Make no mistake. The Lions are better.
They have better player personnel. Jared Goff has a year under his belt in Detroit. Yeah, but they still aren't good enough.
That was the message of the Lions' 28-24 defeat at Minnesota Sunday.
The defense has a long way to go before the Lions will be a legitimate contender. Aidan Hutchinson, Malcolm Rodriguez and DeShon Elliott, and the return to health of Jeff Okudah, have all helped. Yet, it's not nearly enough.
Amani Oruwariye just can't keep his hands to himself. Forced into man coverage because the Lions decided to take Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson out of the game, he was terrible. There is a reason Mike Hughes, a former Vikings first rounder, was available. We saw why when he and Oruwariye botched the coverage on K.J. Osborn's game-winning reception.
While individual players have improved under his watch, Dan Campbell's game management skills need to be honed.
Austin Seibert is not a good enough kicker to rely on for such a clutch 54-yard attempt. Campbell admitted after the game it was the wrong call.
He also needs to learn that calling late timeouts to let the opposing offense regroup doesn't work. Campbell did it again Sunday, despite how it backfired last year against the Ravens.
In the process, the Lions blew a 14-0 lead by halftime, and a 10-point fourth quarter edge.
Most of the focus will be on Campbell's game management. It's justified. But it's magnified by the sieve the Lions' defense remains.
Until that changes, they will only be minimally improved, and genuine contention will be elusive.
