msudaisy26
Footballguy
Even if there wasn't the hold to negate the INT Hutchinson went off on Love and it gets called back. He should know better.
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2025 Detroit Lions: 0-1 Green Bay Parsons 27-Detroit Lions 13 (21 Viewers)
- Thread starter Da Guru
- Start date
Even if there wasn't the hold to negate the INT Hutchinson went off on Love and it gets called back. He should know better.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Rapid Rewind: Packers make statement, throttling Lions in season opener
Green Bay, Wisc. — Whether it was the Green Bay Packers’ addition of Micah Parsons, the Detroit Lions struggling to adapt to new coordinators or its reconfigured offensive line, or a combination of all those factors, the Packers looked every bit the division favorite in Sunday's season opener, plowing through the two-time defending NFC North champion Lions at Lambeau Field, 27-13.
The Packers set the tone early, driving 83 yards for a touchdown on the game’s opening possession, converting a trio of third downs during the march. By halftime, they had extended their lead to two touchdowns, thanks to a quick-strike, two-play drive that ate up 65 yards in just 53 seconds.
Detroit, which has been among the league leaders in red-zone conversions the past three seasons, couldn’t find the end zone with its first three trips inside the 20, settling for two field goals and turning it over on an interception in the closing minutes of the first half.
The Lions finally worked across the goal line in the game’s closing minute when rookie Isaac TeSlaa hauled in a remarkable one-handed grab on fourth down for a 13-yard touchdown.
The loss snaps the Lions’ three-game winning streak in Green Bay.
● 9:26 — Taking the opening kickoff, the Packers drove 83 yards on 12 plays. The home team converted on all three of its third-down plays, including a 15-yard touchdown pass from Love to Tucker Kraft on third-and-9. Running a post pattern, the tight end beat the coverage of linebacker Jack Campbell. PACKERS 7, LIONS 0
● 3:58 — Taking over near midfield after a Lions punt, the Packers worked into field goal range with a 26-yard, third-down pass to Jayden Reed. Facing third-and-3 in the red zone, Love took an end-zone shot to Romeo Doubs. However, tight coverage by Terrion Arnold forced the incompletion, leaving the Packers to take a short Brandon McManus field goal to extend their early lead. PACKERS 10, LIONS 0
Second quarter
● 9:27 — A methodical 16-play drive for Detroit stalls in the red zone when Jared Goff can’t find an open receiver. Instead of going for it on fourth-and-5 from the Packers’ 12-yard line, the Lions take the three, a 30-yarder for Jake Bates, to get on the board. PACKERS 10, LIONS 3
● 8:34 — A two-play response for the Packers. Arnold was victimized in coverage on both, giving up a 48-yard bomb to Romeo Dobbs before the second-year cornerback got picked on a rub route, generating separation for Reed on a wheel route from the slot, resulting in a 17-yard touchdown. PACKERS 17, LIONS 3
Third quarter
● 9:40 — A third trip into the red zone again ends without a touchdown for the Lions. Sam LaPorta came up with two grabs for 48 yards. However, with first-and-goal from the 10, the Lions went backward and settled for a Bates field goal to only put a dent in Green Bay’s lead. PACKERS 17, LIONS 6
Fourth quarter
● 7:57 — Benefitting from another short field, the Packers drove 36 yards on eight plays with running back Josh Jacobs doing most of the damage, gaining 28 yards and scoring from 3 yards out. PACKERS 24, LIONS 6
● 4:22 — Taking over in Lions’ territory after a turnover on downs, the Packers didn’t net a first down but still came away with points on a 38-yard McManus field goal. PACKERS 27, LIONS 6
● 0:55 — With the game effectively out of reach, the Lions drove 65 yards in 13 plays, finally scoring a touchdown on a pretty one-handed grab by TeSlaa. The catch was initially ruled out of bounds, but overturned by replay review. PACKERS 27, LIONS 13
● Detroit’s vaunted ground game couldn’t get on track on Sunday. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combined for a paltry 44 yards on 20 carries (2.2 YPC).
● Gibbs paced Detroit with 10 receptions, but only gained 31 yards on the grabs. LaPorta’s six grabs generated a team-high 79 yards.
● Campbell led the Lions with nine tackles. The defense struggled to pressure Love all game and finished without a sack. Arnold recorded the team’s only pass defense.
The Packers set the tone early, driving 83 yards for a touchdown on the game’s opening possession, converting a trio of third downs during the march. By halftime, they had extended their lead to two touchdowns, thanks to a quick-strike, two-play drive that ate up 65 yards in just 53 seconds.
Detroit, which has been among the league leaders in red-zone conversions the past three seasons, couldn’t find the end zone with its first three trips inside the 20, settling for two field goals and turning it over on an interception in the closing minutes of the first half.
The Lions finally worked across the goal line in the game’s closing minute when rookie Isaac TeSlaa hauled in a remarkable one-handed grab on fourth down for a 13-yard touchdown.
The loss snaps the Lions’ three-game winning streak in Green Bay.
Game ball
No Lions player deserved a game ball. We're forced to give it to Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who completed 16-of-22 for 188 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.Scoring summary
First quarter● 9:26 — Taking the opening kickoff, the Packers drove 83 yards on 12 plays. The home team converted on all three of its third-down plays, including a 15-yard touchdown pass from Love to Tucker Kraft on third-and-9. Running a post pattern, the tight end beat the coverage of linebacker Jack Campbell. PACKERS 7, LIONS 0
● 3:58 — Taking over near midfield after a Lions punt, the Packers worked into field goal range with a 26-yard, third-down pass to Jayden Reed. Facing third-and-3 in the red zone, Love took an end-zone shot to Romeo Doubs. However, tight coverage by Terrion Arnold forced the incompletion, leaving the Packers to take a short Brandon McManus field goal to extend their early lead. PACKERS 10, LIONS 0
Second quarter
● 9:27 — A methodical 16-play drive for Detroit stalls in the red zone when Jared Goff can’t find an open receiver. Instead of going for it on fourth-and-5 from the Packers’ 12-yard line, the Lions take the three, a 30-yarder for Jake Bates, to get on the board. PACKERS 10, LIONS 3
● 8:34 — A two-play response for the Packers. Arnold was victimized in coverage on both, giving up a 48-yard bomb to Romeo Dobbs before the second-year cornerback got picked on a rub route, generating separation for Reed on a wheel route from the slot, resulting in a 17-yard touchdown. PACKERS 17, LIONS 3
Third quarter
● 9:40 — A third trip into the red zone again ends without a touchdown for the Lions. Sam LaPorta came up with two grabs for 48 yards. However, with first-and-goal from the 10, the Lions went backward and settled for a Bates field goal to only put a dent in Green Bay’s lead. PACKERS 17, LIONS 6
Fourth quarter
● 7:57 — Benefitting from another short field, the Packers drove 36 yards on eight plays with running back Josh Jacobs doing most of the damage, gaining 28 yards and scoring from 3 yards out. PACKERS 24, LIONS 6
● 4:22 — Taking over in Lions’ territory after a turnover on downs, the Packers didn’t net a first down but still came away with points on a 38-yard McManus field goal. PACKERS 27, LIONS 6
● 0:55 — With the game effectively out of reach, the Lions drove 65 yards in 13 plays, finally scoring a touchdown on a pretty one-handed grab by TeSlaa. The catch was initially ruled out of bounds, but overturned by replay review. PACKERS 27, LIONS 13
Turnovers
● Late in the first half, on a third-down snap in the red zone, Packers safety Evan Williams jumped a route intended for Amon-Ra St. Brown, making a diving interception to end Detroit’s scoring threat.Key stats
● Unable to work the ball downfield all afternoon, Goff completed 31-of-39 for just 224 yards, one touchdown and an interception.● Detroit’s vaunted ground game couldn’t get on track on Sunday. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combined for a paltry 44 yards on 20 carries (2.2 YPC).
