The truth about bad football teams is that when one tire is fixed, another suddenly blows.
And so it goes with the Lions. While their normally sieve-like defense was often tough as nails Sunday, the Lions' offense, explosive through four games, floundered for the second straight week.
A goal line fumble by Jamaal Williams, and key interceptions tossed by Jared Goff, were the primary causes for this loss at Dallas.
The Lions continue an uncanny knack for finding different ways to lose.
Sure, they are hindered by injuries to D'Andre Swift and Amon-Ra St. Brown, but so are a lot of other teams. Lack of depth is an obvious issue, but only to a certain degree.
The pick of Jameson Williams in the NFL Draft is painful at this stage. Not only could the Lions use more depth overall, they need it at receiver.
In reality, the Lions remain the NFL's version of a boxer with a glass jaw. They are fine until something goes even remotely wrong. The Lions are a classic example of surrendering to the moment.
Head coach Dan Campbell is on the hot seat. It is deserved on two fronts.
The first is his game management decisions which cost Detroit at least the game at Minnesota. Also, his team gets the deer in the headlights look in pressure situations.
And please understand, finally, that while Goff is the consummate pro, he is not the Lions' long-term answer at QB. He hogs up way too much salary cap space juxtaposed with minimal performance.
If general manager Brad Holmes keeps kicking the QB can down the road, he has no chance of lasting beyond his initial contract.
There were a couple notable bright spots despite the loss. Aidan Hutchinson had a couple sacks and put on consistent pressure. Jeff Okudah was a hard-hitting tackling machine. Perhaps his future lies at safety. And that was a big-time hit by Kerby Joseph to cause a fumble in the scoring zone.
Yet, to suggest the Lions hung tough until the fourth quarter like it is a sign of development is absurd. When it mattered, the Lions capitulated.
It was a bad game. There is no sugar coating it.
Awful, in fact. In truth, the Lions aren't much advanced from where they were last year at this time. More progress was expected at this stage. It just isn't there.
It's not just the losing, but the manner the Lions are doing it.
It's revealing, and not in a good way.
