Pride of Detroit
The playoff dream is not officially dead, but we are firmly in miracle territory.
For the first time since 2022, the Detroit Lions have lost back-to-back games, and it came at the worst possible moment. A week after losing to the Los Angeles Rams in a barnburner, the Lions fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a battle of ineptitude. Detroit now sits with a 8-7 record on the year and their playoff chances sit at six percent. Not only do they not control their own fate, they will need significant help from the football gods. Yet even if they make the playoffs against all odds, do we have any faith of a playoff run? The team looks lifeless and, given the onslaught that will be the NFC playoff bracket, they are not threatening anyone.
I found some winners and losers from this unfortunate loss, but I would not blame you for listing the entire team as an outright loser. Littles victories matter little when the season is almost over.
Any number of things can shoulder the blame for this inept run game: the offensive line for not opening lanes, the running backs for failing to capitalize on opportunities, the defense for falling behind and forcing the run game to get abandoned, or passing game for floundering. This section is, in essence, a summary of multiple losers. However, the blame has to rest on Hank Fraley.
The offensive line coach and run game coordinator has looked completely outmatched for the previous two games—the strength of the 2024 Lions has evaporated. Last season, Detroit was dominant in the trenches, instilling the fear of God in opposing defenses with the speed and power of their linemen and running backs. This year, the Lions are the ones getting bullied. The Lions finished with 16 yards on 11 carries between Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Gibbs had seven carries for a mere two yards—TWO YARDS! We know how talented Gibbs is, so this output (or lack thereof) is downright disgusting from the run game. How can I list Gibbs as a Loser when he got hit in the backfield on most of his carries? No running back can succeed in that environment.
Aside from Penei Sewell, nobody is reliable on a weekly basis. Taylor Decker has battled injuries all season. Tate Ratledge has rookie growing pains. Nobody has been able to solidify the left guard or center positions. The Lions live and die by their run game, and the run game lives and dies by their offensive line. Fraley’s crew doesn’t have it this year.
Worse yet, this was a game in which the scheme truly failed the Lions. On multiple occasions, the backs were getting stopped in the backfield due to an untouched defender. Edges like Alex Highsmith were crashing down on run plays throughout the day, but the Lions never adjusted. The Lions kept pulling their guards, yet the guards continuously failed to get to their...