● Gibbs paced Detroit with 10 receptions, but only gained 31 yards on the grabs. LaPorta’s six grabs generated a team-high 79 yards.
● Campbell led the Lions with nine tackles. The defense struggled to pressure Love all game and finished without a sack. Arnold recorded the team’s only pass defense.
Notable
● One play after Alex Anzalone dropped an interception in the third quarter, safety Brian Branch had a pick-six wiped out by a holding penalty committed by teammate Rock Ya-Sin. Aidan Hutchinson was also flagged for unnecessary roughness on the return.Injuries
● Arnold suffered a groin injury late in the first half and was ruled out before the start of the fourth quarter.Inactives
Running back Sione Vaki (hamstring), linebacker Trevor Nowaske (elbow), safety Thomas Harper, defensive tackle Chris Smith, defensive end Tyrus Wheat and defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo.Next game
The Lions stay in the division, hosting former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears at Ford Field next Sunday at 1 p.m.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Campbell said it is all correctable. Grind the tape, clean it up, do better next week. Critical errors at the worst possible time were the difference.
Nothing definitive on TA, tweaked a groin in the first and tried playing through it. Was bothering him at halftime so they shut him down.
Goff completed 79.5% today but only 4/10 with an INT in the RedZone (and 3 of those were check downs to RBs.) 27/29 outside the RedZone but the vertical game was nonexistent.
#16 said there needs to be a sense of urgency to improve this week. Gave GB credit, they’re a good defense, but there was nothing new oh there. Same cover 3 we always face when we play them. It’s the kind of D you can beat just by staying patient and taking what they give you. But if you’re not scoring on long explosive you can’t go into the RedZone 3 times and come away with 2 FGs.
“That was nowhere near the standard. We’ll get it straightened out but it was our lack of execution as much or more than it was what GB was doing. I have to play better.”
Nothing definitive on TA, tweaked a groin in the first and tried playing through it. Was bothering him at halftime so they shut him down.
Goff completed 79.5% today but only 4/10 with an INT in the RedZone (and 3 of those were check downs to RBs.) 27/29 outside the RedZone but the vertical game was nonexistent.
#16 said there needs to be a sense of urgency to improve this week. Gave GB credit, they’re a good defense, but there was nothing new oh there. Same cover 3 we always face when we play them. It’s the kind of D you can beat just by staying patient and taking what they give you. But if you’re not scoring on long explosive you can’t go into the RedZone 3 times and come away with 2 FGs.
“That was nowhere near the standard. We’ll get it straightened out but it was our lack of execution as much or more than it was what GB was doing. I have to play better.”
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
Lots of conflicting thoughts after that game ...
On the one hand, with all the losses last year (and really, every loss going back to the Ravens game in '23), I never felt like they lost to a better team. That was clearly not the case today. Packers straight up spanked them.
On the other hand, you never want to overreact to Week 1, and while I didn't exactly predict this -- I picked the Lions in my confidence pool this week because I genuinely thought they could win -- I do remember thinking that there was a good chance they would get off to a slow start this year as they digested all the turnover.
On the third hand, what if the takeaway from today's game is not that the Lions suddenly stink, but that the Packers have made the leap, and that the previously "youngest roster in the league" is now entering its prime?
Anyway, not drawing any firm conclusions, just some things I'm keeping an eye on. One thing I do feel confident about is that Campbell will use this loss to motivate his players to clean this s### up
ETA: One more point: Yes, I'm sure it won't remain this bad, but man, that clogged toilet offense was depressing to watch. Gibbs had 10 catches for 30 yards? Seriously, what the eff
On the one hand, with all the losses last year (and really, every loss going back to the Ravens game in '23), I never felt like they lost to a better team. That was clearly not the case today. Packers straight up spanked them.
On the other hand, you never want to overreact to Week 1, and while I didn't exactly predict this -- I picked the Lions in my confidence pool this week because I genuinely thought they could win -- I do remember thinking that there was a good chance they would get off to a slow start this year as they digested all the turnover.
On the third hand, what if the takeaway from today's game is not that the Lions suddenly stink, but that the Packers have made the leap, and that the previously "youngest roster in the league" is now entering its prime?
Anyway, not drawing any firm conclusions, just some things I'm keeping an eye on. One thing I do feel confident about is that Campbell will use this loss to motivate his players to clean this s### up
ETA: One more point: Yes, I'm sure it won't remain this bad, but man, that clogged toilet offense was depressing to watch. Gibbs had 10 catches for 30 yards? Seriously, what the eff
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swabs
Footballguy
It's the o-lines first real snaps together. Calm down. Also, it can't get any worse......They are in trouble.I think they'll be okay. It's the absolute "I Know they will win the super bowl this year"
Unless he posted that in all 32 team threads
Game is win and lost in the trenches. Detroit was bad in that area today. Maybe it was an anomaly in week 1. If it's not, they're in trouble.
TartanLion
Footballguy
A lot of changes and a tough schedule this year. I think we’ll make the playoffs as a wild card and tbh it might not be the worst thing for us, if we can stay relatively healthy. On the road to a good GB team is a hard season opener. Expected some regression but I’m far from truly concerned. We will iron a lot of this out
"Okay" isn't going to cut it with their schedule. And if Love has that kind of time, imagine what Mahomes, Lamar, Burrow, Baker, etc. will do.
Slept on it and I don't think things are good.
O line looks average up the middle. What was a strength is now a weakness.
Because of that, it may have exposed Goff a bit. Also doesn't allow for any big explosion plays.
Defense would be better with ANY amount of pressure. They got none.
This has been my biggest gripe. Brads ego got in the way of improving this team where it needed it most. Edge opposite Hutch.
Yesterday you saw exactly why I have been beating this drum. When Parsons was on the field, Goff and the line took notice and schemed.
What did that do? It allowed Gary to get 1.5 sacks. The Lions have ZERO threat opposite Hutch. Glenn knew it and blitzed over 50% to manufacture pressure.
Every person on the defense would look better with a competent edge opposite Hutch. But no, Brad wants to keep his guys.
O line looks average up the middle. What was a strength is now a weakness.
Because of that, it may have exposed Goff a bit. Also doesn't allow for any big explosion plays.
Defense would be better with ANY amount of pressure. They got none.
This has been my biggest gripe. Brads ego got in the way of improving this team where it needed it most. Edge opposite Hutch.
Yesterday you saw exactly why I have been beating this drum. When Parsons was on the field, Goff and the line took notice and schemed.
What did that do? It allowed Gary to get 1.5 sacks. The Lions have ZERO threat opposite Hutch. Glenn knew it and blitzed over 50% to manufacture pressure.
Every person on the defense would look better with a competent edge opposite Hutch. But no, Brad wants to keep his guys.
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
Agree Hutch should know better but I would not call it going off, it was a shove. Nothing like when Goff got lit up against Washinton after the INT.
