Week 4, 2019 Kansas City Chiefs vs the Detroit Lions @ Home

Mistakes.

The 2-1-1 Detroit Lions gave away game 4 of the 2019 season to the 4-0 Kansas City Chiefs 30-34. Of course the national talking heads say the Lions played well and the Chiefs played poorly but managed a win anyway. I think it was more an equal matchup then anything, with the difference being one too many mistakes by the losing team. Both teams did a lot of things right, but both teams messed things up a bit here and there too. Overall, it was another nail biter that the Lions defense gave up the losing TD... no wait... it was the offense the fumbled in the endzone and the chiefs ran it back for a TD... or was it the TD catch that was called incomplete after the review showed some air between the ball and the body so the process was once again not completed. Yeah it was all those things, but any one of them would have made the difference in a 4 point game. What's worse, had those calls all gone the Lions way (we're talking inches here, if that much) the Lions might have actually won this game by multiple scores. So you national talking heads, the Lions did not play well, they played just as well as the Chiefs, which is to say, with mistakes.

Matthew Stafford was 21 of 34 (61.76%) for 291 yards 3 touchdowns and no interceptions and 1 fumble lost. The offense also produced 186 yards of rushing plays (18 by Stafford). I already mentioned the fumble that was returned for a touchdown, that was Kerryon Johnson trying to score a TD on another rushing play. Overall though, the Lions scored 30 points, it might have been more with fewer mistakes, but usually 30 is adequate to win a football game.

Now the defense did a lot right too. They allowed Patrick Mahommes to go only 24 of 42 (57.14%) for 315 yards (lots of yards after the catch) and no touchdowns and no interceptions along with 54 yards rushing (converting some key third downs). Overall the Lions defense allowed a total of 123 yards rushing and 3 TDs and recovered 3 fumbles. In other words, some really good plays to mix in with some mistakes. Not there were a lot of mistakes, just poorly timed ones as it turns out.

It was a game that was both fun to watch and moments of suspense that could test the heart of any Lions fan. It means the Lions are improving as they can hang with a top 5 team, and if they can limit even one more key mistake in this kind of game, they could beat that team. The Lions have a bye week for week 5, so no Lions football for 2 weeks. That's good though, Lions were playing without some starters, namely slot WR Amendola, both 3 tech DTs and their top CB Slay (S Diggs when out early, CB Ford was also out for part of the game and TE Hockenson went down in the 2nd half into the concussion protocol when he failed to hurdle the defender he was trying to hurdle). As it turns out, the Lions need a week off to heal up before they head to Green Bay in a very important divisional game. Here's hoping for fewer mistakes (for the Lions) that game.

Week 3, 2019 Detroit Lions @ Philadelphia Eagles

Just Enough

The 2-0-1 Detroit Lions narrowly defeated the 1-2 Philadelphia Eagles 27-24. It was an edge of the seat type of a game where the Lions could have won (as in put the game away) a number of times, or got behind and eventually lose a number of times, right up to the final seconds of the game. Mistakes were made by both teams, and mistakes were made by many a Lion at different points in the game. It was not a sure thing at any time and it was not a clean game. It was just enough, barely.

Matthew Stafford was 18 of 32 (56.25%) for 201 yards and a TD with no INT and perhaps most importantly for the offensive line, no sacks. While the completion percentage was down from where I'd prefer it to be, and there were some errant throws, there were also times when it was better to throw it away... besides, Stafford's numbers for this game are nearly identical to Rodgers stats in their Denver game (that they won today) so it's hard to point a mean finger at the QB even if there are definitely things he needs to clear up if they are to have any hope next week. The run game resulted in 86 yards total, but 44 of those came from one play by McKissic.

The Lions defense allowed Carson Wentz to complete 19 of 36 passes (52.78%) for 259 yards and 2 TDs and no INTs. There was 127 yards rushing allowed as well. However, there was a couple of fumble recoveries and a couple of sacks that, along with penalties, both helped and hurt the Lions cause. Overall it was just enough for a win.

I could rag some more on the coaches, but the team had the odds of losing set at 7.5 so to get a win, even if it got close and was at times kind of ugly, is a victory, as in, just enough of a decent game plan to make it work.

Next week the Lions have the 3-0 Kansas City Chiefs coming to town, a team that just beat the pretty decent defense of the Baltimore Ravens today. The Lions are going to need some top notch play from the O, D and special teams (along with coaching) to do just enough to win that game... and even then it might not be enough. Let's just say I'm not placing any bets on the Lions next week.

Week 2 2019 Detroit Lions vs LA Chargers @ Home

A whole lot.

The 1-0-1 Detroit Lions narrowly beat the 1-1 LA Chargers at home week two with a score of 13-10. Mistakes (a whole lot of them) were made by both teams, including missed field goals, extra points, dropped passes, interceptions, penalties (a whole lot of them too) and even some questionable coaching decisions (again). So a normal week two game in other words. In the end though, the scoreboard shows the Lions as the winning team, which due to other scores around the league puts the Lions in 2nd place in the division behind the Packers.

