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).