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
Bobby will get the stats when they come out and maybe they are better than I think but I was watching Hutch most of the D plays and he was struggling to shed one on one blocks. Did not look like Hutch had a good game but he has not played in almost a year. That has nothing to do with what is going on with Davenport. Even though I can`t remember hearing Davenports named ever called.
Love did not get much pressure from anywhere yesterday. Seemed like a strange game, Lions had the ball enough but could not finish drives. Was surprised Packers did not kick a FG to go up 3 scores late. Lafluer seemed to really want to pound home a point on 4th down.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Snap counts:
Defense
Week 1 Passing Yards
From 2022–24, the Lions led the NFL with 15.4 first-half PPG.
Last four Week 1 games (2022-25)? Just 8.5 PPG — which would’ve ranked 30th.
Detroit Lions Lowest Offensive Yards Per Play since 2021:
Last time the Lions lost consecutive games?
September 18 - October 30, 2022 - five game losing streak.
Defense
| K. Joseph | FS | 48 100% |
| B.Branch | SS | 48 100% |
| A.Anzalone | LB | 48 100% |
| D.Reed | CB | 48 100% |
| J.Campbell | LB | 48 100% |
| A. Hutchinson | DE | 46 96% |
| D.Barnes | LB | 43 90% |
| D.Reader | DL | 37 77% |
| M.Davenport | DE | 33 69% |
| T.Williams | DL | 32 67% |
| A.Robertson | CB | 31 65% |
| T.Arnold | CB | 23 48% |
| R.Lopez | DL | 17 35% |
| P.O'Connor | DL | 14 29% |
| A. Muhammad | DE | 7 15% |
| K.Dorsey | NB | 3 6% |
| R. Ya-Sin | NB | 2 4% |
Week 1 Passing Yards
- Josh Allen (4th Quarter) – 251
- Jared Goff (entire game) – 225
From 2022–24, the Lions led the NFL with 15.4 first-half PPG.
Last four Week 1 games (2022-25)? Just 8.5 PPG — which would’ve ranked 30th.
Detroit Lions Lowest Offensive Yards Per Play since 2021:
- Week 6 2021 vs CIN – Lost 34-11 | 3.74 YPP
- Week 1 2025 @ GB – Lost 27-13 | 3.80 YPP
- Week 8 2021 vs PHI – Lost 44-6 | 3.93 YPP
- Week 14 2023 @ CHI – Lost 28-13 | 4.24 YPP
Last time the Lions lost consecutive games?
September 18 - October 30, 2022 - five game losing streak.
Correct. Makes it even more difficult when he is being chipped or double teamed because there is no threat coming from anywhere else.
The fact he hasn't played in months and coming off a bad injury is all the more reason why edge was a priority Brad refused to acknowledge.
No, a team does not need two elite edge rushers. But a team does need a competent second edge rusher.
Didn't have it last year. Don't have it this year. But "we're good" according to Brad.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions Locker Room Buzz: Arnold's injury, reaction to Williams' extension, Decker on o-line's struggles and more
Green Bay, Wisc. — Here’s what I learned bouncing around the Detroit Lions’ locker room following the team’s 27-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Arnold said he suffered the strain during Detroit's second defensive series and was playing through the nagging issue before the team pulled the plug heading into the third quarter. He’s set to undergo further testing when the team returns home, but he’s optimistic it isn’t a long-term issue.
“It's one of those things where I think it's tolerable and I can play through it,” Arnold said.
The second-year defender said he felt the injury the most during a full-speed sprint where he gave up a 48-yard post pattern in the second quarter. That came one play before he surrendered a 17-yard touchdown on a wheel route where he was picked near the line of scrimmage.
He refused to blame the injury for either completion.
“One thing about me, if I'm out there, I'm out there,” Arnold said. “I'll never sit there and say, 'I wish I could have made that play, but my groin.' Nah. If I'm out there, I'm out there, and I'm going to own it. It's one of those things where you get back to the drawing board, and I have to get in the training room.”
Arnold forced two incompletions earlier in the game, leaning heavily into his physicality on both plays. Those felt like they would have drawn flags when he was a rookie, but he said he thinks it’s a combination of officials adjusting to his play style, combined with improved technique.
“When you go look back at those plays, (it’s) me turning my head, me trusting my teammates, trusting my leverage,” Arnold said. “Now, I'm a whole different player.”
“It's just like a milestone waiting to get completed,” Williams said. “It's done now and I'm just ready to move forward with the season, being with my brothers. I'm thankful to the organization, giving me the opportunity to stay for more years and everything, but my focus is the season.”
Williams, who battled some turbulent stretches, on and off the field, earlier in his career, never forfeited the support of the team’s leadership or the locker room. That support network hasn't been lost on him.
“It means a lot,” he said. “Those are the guys that are behind me, the guys I play for, the guys that love me and love them. We go out there and lay it on the line for coach and the front office every week and every day at practice. It feels good seeing those guys have faith in me.”
Amon-Ra St. Brown, who earned a similar extension from the team last offseason, expressed the sentiment of the locker room.
“It means a lot, man,” St. Brown said. “I'm happy for him. He deserves it, man. He's worked his *** off for a while now. For him to get that, I know how much it means to him. I know how much it means to our team, to his teammates, to us.
“He's a guy that we need, that we're going to rely on a lot this season and moving forward,” St. Brown continued. “Just to have him for the next three, four years, whatever it is, it's huge. Being able to keep your key players is big, just to keep that continuity, that chemistry. I'm really excited for him and happy for everyone.”
Williams is coming off his first 1,000-yard season in 2024. Like the rest of the offensive roster, he struggled to find breathing room against the Packers. He did catch four of five targets, including a chain-mover on a fourth down, but finished with just 23 receiving yards.
Green Bay’s pass rush also did its part, tallying 4.0 sacks and nine total hits on Lions quarterback Jared Goff, despite rushing just four most of the night.
At least some of that is the impact of adding All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons in a trade just ahead of the season.
“Oh, it's huge,” Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker said about how much Parsons added to Green Bay's defense. “To be able to have two high-level rushers between him and (Rashan) Gary, I mean, that's a luxury. It definitely adds a level of challenge. When you're playing against defenses like that, you want to be able to play the lead and be able to establish the run. And we just had to pass block a lot, late in the game.”
Decker said the biggest challenge the Packers’ front provided was late shifts that tested the communication of Detroit’s modified offensive line, which was starting two inexperienced guards.
“I think a lot of it was just stemming from a lot of movement, changing the box on us,” Decker said.
The veteran offensive tackle said it will likely be a few weeks before the group gets its chemistry right. Decker said even though they’ve been practicing together for weeks, it’s impossible to replicate the intensity of games, particularly the environment on the road.
“I went out there and didn't play my best game in my debut against a good team,” Ratledge said. “I've just got to be better.”
He expected to start the process of making corrections before the team even hopped on the plane home.
“As soon as I get on the bus, I'm going to start watching this film,” Ratledge said. “I know I didn't have my best day, and I have to play to a greater standard next week for our offensive line room and the team, in general.
“I think it just goes back to who I am as a person and who I am as a player,” he said. “I know there are things I can fix. I'm never going to look past any of that and ignore it. I know there are things I need to improve on and I need to do it fast.”
There was a point in the contest where Ratledge was slow to get up. He said he took a helmet to the hip, but once the initial sting wore off, he was fine.