Matthew Stafford was 22 of 30 (73.33%) for 245 yards 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions (though one INT was solely due to the WR muffing the catch in the endzone and hitting the ball into the defenders hands). The offense managed to put up 94 yards rushing using all the running backs (except for the fullback) that were active. All the TEs had at least one catch as well. In fact, Amendola is the only WR to not have a catch in the game, so the ball was definitely shared around. But the biggest news on offense, and this is despite starting Crosby at left tackle and Dahl at left guard, Stafford was sacked ZERO times, that's a whole lot different then usual.

Now the defense kept Phillip Rivers to 21 of 36 (58.33%) for 293 yards no touchdowns and one interception. But the Lions defense also allowed 137 yards rushing. So apparently the game plan was not to stop the run as much as the pass, and it worked, barely.

The coaching was a bit better, even though I think the Lions should have been calling timeouts at the end of the 2nd quarter when they had the Chargers penned back at their 5 yard line with about a minute to go, they might have been able to get the ball back around mid-field and possibly get themselves in a position for another field goal attempt (not going to say points, as Prater missed an extra point and a field goal this game). Basically, at different times during the game, mistakes were made by all the normal culprits, and yet, they created some issues for the Chargers as well, and ended up with the winning score, so I'm not going to be too critical this week... I'll save that for later if it'll be needed.

Next week the Lions play the Eagles in Philadelphia, a team I'll be watching Sunday night. Hopefully the Lions can continue to work on what needs work and put on a better show next week, just for my hearts sake... I'm not enjoying the ups and downs of these too close games. I am enjoying the Lions haven't lost a game yet in 2019 (ties don't count as a loss my friends) and are only a half game behind the Packers for the lead in the division, so that more then anything is why I would love to see a win against the Eagles, but that can only happen if the Lions can tighten things up a whole lot by next weekend.

Week 1 2019... Detroit Lions @ the Arizona Cardinals

Coaching.

The 0-0-1 Detroit Lions tied the 0-0-1 Arizona Cardinals 27-27 in week 1 of the 2019 season. The Lions played a dominating game for two and a half quarters, then the Cardinals started making their move (or is it moves). Helped along by what would have been a game winning first down that never happened in the fourth quarter (because the coaches called a last second time out that no player knew about) the Lions never were able to get back their swagger. The team wasn't ready to play (which seems like this will be a regular thing every year for the first few weeks) and the lack of a win this game can be easily blamed on the coaching... and the offensive line (looking at you Decker) and I suppose I have to add in Agnew who muffed a punt and Stafford who lost a fumble (when the DE smacked him in the blind side due to Decker). Mostly though, I blame coaching.

Stafford was 27 of 45 (60%) for 385 yards 3 TDs 0 INTs and 1 Fumble lost. There was also 32 run plays for 116 yards, of which 3 were from Stafford for 22 yards, so without the QB runs they would've failed to surpass 100 yards. Almost makes me think that firing Cooter hasn't improved anything and may have done the opposite, but it's early yet, and who knows, maybe the coaching will improve?

By the way, the first round TE they selected in the 2019 draft was lead yards with 6 catches for 131 yards, but Amendola had more catches making for 7 catches and 104 yards. So the additions to the team appear to be contributing well.

Now the Lions defense started off terrific then couldn't stop a rookie QB from tying up the game. Rookie Kyler Murray was 29 of 54 (53.7%) for 308 yards 2 TDs and 1 INT and no fumbles. The defense also allowed 23 run plays for 112 yards.

Pretty much every Lions fan and some Cardinals fans would all agree the Lions should have won this game. But they barely managed to end the game with a tie after being up 3 scores at one point... even losing the lead in overtime for one series. It was a horribly coached game to watch in my opinion. But, just like last year, I expect things will get better. They pretty much have to... or it will get ugly. Now when I say coaching I'm not just talking play calling, or clock management, or timeouts, or anything else that went wrong during the game... as I am talking all of that... but I am also talking having the players conditioned enough to make it to the end of the game still playing well, and ready to play to win without letting up off the gas. All of it, pretty much from the end of July to a couple of hours ago.

Next week the Lions play home against the LA Chargers, who barely won their game today against the Colts and a rookie QB by a score of 30 to 24 in overtime. Appears on paper to be an evenly matched game coming next week. Of course the paper doesn't show the coaching, so both teams are up against it somewhat. My prediction, the Lions win by a point (if the crowd is loud when the Lions are on defense). Because believe you me, the coaches will need all the help they can get... from the players and from the fans. But after today the fans might not be so patient, so I hope the 1st quarter goes well in favor of the Lions to keep everyone feeling good (versus how the fans feel now, which is somewhere between sick to their stomach and angry).