It has been said repeatedly this week that every fear about the Lions came true during their season-opening loss at Green Bay.
The offensive line badly missed retired All-Pro center Frank Ragnow. Young guards Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany were overwhelmed, and veteran center Graham Glasgow didn’t seem to have much left in the tank.
The pass rush was weak. Conversely, Micah Parsons played well for the Packers, making this entire town wince in unison when he garnered a sack.
And quarterback Jared Goff was ineffective without departed offensive coordinator Ben Johnson calling the plays.
However, the worst part was how uninspired the Lions appeared. They were decidedly flat and consistently beaten to the punch by the Packers, who moved to 2-0 by downing Washington on Thursday.
Juxtapose how lethargically and uninspired the Lions played at Green Bay with their performance at Kansas City in the 2023 opener. In that game, as one of the NFL’s up-and-coming teams, the Lions played fast and with purpose. They were the ones forcing the issue, pulling out a thrilling victory and setting the tone for what was to come.
The Lions have personnel issues, especially on the offensive line, and that has a domino effect on Goff, who struggles mightily when forced to improvise. They can’t win with their quarterback being a perpetual check-down machine, and must return to a scheme more based on crossing routes, slants and getting the ball out of Goff’s hand quickly.
The defense and new coordinator Kelvin Sheppard must guess right more when blitzing. It was as if the Packers knew what was coming. Expected standouts D.J. Reed and Jack Campbell were terrible in pass coverage.
Head coach Dan Campbell doesn’t get enough credit for it, but he has proven to be a smart coach. Regardless, though, his biggest asset is motivation. It was disappointing the Lions didn’t display their usual emotional edge at Green Bay. It was a huge game, and the Packers were charged for it, and the Lions simply were not.
You can suggest it is too early for a must-win game, but the Lions would potentially dig themselves an inescapable hole should they lose to Chicago Sunday. It’s at Ford Field, against a struggling organization with a new coach and a second-year QB. The crowd will be in a frenzy for the return of Ben Johnson, the Lions’ widely celebrated offensive coordinator under Campbell.
If the Lions were to lose, they would be looking at a probable 0-3 start with a trip to Baltimore looming to encounter the immensely talented Ravens.
If that all doesn’t generate heightened motivation, the Lions are in serious trouble. That is the biggest challenge for Campbell. Sure, the Lions must be better prepared strategically.
But the bigger key is how they react emotionally. It’s been their biggest strength.
It was a weakness in the opener. This season will be a disaster if that doesn’t change starting Sunday.