“I feel great, actually, really good,” Hutchinson said. “Funny, when you go out last year like that, you come out of a game like this, it sucks losing, but you're blessed for your health a little bit more. …I felt really good, really explosive, fast.”
Hutchinson finished with three quarterback pressures, one hit and no sacks. He was also flagged for unnecessary roughness after hitting Packers quarterback Jordan Love during an interception return, where the QB is considered defenseless.
That play was overturned by another penalty, holding against cornerback Rock Ya-Sin, and the flag against Hutchinson was declined.
Hutchinson praised the Packers’ offensive execution and said he dealt with more attention than he was accustomed to seeing from the blocking.
“I thought they did a good job of chipping in the right moments, on some of those longer(-developing) play actions,” Hutchinson said. “Definitely got to watch the film a little bit, but it just felt a little tough. In the first half, they just had a few of those man-beaters, where it's really the ball is out pretty quickly. It wasn't ideal, for sure, and we definitely have to find a way to generate some more when there are chips and stuff.”
Limited to red-zone packages, TeSlaa stabbed the ball out of the air with one hand and managed to get both feet down in bounds while falling to the ground on the fourth-down throw.
The catch was initially ruled incomplete, but was overturned once the play was reviewed. TeSlaa said he wasn’t sure he was in until he saw the replay on the big board during the review process.
After that, he made sure the ball was saved.
TeSlaa acknowledged the highlight-reel grab was confidence-boosting, but it's more about the bigger picture.
“I'm not only trying to build confidence in myself, but I mean, with this offense, the offensive coordinator and the quarterback, ultimately,” he said. “That's what it comes down to at the end of the day. Yeah, it was a great catch, but it's just about building confidence in this offense.”
Injury derails defender’s day
Let’s open this thing up with the lone injury from the contest, and it’s a big one, as cornerback Terrion Arnold exited the contest after the first half with a groin injury.Arnold said he suffered the strain during Detroit's second defensive series and was playing through the nagging issue before the team pulled the plug heading into the third quarter. He’s set to undergo further testing when the team returns home, but he’s optimistic it isn’t a long-term issue.
“It's one of those things where I think it's tolerable and I can play through it,” Arnold said.
The second-year defender said he felt the injury the most during a full-speed sprint where he gave up a 48-yard post pattern in the second quarter. That came one play before he surrendered a 17-yard touchdown on a wheel route where he was picked near the line of scrimmage.
He refused to blame the injury for either completion.
“One thing about me, if I'm out there, I'm out there,” Arnold said. “I'll never sit there and say, 'I wish I could have made that play, but my groin.' Nah. If I'm out there, I'm out there, and I'm going to own it. It's one of those things where you get back to the drawing board, and I have to get in the training room.”
Arnold forced two incompletions earlier in the game, leaning heavily into his physicality on both plays. Those felt like they would have drawn flags when he was a rookie, but he said he thinks it’s a combination of officials adjusting to his play style, combined with improved technique.
“When you go look back at those plays, (it’s) me turning my head, me trusting my teammates, trusting my leverage,” Arnold said. “Now, I'm a whole different player.”
Reactions to the big extension
Jameson Williams views his contract extension as yesterday’s news. The speedy receiver said his mind was fully on the game with the deal firmly behind him.“It's just like a milestone waiting to get completed,” Williams said. “It's done now and I'm just ready to move forward with the season, being with my brothers. I'm thankful to the organization, giving me the opportunity to stay for more years and everything, but my focus is the season.”
Williams, who battled some turbulent stretches, on and off the field, earlier in his career, never forfeited the support of the team’s leadership or the locker room. That support network hasn't been lost on him.
“It means a lot,” he said. “Those are the guys that are behind me, the guys I play for, the guys that love me and love them. We go out there and lay it on the line for coach and the front office every week and every day at practice. It feels good seeing those guys have faith in me.”
Amon-Ra St. Brown, who earned a similar extension from the team last offseason, expressed the sentiment of the locker room.
“It means a lot, man,” St. Brown said. “I'm happy for him. He deserves it, man. He's worked his *** off for a while now. For him to get that, I know how much it means to him. I know how much it means to our team, to his teammates, to us.
“He's a guy that we need, that we're going to rely on a lot this season and moving forward,” St. Brown continued. “Just to have him for the next three, four years, whatever it is, it's huge. Being able to keep your key players is big, just to keep that continuity, that chemistry. I'm really excited for him and happy for everyone.”
Williams is coming off his first 1,000-yard season in 2024. Like the rest of the offensive roster, he struggled to find breathing room against the Packers. He did catch four of five targets, including a chain-mover on a fourth down, but finished with just 23 receiving yards.
Offensive line woes
The Packers defense executed their game plan to near perfection, keeping everything in front of them, limiting the big play, and holding the Lions out of the end zone, at least until the game’s outcome was secured.Green Bay’s pass rush also did its part, tallying 4.0 sacks and nine total hits on Lions quarterback Jared Goff, despite rushing just four most of the night.
At least some of that is the impact of adding All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons in a trade just ahead of the season.
“Oh, it's huge,” Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker said about how much Parsons added to Green Bay's defense. “To be able to have two high-level rushers between him and (Rashan) Gary, I mean, that's a luxury. It definitely adds a level of challenge. When you're playing against defenses like that, you want to be able to play the lead and be able to establish the run. And we just had to pass block a lot, late in the game.”
Decker said the biggest challenge the Packers’ front provided was late shifts that tested the communication of Detroit’s modified offensive line, which was starting two inexperienced guards.
“I think a lot of it was just stemming from a lot of movement, changing the box on us,” Decker said.
The veteran offensive tackle said it will likely be a few weeks before the group gets its chemistry right. Decker said even though they’ve been practicing together for weeks, it’s impossible to replicate the intensity of games, particularly the environment on the road.
Less-than-stellar debut
Rookie guard Tate Ratledge had some obvious miscues in the game and was frustrated with his overall performance.“I went out there and didn't play my best game in my debut against a good team,” Ratledge said. “I've just got to be better.”
He expected to start the process of making corrections before the team even hopped on the plane home.
“As soon as I get on the bus, I'm going to start watching this film,” Ratledge said. “I know I didn't have my best day, and I have to play to a greater standard next week for our offensive line room and the team, in general.
“I think it just goes back to who I am as a person and who I am as a player,” he said. “I know there are things I can fix. I'm never going to look past any of that and ignore it. I know there are things I need to improve on and I need to do it fast.”
There was a point in the contest where Ratledge was slow to get up. He said he took a helmet to the hip, but once the initial sting wore off, he was fine.
Taking nothing for granted
Aidan Hutchinson probably imagined having a bigger impact in his return to the lineup, but, physically, he was pleased with how his body reacted following a lengthy rehab from a broken leg.“I feel great, actually, really good,” Hutchinson said. “Funny, when you go out last year like that, you come out of a game like this, it sucks losing, but you're blessed for your health a little bit more. …I felt really good, really explosive, fast.”
Hutchinson finished with three quarterback pressures, one hit and no sacks. He was also flagged for unnecessary roughness after hitting Packers quarterback Jordan Love during an interception return, where the QB is considered defenseless.
That play was overturned by another penalty, holding against cornerback Rock Ya-Sin, and the flag against Hutchinson was declined.
Hutchinson praised the Packers’ offensive execution and said he dealt with more attention than he was accustomed to seeing from the blocking.
