This is cold, man.
The Lions played the mother lode of horrible football while being upset by the Washington Commanders.
Then offensive and defensive coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn moved on to become head coaches for the Bears and Jets, leaving the departing gift of stink bomb game plans for the Washington game on the 50-yard line at Ford Field.
Worst of all has been the return of the SOL dudes. They are all over sports talk radio and social media this week like ants on a sugar cube inadvertently dropped on the floor.
“You’ve got to admit it was the most SOL thing ever,” said SOL Guy for the millionth time with unparalleled glee.
When tethered to the Lions blowing a 17-point lead at halftime of the NFC championship game last season, it feels dystopian as Detroit has fallen into a literal and figurative deep freeze.
Truth is, the Lions have never had a team this good before during the Super Bowl era. Not even close. It’s arguably the best roster in the league. Last season, they weren’t any worse than the 49ers.
The Lions’ foibles in the past accented the obvious. They just weren’t that good.
Thing is, this team was THAT good.
Maybe they would have lost to Philly this week. At least the Eagles have a roster that matches the Lions.
But the Commanders? The only way the Lions were going to lose that game was to beat themselves, which is exactly what they did.
Jared Goff played like a panicked rookie rather than a savvy vet.
He’s been a terrific QB for the Lions, but it’s fair to ask whether he is capable of taking them on a Super Bowl run.
Goff is as good as any QB in the league at following the script, but among the worst when improvising is required after a snap.
It’s not only a lack of mobility, but feel. Observing Goff attempting to extend plays is painful.
Johnson was creative, but he and head coach Dan Campbell got a bit bumptious.
Nobody is suggesting the Lions should totally change for a playoff game, but the trick plays and always go for it mindset does need, at times, to be replaced with common sense. Jameson Williams slinging the ball downfield on a reverse pass was an egregiously poor play call.
To go empty set on third-and-short was inexcusable. It put Goff in position to make a mistake.
Jahmyr Gibbs averaged more yards per touch than Saquon Barkley in their divisional playoff games. The difference: The Eagles’ great back touched it nearly twice as many times.
The Lions will go into next season with more top-end talent than any NFL squad.
That only guarantees opportunity, not triumph.
In the playoffs, you’re only as good as your worst game. It means there is no surviving an off day or even a half.
The Lions got what they deserved. Unfortunately their fans didn’t.