. Against anybody, Rothstein wouldn’t have had much of a shot. Against Tom Brady, well, you get this -- one of the most uncompetitive halves of NFL football you will ever see.
It also didn’t help that Matthew Stafford left the game after just one series after rolling his right ankle. He tried to get a tape job on the sideline and gut it out, but remained in so much pain that he couldn’t put any pressure on the foot. Detroit called a cart to take him to the locker room, but the prideful Stafford refused, instead hopping in frustration up the tunnel. With that, you have to wonder whether his season is over.
Detroit wraps up the season, mercifully, next week against the Minnesota Vikings. It has now lost seven of its last nine games and officially has double-digit losses for the third straight season. The last time that happened: 2008-10.
Sure seems like this team is drawing a lot of comparisons to 2008 these days, doesn’t it?
**** The ankle injury to Matthew Stafford not only derailed the Lions Offense. It likely led to the Bucs getting 1 to 2 more possessions on Offense in the first half. The Lions Defense was overmatched entering the day. With practically no help from the Lions Offense, the Lions Defense was on the field most of the first half. The result became predictable once Chase Daniel showed once and for all that he's no longer a viable # 2 QB option in the NFL.
If Matthew Stafford is ruled out of the season finale vs. the Vikings, if Darrell Bevell wants to be an NFL Head Coach in the future, he must start David Blough. Granted, Blough will likely make his share of mistakes. But at least with Blough, the Lions have a vertical passing game. The injury to Stafford on the Lions first possession was unfortunate and it led to a non competitive game. Yet, the injury also should make the next Lions GM realize that he needs a better # 2 QB than Daniel. ****
Let’s just get onto some observations.
-- I know how much Matthew Stafford wants to play for his team, for his city, and it’s commendable. It’s one of the few redeeming things about this team. This might be the worst defense in franchise history. The running game has produced exactly one 100-yard rusher and continues to rank in the bottom half of the league. Eight starters didn’t play in this game. Five coaches didn’t coach in this game, and that doesn’t include the special teams coordinator who was fired for insubordination. So, yeah, Matthew Stafford playing through torn cartilage in his ribs and a partially torn ligament in his throwing hand is one of the best things going on in Detroit right now. Having said that, it’s time to shut him down. Nothing good can happen by trying to play through the ribs and the hand and now the ankle injury that shut him down after just one series against Tampa Bay. Detroit finished the game with its third-string center thanks to the injuries to Frank Ragnow and Joe Dahl. Time to pull the plug before something bad happens. There’s just no upside whatsoever to playing him against Minnesota next week.
**** I realized Joe Dahl didn't play in the 2nd Half but there was no mention in the TV broadcast of the game that the decision was injury related.
If Matthew Stafford is healthy enough to play effectively, my guess us he will play vs. the Vikings. The ankle injury by itself easily could prevent him from playing.****
-- It actually looked like the defense might build some momentum to start the game, with Jahlani Tavai busting through the line on the blitz and sacking Brady. Yes, that Jahlani Tavai. Yes, really. Of course, Everson Griffen jumped offside on the play. Brady had all day to find Chris Godwin for an 8-yard chain-mover on the re-do, connected with Mike Evans on a 33-yard bomb on the very next play, hit Rob Gronkowski with a 33-yard touchdown pass two plays after that and Tampa never, ever looked back.
**** Everson Griffen clearly was offside on the play. The play result turned out to be the beginning of the end for the Lions in the game. As for Jahlini Tavai, his limited athletic ability and lack of awareness showed up in pass coverage in this game. Not a surprise. ****
-- Watching Chase Daniel fail to cross midfield on eight drives offers a chilling reminder of just how badly Bob Quinn bungled the quarterback position. He used the third overall pick on a cornerback instead of a quarterback like Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert because he thought he could win this season. But that hasn’t happened, and it’s not like Jeff Okudah has even been a plus-contributor anyway (and now he’s on injured reserve). Instead, Quinn spent $10 million to go get a veteran quarterback to back up Stafford, and now that veteran backup couldn’t even cross midfield on 10 series. What a waste of time and resources.
**** The Chase Daniel contract and overall decision to sign him turned out to be a huge mistake.
It remains to be seen if Tua is going to stay healthy enough and long enough to be a long term solution.
Justin Herbert looks like a long term solution. Far better than Joey Harrington, the Oregon QB the Lions took with pick # 3 in 2001. Having said this, it's best for Herbert that he wasn't drafted by the Lions because of the results of the Harrington selection. ****
-- Listen, D’Andre Swift looks like a playmaker. Running, catching, doesn’t matter. The guy is explosive. But man has the guy been prone to big mistakes too. He dropped the game-winning touchdown pass in the final seconds against Chicago, then fumbled at the goal line last week in Tennesee before fumbling on the first play of the second half against Tampa Bay. One play later, Rob Gronkowski was standing in the end zone with his second touchdown of the day and a 40-0 lead.