“I thought they did a good job of chipping in the right moments, on some of those longer(-developing) play actions,” Hutchinson said. “Definitely got to watch the film a little bit, but it just felt a little tough. In the first half, they just had a few of those man-beaters, where it's really the ball is out pretty quickly. It wasn't ideal, for sure, and we definitely have to find a way to generate some more when there are chips and stuff.”
The bright spot
One of the few bright spots for the Lions was an incredible touchdown catch by Isaac TeSlaa in the closing minute of action.Limited to red-zone packages, TeSlaa stabbed the ball out of the air with one hand and managed to get both feet down in bounds while falling to the ground on the fourth-down throw.
The catch was initially ruled incomplete, but was overturned once the play was reviewed. TeSlaa said he wasn’t sure he was in until he saw the replay on the big board during the review process.
After that, he made sure the ball was saved.
TeSlaa acknowledged the highlight-reel grab was confidence-boosting, but it's more about the bigger picture.
“I'm not only trying to build confidence in myself, but I mean, with this offense, the offensive coordinator and the quarterback, ultimately,” he said. “That's what it comes down to at the end of the day. Yeah, it was a great catch, but it's just about building confidence in this offense.”
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
Time will tell but it was not a good start. Given the quality of QBs coming up on the schedule it needs to get better fast. The whole game just seemed to have a bad vibe to it. Maybe losing Ben is going to hurt more than I thought.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Offensive snap counts:
- 67 100% - Goff + 5 OL
- no heavy formations (6th OL)
- 11 personnel (3 WR) 41 snaps 61%
- ran 12 personnel (2 TE) 24 times 36%
- 21 personnel (2 RB Pony) twice 3%
- RBs:
- Gibbs 44 66%
- Montgomery 25 37%
- WRs:
- ARSB 65 97%
- Jamo 63 94%
- Raymond 44 66%
- TeSlaa 3 4%
- TEs:
- Laporta 61 91%
- Wright 24 36%
- Zylstra 6 9%
King of the Jungle
Footballguy
The oline getting their noses shoved in all game needs to change pronto. Losing Ragnow was going to be a big adjustment, but they were collectively awful yesterday.
I think losing Glenn hurts more. He performed magic last year.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Three and Out: Trench concerns and having big-picture perspective following Lions' dismal Week 1 showing
Allen Park — Here are three observations after a second viewing and a night to ponder the Detroit Lions’ 27-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Earlier in the week, when asked about the importance of stopping the run, Lions defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers used a common phrase: “You have to earn the right to rush the passer.”
How do you earn that right? You do your job on first and second down, get the opposition in third-and-long, allowing you to pin your ears back in clear passing situations.
To Detroit’s credit, they achieved that goal, particularly in the first half. It didn’t matter. On the game's opening drive, the Packers faced a third-and-6, third-and-10 and third-and-9 and converted each as part of a 12-play, 83-yard touchdown drive.
Earning the right to rush wasn't the issue. The Lions swallowed up Packers running back Josh Jacobs through three quarters. The right was earned, only to be squandered.
The opening drive was emblematic of what would be a game-long issue: An inability to move Packers quarterback Jordan Love off his spot. No matter what the Lions tried, they weren’t able to pressure the pocket meaningfully. And whether it's Patrick Mahomes or Love, an NFL starting quarterback will make the play more often than not when afforded time to process.
The Lions tried a little bit of everything. They rushed with four, they sent multiple blitzers, they offered muddied looks where they flooded the inside and dropped their edges into coverage. Each time, Love kept his feet planted and delivered to his open receiver for a conversion on the opening series.
Without stopping the run, you don't earn the right to rush the passer. Without generating pressure, your opportunity to rush the passer won't matter.
Even after that performance, I don’t have many concerns with Detroit's edges, despite a lackluster showing against the Packers. Aidan Hutchinson's movement skills are where they need to be. Marcus Davenport's power is going to play most weeks, from a pocket-crushing perspective. Moving forward, two larger concerns stand out.
The first is something I've expressed since it was announced Levi Onwuzurike was lost for the season. Where are the Lions supposed to get interior pressure to complement the ability of their edges? Their top three defensive tackles are better fits as space-eating nose tackles. They're asking first-round pick Tyleik Williams to fill in for Alim McNeill as a penetrating 3-tech when Williams has the frame and movement skills of rookie-year McNeill, a man who was 30 pounds heavier than he is today.
Additionally, what happened to the blitz, which was wildly effective during training camp? Was it only effective because it exposed a young offensive line working on establishing communication and chemistry with two inexperienced starters?
This isn't a new problem for the defense. The Lions blitzed a ton last year, but those extra rushers were largely ineffective at getting home. When you send an additional man or two after the quarterback, it subtracts that defender from the coverage. And if they don't get home, well, you saw the result.
Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has his work cut out for him in finding a working recipe. McNeill is still a couple of months away from providing the interior presence the Lions lack. Plus, who knows how quickly he'll return to form, coming off last year's ACL tear.
As for the blitzing, the Lions are going to need to find ways to disguise it better and execute when it's deployed. Otherwise, the strain is going to be too great on a secondary. No matter how talented those pieces are, they can't consistently hold up without the front doing its job.
In many ways, how the Packers play defense is the opposite of the Lions' approach. The home team plays as much man coverage as anyone in the NFL. That's contrasted against the Packers, who rely more heavily on zone looks, keeping eyes on the quarterback and everything in front of them to limit big plays.
Within that, the Packers' preference is to drop seven and rush only four. They blitzed less than almost every team in 2024, even though they lacked the horses to affect the pocket the way they wanted.
With Parsons added to that mix, one of the league's most disruptive edges the past four seasons, Hafley can get more consistent pressure from his front.
Parsons played just 29 snaps in his debut, limited by a lingering back injury. Still, his impact was clear. He gave Detroit's offensive tackles trouble, generated three pressures, which resulted in a sack, a tackle for loss and an interception.
Maybe the interception happens regardless, given safety Evan Williams was driving on Jared Goff's go-to third-down target, Amon-Ra St. Brown, as soon as the ball was snapped. Still, Goff's throw was hurried and inaccurate. With Parsons in the quarterback's lap in under two seconds, Goff had no time to consider whether his first read was compromised.
And while it's a one-game sample size, the Packers emphatically answered questions about whether their run defense might take a step back this season. They shut down Detroit's stellar tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, limiting the pair to 2.2 yards per carry.
Unable to run, the Lions couldn't turn to their typically effective play-action. In turn, they couldn't work the ball downfield. The Packers' scheme worked as designed, forcing Goff to check the ball down all day. His passing chart looked like a map of Canada's population, concentrated near the line of scrimmage like it was the United States' border.
Your opinions, in relation to this game, are all valid. It was bad football, and it merits full-throated criticism. The standard has been elevated for the Lions, both inside and outside the building. After the past two seasons, you have the right to expect more.
Nonetheless, it’s premature for the broader assessments. Deep down, even the biggest worriers, the ones permanently scarred by the franchise's history, know this. It can be easy to forget in a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately business, but this team hasn’t lost back-to-back games since October 2022.
This is a transition period. Maybe a more significant one than expected, given coach Dan Campbell’s emphasis on schematic continuity with his two coordinator hires. However, solace should be taken in the roster. There’s star power at every position group, something most NFL teams covet.
