All the hype, all the talent, and all losses for the Detroit Lions.
Following an 11-5 playoff berth season, the Lions have opened the 2015 season 0-3 and after only three weeks, many are ready to give up on this team while many already have.
While, yes, statistically the odds are highly against an 0-3 team making the playoffs but it is much too early to give up on this Lions team.
Long time Lions fans will remember the 1995 Lions who also started 0-3. Things didn’t get much better deep into the season. Nine games in, the Lions were 3-6 that year. Then they made a run.
The 1995 Lions went on a 7-game winning streak to end the season 10-6 and make the playoffs.
But that was then and this is now. Are there any real similarities between these two teams?
Yes, actually. The 1995 Lions were led by a duo of dangerous wide receivers in Herman Moore and Brett Perriman. The pair of receivers became the first teammates in NFL history to collect over 100 catches a piece in the same season.
I would say the wide receiver duo in Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate is better than Herman Moore and Brett Perriman.
However, the 1995 Detroit Lions also had Barry Sanders. There have been some comments made comparing Ameer Abdullah to Barry Sanders, but the rookie is no Barry. With the offensive line failing to block well and open holes, Detroit has no rushing attack at all. Abdullah could be electrifying, but unless he and the other Detroit running backs are given a little space, there will be nothing close to creating any semblance of balance the Lions had in 1995 with Barry rushing for 1,500 yards.
On the other hand, the 2015 Lions have many offensive weapons to add to their fantastic receiving duo, including Abdullah and an improved Eric Ebron. Both of these young Lions have a couple touchdowns in the first three games. Theo Riddick, who also has a touchdown this season, should be added to that list as well after proving to be a major receiving threat the last couple seasons.
Despite playoff caliber talent, Detroit’s offense ranks near the bottom of the league at 27th in total offense.
So how can Detroit possibly bounce back after 0-3 and make the playoffs?
As tough as the opening three games of the Lions schedule have been, the next two games are probably tougher. First, the Lions go to Seattle and face the Seahawks and then the red-hot and currently undefeated Cardinals come to Ford Field.
Sunday, October 11 vs. Arizona (4:05PM)
Monday, October 5 at Seattle (8:30PM)
While the Lions have the talent to win any game, neither of these games is a probable win. However, the Lions should be desperate for a win. And a talented team desperate to win should be dangerous. If the Lions can steal one of these games, it would be tremendously important in turning around the season.
Let’s say they get one. Lions record: 1-4
Weeks 6-8 are where the Lions have a good shot to put together a winning streak. They host the Bears and then the Vikings. The Bears are hapless, but the Vikings put a beating on the Lions, and Matthew Stafford in particular, in Minnesota. The script will have to be flipped at Ford Field. The Lions get a break in facing Kansas City in London. After the Lions’ come back victory on the other side of the pond last year, the neutral site might even have more of a Lions fan base than the “home team” Chiefs.
Sunday October 25 vs. Minnesota (1:00PM)
Sunday October 18 vs. Chicago (1:00PM)
Sunday November 1 vs. Kansas City (9:30AM)*
*In London, England
The Lions need to turn this stretch a winning streak and come out with a 4-4 record.
Sunday November 15, at Green Bay (1:00PM)
While not impossible, ending the losing streak in Green Bay seems unlikely this year. However, if they want a chance of taking the division title away from their Aaron Rodgers led rivals, the Lions need to find a way to win at Lambeau. And riding the confidence of a three game winning streak would certainly help in making that possible. But let’s say they fail to get this game. It’s still not over for the Lions. 4-5 record.
If they lose to the Packers at Lambeau, a fast rebound has to occur. Luckily, the Raiders come to Ford Field to make that very possible. Continuing to have success on Thanksgiving Day will need to happen as well.
Thursday, November 26 vs. Philadelphia (12:30PM)
Sunday, November 22 vs. Oakland (1:00PM)
With these wins, Detroit is back on the plus side. 6-5 record.
The following two games will be tough. Detroit will have to win at least one of them. Beating Green Bay at Ford Field, as they’ve done the last couple years, would be optimal. Beating a good team in the Rams on the road would be a big boost too.
Sunday, December 13 at St. Louis (1:00PM)
Thursday, December 3 vs. Green Bay (8:25PM)
Let’s say the Lions manage to win only one of these two games. 7-6 record.
At this point, the Lions’ record is not looking great, but they face three very winnable games to end the season, even if two of them are on the road. If the Lions improve their consistency and are playing anywhere near their talent level, they will win these games.
Monday, December 21 at New Orleans (8:30PM)
Sunday, December 27 vs. San Francisco (1:00PM)
Sunday, January 3 at Chicago (1:00PM)
Ending with a three game winning streak would put the Lions at 10-6 and in the mix for playoff contention.
Obviously, you could trade which games are won and lost here or there and still see the Lions make the playoffs. Optimally, beating Green Bay twice would put the Lions in position to have a chance at the division. But major improvement has to happen for the Lions to have a chance.
With the defense obviously not shaping up to be the number two overall unit in the league this year like they were last year, Detroit’s offense has to step up in order for this team to make the playoffs.
Watching the offense right now, one would think the Lombardi family is still working for the Packers. I don’t like to go negative, but it’s hard to trust Joe Lombardi as an offensive coordinator right now.
Lombardi said going into the season that he would let Matthew Stafford take more shots down the field this year, but so far that has not been the case. Given that is tough to do with porous pass protection, opportunities for deep shots to Megatron can be made. Even when playing from behind with time running out, Stafford is stuck throwing little dink and dunk passes in Lombardi’s offense, watching the time tick off the clock instead of taking shots at the end zone.
The obvious bad call of having Joique Bell run up the gut for a crucial two-point conversion when the Lions hadn’t been able to do that all day in week two had to be one of the many poor play call decisions that led Lombardi to admit his calling was “not good enough”; however, in week three another crucial two-point conversion came and Lombardi again called for Bell to run up the gut in a game when the Lions’ rushing was somehow worse than the week before.
If the Lions are going to have any shot at turning around the season, the offensive line has to block the men in front of them and Lombardi needs to adjust the offense to the strength of his players as well as what’s happening in the game.