**** Next season' D'Andre Swift will no longer be a rookie and hopefully will be more fortunate from an injury standpoint. Swift should benefit greatly if there's a much more normal off-season than was the case this year. He needs more hands on coaching with fundamentals. ****
-- In Week 16, Detroit’s third-round pick finally recorded his first NFL statistic. Julian Okwara was activated from injured reserve this week and came off the bench to record two tackles, including one for loss. Hard to think of this as anything but a disappointing rookie season for Okwara. Seems like there’s a lot of that going around.
**** Though it was garbage time, Julian Okwara did a good job. He clearly has substantial upside potential. ****
-- Everson Griffen made his return after missing two games due to testing positive for COVID-19. Griffen recorded a sack for the fourth time in just six games with Detroit, which is impressive, but also jumped offside on the third play of the game. Detroit’s defense could have gotten off the field right there. Instead, well, you already know.
**** The # 1 issue with Everson Griffen with the Vikings over the years was his history of jumping offsides. Huge mistake by Griffen in a game the Lions had very little margin of error. ****
-- Joe Dahl earned a second start at center with Frank Ragnow still working his way back from a fractured throat. Then Dahl left the game in the third quarter with a back injury, forcing someone named Evan Brown into the game at center. Brown was signed to the practice squad earlier this season and was elevated for the week.
**** Joe Dahl's snap when no one was ready ( I realize the play clock was winding down ) led to a 3rd Down sack.
When factoring in Dahl's injuries and contract, he might have played his last game for the Lions. ****
-- Brayden Coombs called a fake punt in the fourth quarter without his head coach’s knowledge or approval. That’s insubordination. In the NFL, that’s a fireable offense. And for a Lions organization that’s trying to get its house in order after the Matt Patricia era, it makes sense they would fire Coombs, no matter how popular he was or how good his special teams were. And make no mistake, his special teams continue to be very good. Coombs has been talking for weeks about how the return game was close to busting out, and Jamal Agnew did just that, returning a punt 74 yards for a touchdown in his first game since Coombs’ firing. That snapped Tampa’s 40-0 scoring run to open the game and accounted for Detroit’s only points of the day.
**** The Lions need to re-sign Jamal Agnew. He's a differential player. ****
Of course, Mike Ford was flagged for taunting on the play while the Ford Field DJ started playing “Can’t Stop Me Now.” Guys, you allowed the first 40 points of the game. Everyone can stop you. Perhaps you should save the taunting for when you’re not a citywide embarrassment.
**** Taunting never should occur. That much more when you are still down by 34 points! Boneheaded play! ****
-- Agnew has returned four punts for touchdowns in his career, by the way, a franchise record. His five return touchdowns overall are a league high since he was drafted in 2017. It never worked out for him as a cornerback and he’s rarely been more than a gadget guy at receiver, but that man can flat out return the football. Will be interesting to see how the Lions handle his contract situation. Agnew is eligible to become a free agent in March.
**** The Lions need to be proactive well before the start of the FA period in Mid March in getting Agnew re-signed.****
-- Safety Tracy Walker earned the start with Jayron Kearse in street clothes because of a hip injury. It was Walker’s first start since Nov. 1. He finished with a team-high nine tackles, including one for loss.
**** Tracy Walker did a pretty good overall job in this game. However, the Lions were hurt by Jayron Kearse being out. ****
-- Punter Jack Fox officially averaged the highest gross (49.4) and net average (45.1) by any player in NFL history through his first 50 attempts.
**** This was far from Jack Fox's best game. But it was still a decent punting performance. ****
-- Long snapper Don Muhlbach played in his 259th career game, moving him into a tie with Hall-of-Famer Jackie Slater for 38th on the all-time list. That’s impressive. He’s second in Lions history, trailing only Jason Hanson. Of course, playing so many games for the losingest franchise ever means he’s seen a lot of hard days as well. He’s now dressed for 164 losses. Only six men have ever lost more games than that guy. He says he hasn’t made a decision on whether to return next year, but it’s hard to imagine anyone deserving to finally win more than that guy. He’s wrapping up 17 seasons without ever winning a division title, without ever so much as winning a playoff game. And with the Lions headed for another reboot, it’s unclear what his future holds.
**** Don Muhlbach's contribution to Jack Fox having a Pro Bowl season, should continue to provide dividends for the Lions, long after Muhlbach is done playing in the NFL. ****
-- Chris Spielman, hired as a special assistant to Rod Wood and Sheila Ford Hamp, still isn’t in Allen Park. But he was at Ford Field for the game, and spent much of warmups on the field chatting with players and having a long conversation with Wood. Spielman is advising the search for general manager and head coach, and will continue in a full-time role when those searches are over. Spielman was Detroit’s second-round pick in 1988 and still holds the franchise record for tackles.
**** The highlight of the day for the Lions was Chris Spielman being on the field before the game in his new job with with the Lions. ****
-- The Lions held a moment of silence before the anthem for Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, who passed away last week after a battle with COVID. Napolean and Lions director of security Elton Moore were close friends.
**** Good job by the Lions organization under a extremely difficult circumstance. ****
......
This new thread is a continuation of the following thread:
Lions vs. Bucs preview: Game # 15 ( 2020 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/853/lions-bucs-preview-game-2020