It’s going to get better, but there’s urgency for things to turn around quickly. The schedule is no joke, and the Lions can’t afford to dig too deep a hole while they forge whatever their identity will be this year.
Pressure to get pressure
It’s a tale as old as the game itself: Football is won in the trenches. The Lions were decidedly beaten on both fronts.Earlier in the week, when asked about the importance of stopping the run, Lions defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers used a common phrase: “You have to earn the right to rush the passer.”
How do you earn that right? You do your job on first and second down, get the opposition in third-and-long, allowing you to pin your ears back in clear passing situations.
To Detroit’s credit, they achieved that goal, particularly in the first half. It didn’t matter. On the game's opening drive, the Packers faced a third-and-6, third-and-10 and third-and-9 and converted each as part of a 12-play, 83-yard touchdown drive.
Earning the right to rush wasn't the issue. The Lions swallowed up Packers running back Josh Jacobs through three quarters. The right was earned, only to be squandered.
The opening drive was emblematic of what would be a game-long issue: An inability to move Packers quarterback Jordan Love off his spot. No matter what the Lions tried, they weren’t able to pressure the pocket meaningfully. And whether it's Patrick Mahomes or Love, an NFL starting quarterback will make the play more often than not when afforded time to process.
The Lions tried a little bit of everything. They rushed with four, they sent multiple blitzers, they offered muddied looks where they flooded the inside and dropped their edges into coverage. Each time, Love kept his feet planted and delivered to his open receiver for a conversion on the opening series.
Without stopping the run, you don't earn the right to rush the passer. Without generating pressure, your opportunity to rush the passer won't matter.
Even after that performance, I don’t have many concerns with Detroit's edges, despite a lackluster showing against the Packers. Aidan Hutchinson's movement skills are where they need to be. Marcus Davenport's power is going to play most weeks, from a pocket-crushing perspective. Moving forward, two larger concerns stand out.
The first is something I've expressed since it was announced Levi Onwuzurike was lost for the season. Where are the Lions supposed to get interior pressure to complement the ability of their edges? Their top three defensive tackles are better fits as space-eating nose tackles. They're asking first-round pick Tyleik Williams to fill in for Alim McNeill as a penetrating 3-tech when Williams has the frame and movement skills of rookie-year McNeill, a man who was 30 pounds heavier than he is today.
Additionally, what happened to the blitz, which was wildly effective during training camp? Was it only effective because it exposed a young offensive line working on establishing communication and chemistry with two inexperienced starters?
This isn't a new problem for the defense. The Lions blitzed a ton last year, but those extra rushers were largely ineffective at getting home. When you send an additional man or two after the quarterback, it subtracts that defender from the coverage. And if they don't get home, well, you saw the result.
Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has his work cut out for him in finding a working recipe. McNeill is still a couple of months away from providing the interior presence the Lions lack. Plus, who knows how quickly he'll return to form, coming off last year's ACL tear.
As for the blitzing, the Lions are going to need to find ways to disguise it better and execute when it's deployed. Otherwise, the strain is going to be too great on a secondary. No matter how talented those pieces are, they can't consistently hold up without the front doing its job.
How it’s supposed to look
The Packers' defense was formidable prior to the arrival of Micah Parsons. The addition of the All-Pro edge rusher only serves to supercharge what second-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley aims to accomplish with his scheme.In many ways, how the Packers play defense is the opposite of the Lions' approach. The home team plays as much man coverage as anyone in the NFL. That's contrasted against the Packers, who rely more heavily on zone looks, keeping eyes on the quarterback and everything in front of them to limit big plays.
Within that, the Packers' preference is to drop seven and rush only four. They blitzed less than almost every team in 2024, even though they lacked the horses to affect the pocket the way they wanted.
With Parsons added to that mix, one of the league's most disruptive edges the past four seasons, Hafley can get more consistent pressure from his front.
Parsons played just 29 snaps in his debut, limited by a lingering back injury. Still, his impact was clear. He gave Detroit's offensive tackles trouble, generated three pressures, which resulted in a sack, a tackle for loss and an interception.
Maybe the interception happens regardless, given safety Evan Williams was driving on Jared Goff's go-to third-down target, Amon-Ra St. Brown, as soon as the ball was snapped. Still, Goff's throw was hurried and inaccurate. With Parsons in the quarterback's lap in under two seconds, Goff had no time to consider whether his first read was compromised.
And while it's a one-game sample size, the Packers emphatically answered questions about whether their run defense might take a step back this season. They shut down Detroit's stellar tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, limiting the pair to 2.2 yards per carry.
Unable to run, the Lions couldn't turn to their typically effective play-action. In turn, they couldn't work the ball downfield. The Packers' scheme worked as designed, forcing Goff to check the ball down all day. His passing chart looked like a map of Canada's population, concentrated near the line of scrimmage like it was the United States' border.
A long way to go
I don’t even need to wade into social media commentary or flip on talk radio to know there's going to be a lot of hand-wringing this week. There’s going to be frustration with the pass rush detailed above, the shaky chemistry of Detroit's reconfigured offensive line, and broader questioning of the two new play-callers.Your opinions, in relation to this game, are all valid. It was bad football, and it merits full-throated criticism. The standard has been elevated for the Lions, both inside and outside the building. After the past two seasons, you have the right to expect more.
Nonetheless, it’s premature for the broader assessments. Deep down, even the biggest worriers, the ones permanently scarred by the franchise's history, know this. It can be easy to forget in a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately business, but this team hasn’t lost back-to-back games since October 2022.
This is a transition period. Maybe a more significant one than expected, given coach Dan Campbell’s emphasis on schematic continuity with his two coordinator hires. However, solace should be taken in the roster. There’s star power at every position group, something most NFL teams covet.
It’s going to get better, but there’s urgency for things to turn around quickly. The schedule is no joke, and the Lions can’t afford to dig too deep a hole while they forge whatever their identity will be this year.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
PFF team grades (rank out of 30 teams)
- Overall 62.6 (23rd)
- Offense 60.1 (24th)
- Passing 45.7 (29th)
- Pass Blocking 62.8 (19th)
- Receiving 69.6 (13th)
- Rushing 61.5 (22nd)
- Run Blocking 49.3 (25th)
- Defense 65.7 (17th)
- Rush Defense 70.9 (9th)
- Tackling 86.6 (1st)
- Pass Rushing 63.1 (19th)
- Coverage 57.7 (21st)
- Special Teams 56.6 (22nd)
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
PFF Offensive Player Grades
- TeSlaa 96.2
- Sewell 70.8
- LaPorta 70.6
- ARSB 69.8
- Montgomery 67.8
- Gibbs 62.2
- Zylstra 58.1
- Ratledge 57.5
- Raymond 56.4
- Decker 55.2
- Mahogany 54.4
- Jamo 53.7
- Wright 50.5
- Goff 45.5
- Glasgow 43.6
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
PFF Blocking Grades
Pass Blocking
Pass Blocking
- Decker 73.5
- Glasgow 71.9
- LaPorta 70.2
- Sewell 69.7
- Wright 56.8
- Gibbs 47.5
- Mahogany 43.9
- Ratledge 39.2
- Jamo 78.5
- Sewell 68.4
- Ratledge 64.1
- LaPorta 61.9
- Raymond 60.3
- Gibbs 60.0
- Goff 60.0
- Zylstra 59.6
- Mahogany 58.1
- Wright 55.0
- ARSB 54.7
- Decker 36.6
- Glasgow 34.4
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
I still remember that game, their (then) usual holiday disaster.
msudaisy26
Footballguy
That is fair and going off was the wrong word, but still not a smart football play.
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
I will say, other than the fact that a Jamo score would have won me my fantasy matchup, I'm glad that garbage-time TD went to TeSlaa. Kid deserved it and it ended the game on an ever-so-slightly hopeful note going forward
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
PFF Defensive Grades
Defense
Defense
- Muhammad 85.2
- Branch 85.1
- Hutchinson 72.0
- Anzalone 70.9
- Robertson 70.7
- Barnes 69.1
- Campbell 67.6
- Joseph 67.5
- Arnold 62.7
- Dorsey 61.3
- Lopez 57.6
- O'Connor 57.1
- Davenport 55.1
- Reader 50.8
- T. Williams 48.7
- Reed 38.0
- Ya-Sin 33.4
- Campbell 87.6
- Arnold 78.4
- Anzalone 70.0
- Reed 66.9
- Robertson 66.4
- Barnes 64.9
- Joseph 64.8
- Hutchinson 63.1
- O'Connor 61.3
- Davenport 61.2
- Muhammad 60.2
- Ya-Sin 60.0
- Dorsey 60.0
- Branch 59.5
- Lopez 54.9
- Reader 54.3
- T Williams 48.8
- Campbell 82.8 (5-4-0-3)
- Arnold 80.0 (4-2-0-2)
- Anzalone 80.0 (3-3-0-3)
- Branch 79.2 (5-0-0-3)
- Reed 78.9 (5-0-0-2)
- Barnes 76.7 (5-1-1-3)
- Robertson 74.8 (2-0-0-0)
- Joseph 72.6 (1-0-0-0)
- Davenport 72.0 (3-0-0-1)
- T Williams 69.6 (1-2-0-1)
- Hutchinson 69.6 (0-1-0-0)
- Reader 26.1 (1-0-1-0)
- Muhammad 87.6 (1)
- Hutchinson 71.3 (2)
- Barnes 68.3 (1)
- Lopez 62.8
- Davenport 62.0 (1)
- T Williams 57.7 (1)
- Branch 56.8
- O'Connor 53.5 (1)
- Reader 51.4
- Campbell 50.8
- Anzalone 50.5
- Branch 91.3
- Robertson 69.1
- Anzalone 68.6
- Joseph 64.2
- Barnes 62.8
- Hutchinson 60.4
- Davenport 60.0
- Ya-Sin 60.0
- Dorsey 60.0
- Arnold 54.5
- Campbell 43.5
- Reed 30.6
msudaisy26
Footballguy
We are beating a dead horse here. The splash moves are over for the time being. I
If pass rush continues to be a problem and Holmes doesn't address this off season then we know he doesn't value pass rushers and it will most likely be the reason the Lions don't win a Super Bowl because they have Super Bowl caliber talent every where else.
msudaisy26
Footballguy
This is where I am at. I expected the Lions to win between 9 and 13 games this year assuming just normal variance. The loss to the Packers doesn't change that. If they lose to the Bears and look bad doing it then I will start to worry.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Interesting that even before Chicago played a game, Bears went from 4.5 to 5.5 point underdogs.
That can't possibly be it for the spread. I'd bet my house that Detroit beats Chicago by more than 5.5 next week.
msudaisy26
Footballguy
Bears almost always play them tough. We don't want you to be homeless.
I can't imagine Dan doesn't have them ready and flying for that game. They're going to win by more than a touchdown.
swabs
Footballguy
Remember, last year with Johnson they didn't score more than 20 weeks 1-3. Thinking they might want to reconsider getting the starters a few snaps in preseason.
And I'll continue to beat the dead horse. All summer I had to hear and read about how things were ok and to trust Brad.
This team doesn't have until next off-season to find out. That window is closing pretty fast right now.
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
As I said in my earlier post, not drawing any firm conclusions from Week 1. But still, it is kind of interesting that Morton's offense was such a clogged toilet while the guy he beat out for the job hung 32 points on the Steelers
King of the Jungle
Footballguy
I think most agreed it was a weakness, I still do not think trading for an aging DE at a high market value was the answer for a lot of different reasons. As gross as yesterday was, I am willing to give them a couple games to get things right before making anywhere near a final determination. But for now…Payne 1, Brad 0 on the DE front.
msudaisy26
Footballguy
It is one game, and beat the horse when they can do something about it. Right now nobody is moving anyone.
msudaisy26
Footballguy
It wasn't just that. A few of us wanted them to take a flier on Bosa for cheap, or Sweat, or Zadrius, or use decent draft capital on one or make a splash move.
Anything other than just Hutch and however many single digit games Davenport will give and we were called haters, non believers, etc all summer.
King of the Jungle
Footballguy
I am a bit surprised that they did not bring back Zadarius. Neither Hutchinson or the currently healthy Davenport were factors yesterday so I doubt it would have made much of a difference. Willing to see if time heals these wounds and see how they respond in week two.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Need a 3-tech who can push the interior. Trying to make do with a pair of 2-gap cloggers could be a couple of rough months until Alim gets back.
Paschal will help when he comes back next month but mostly as a 4-I or 5-tech, and his pass win rates are low.
Campbell said today JeMarco Jones is done for the year. Time to take the training wheels off Gio Manu.
Paschal will help when he comes back next month but mostly as a 4-I or 5-tech, and his pass win rates are low.
Campbell said today JeMarco Jones is done for the year. Time to take the training wheels off Gio Manu.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions' Campbell bemoans overloading roster, plans to dial things back as team tries to rediscover it's bread and butter
Allen Park — Like any football coach worth a damn, Dan Campbell shouldered the blame after Sunday’s season-opening loss to the Green Bay Packers.
But, often, those words can ring hollow. Some Detroit Lions fans probably wake up in a cold sweat thinking about the previous guy pointing the finger at himself after each of the 29 losses he racked up in three seasons.
To Campbell’s credit, he was more specific about why he felt he let the team down on Sunday.
“We had some miscommunications, some MAs (missed assignments), that really cost us at the worst times, a couple of penalties that bit us,” Campbell said. “It just wasn’t clean. We didn’t play well. …We’ve got a lot of things where just fundamentally we were off. We’ve got to get our fundamentals back, we’ve got to go back to work because it really is that simple. Nothing’s easy about it, but it’s that simple to diagnose.
“That was really the story…,” Campbell said. “We just didn’t have enough good performances, and really, we didn’t coach well enough. That obviously starts with me. We had a lot of MAs, so that tells me that we had too much on their plate, which that’s my fault.”
After six weeks of training camp, three joint practices and four preseason games, Campbell thought his roster could handle more going into the opener. In hindsight, he acknowledges the miscalculation, particularly with some of the team's youth at some key spots not being ready for the mental load put on them.
“We had some young guys that struggled yesterday,” Campbell said. “I certainly didn’t go in and think it would be the best performance they would have all year, but it wasn’t good enough. The good news is there’s nowhere to go but up, and up we will go. They’ll only get better with banked reps.”
Heading into Week 2 against the Chicago Bears, Campbell intends to scale things back to reduce the unforced errors and help accelerate figuring out the 2025 roster's identity.
“You really don’t know what you are until Week 5. Week 4, Week 5, maybe Week 6, somewhere in there, as to what you really can hang your hat on,” Campbell said. “Now as far as our core principles and what I believe in, no, we’ll continue to drive that home and get better in that area, or we’ll do what we have to do to tweak a few things.”
Those core principles include establishing the run, which the Lions were unable to do against the Packers. The two-headed backfield of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs averaged just 2.2 yards per carry in the loss.
On Monday, Campbell praised the target of fan frustrations, first-year coordinator John Morton, noting he was limited by the poor execution of the ground game.
“I would tell you this, first of all, I thought he did good,” Campbell said.
Yeah, there are a couple of things that he wants back, certainly. But we’ve got to master bread and butter before you get to all the other stuff. …The other stuff won’t matter if we can’t find a way to run the football more than 2.1 per carry. That’s where everything starts for us. If we can’t, then you’re out of play-action, you’re out of everything. Guys pin their ears back and that makes it harder on some of those guys up front. That’s where it all begins, really.”
One adjustment fans should expect to see in Week 2 is more of receiver Isaac TeSlaa. The rookie logged just three snaps in his debut, but was the recipient of Detroit’s only touchdown, a remarkable one-handed grab in the closing minutes.
“I think we really wanted to try to get him involved last week but then he got sick and he missed a lot of practice,” Campbell said. “Then we didn’t feel comfortable trying to load him up with stuff, so it was going to be very limited. But certainly, we’d like to use him more. I mean there’s something there. Looks like he’s back and feels pretty good and it was good to see him make a play. …We’re going to start trying to get him some (more) reps.”
But, often, those words can ring hollow. Some Detroit Lions fans probably wake up in a cold sweat thinking about the previous guy pointing the finger at himself after each of the 29 losses he racked up in three seasons.
To Campbell’s credit, he was more specific about why he felt he let the team down on Sunday.
“We had some miscommunications, some MAs (missed assignments), that really cost us at the worst times, a couple of penalties that bit us,” Campbell said. “It just wasn’t clean. We didn’t play well. …We’ve got a lot of things where just fundamentally we were off. We’ve got to get our fundamentals back, we’ve got to go back to work because it really is that simple. Nothing’s easy about it, but it’s that simple to diagnose.
“That was really the story…,” Campbell said. “We just didn’t have enough good performances, and really, we didn’t coach well enough. That obviously starts with me. We had a lot of MAs, so that tells me that we had too much on their plate, which that’s my fault.”
After six weeks of training camp, three joint practices and four preseason games, Campbell thought his roster could handle more going into the opener. In hindsight, he acknowledges the miscalculation, particularly with some of the team's youth at some key spots not being ready for the mental load put on them.
“We had some young guys that struggled yesterday,” Campbell said. “I certainly didn’t go in and think it would be the best performance they would have all year, but it wasn’t good enough. The good news is there’s nowhere to go but up, and up we will go. They’ll only get better with banked reps.”
Heading into Week 2 against the Chicago Bears, Campbell intends to scale things back to reduce the unforced errors and help accelerate figuring out the 2025 roster's identity.
“You really don’t know what you are until Week 5. Week 4, Week 5, maybe Week 6, somewhere in there, as to what you really can hang your hat on,” Campbell said. “Now as far as our core principles and what I believe in, no, we’ll continue to drive that home and get better in that area, or we’ll do what we have to do to tweak a few things.”
Those core principles include establishing the run, which the Lions were unable to do against the Packers. The two-headed backfield of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs averaged just 2.2 yards per carry in the loss.
On Monday, Campbell praised the target of fan frustrations, first-year coordinator John Morton, noting he was limited by the poor execution of the ground game.
“I would tell you this, first of all, I thought he did good,” Campbell said.
Yeah, there are a couple of things that he wants back, certainly. But we’ve got to master bread and butter before you get to all the other stuff. …The other stuff won’t matter if we can’t find a way to run the football more than 2.1 per carry. That’s where everything starts for us. If we can’t, then you’re out of play-action, you’re out of everything. Guys pin their ears back and that makes it harder on some of those guys up front. That’s where it all begins, really.”
One adjustment fans should expect to see in Week 2 is more of receiver Isaac TeSlaa. The rookie logged just three snaps in his debut, but was the recipient of Detroit’s only touchdown, a remarkable one-handed grab in the closing minutes.
“I think we really wanted to try to get him involved last week but then he got sick and he missed a lot of practice,” Campbell said. “Then we didn’t feel comfortable trying to load him up with stuff, so it was going to be very limited. But certainly, we’d like to use him more. I mean there’s something there. Looks like he’s back and feels pretty good and it was good to see him make a play. …We’re going to start trying to get him some (more) reps.”
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
It’s not a conversation that needs to be had yet - John Morton deserves the chance to fix the messy offense - but Scottie Montgomery & David Shaw have OC experience at the Power 5 level. Don’t think either would be an in season replacement but they could be part of the collaborative effort.
Coach Dan waited 8 weeks before taking the play sheet out of Anthony Lynn’s hands. Campbell called plays in the last 10 g of Y1 but TE Assistant Ben Johnson was giving him a lot of input. Seth Ryan is relatively green (31, 2nd NFL team) but he’s known for his creative solutions.
Of course the best outcome would be Morton figures it out, but I don’t think Campbell will hesitate to act if he doesn’t succeed.
Coach Dan waited 8 weeks before taking the play sheet out of Anthony Lynn’s hands. Campbell called plays in the last 10 g of Y1 but TE Assistant Ben Johnson was giving him a lot of input. Seth Ryan is relatively green (31, 2nd NFL team) but he’s known for his creative solutions.
Of course the best outcome would be Morton figures it out, but I don’t think Campbell will hesitate to act if he doesn’t succeed.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Justin Rogers was asked a question along those lines in the SubStack subscribers chat. His reply:
Feel like the Lions got more out of their 3 joint practices (Dolphins 2x, Texans) than the 4 Preseason games.
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
Lions had more than enough time to bring Z back, and he let it be known he wanted to be in Detroit.
Holmes or DC or both did not want him back for whatever reasons. Really thought Z would be a nice rotation player and add depth edge but Lions obviously did not.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
NFL Record - Fewest Yards, Game, 10+ Receptions
1. Jahmyr Gibbs 31 yards (DET 9-7-25)
2. Jamel White 34 (CLE 10-13-22)
3. Tiki Barber 38 (NYG11-9-03)
4. Marquise Brown 43 (BAL 12-19-21)
5. Roger Craig 43 (SF 11-15-87)
6. Wan’Dale Robinson 43 (NYG 1-5-25)
1. Jahmyr Gibbs 31 yards (DET 9-7-25)
2. Jamel White 34 (CLE 10-13-22)
3. Tiki Barber 38 (NYG11-9-03)
4. Marquise Brown 43 (BAL 12-19-21)
5. Roger Craig 43 (SF 11-15-87)
6. Wan’Dale Robinson 43 (NYG 1-5-25)
It could be they didn't want to pay him $9 million.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
Philly signed him for 4.5. Very fair price.
Incentives bonus if he makes the Pro-Bowl which he won`t, number of sacks, snaps played, and if Philly wins Superbowl again.
Sounds team friendly. They would love to pay the bonus for leading the team in sacks and another Superbowl win.
msudaisy26
Footballguy
Even at 9 kn guaranteed it wouldn't have been crazy.
