John Maakaron and Vito Chirco, two staff writers for Sports Illustrated/All Lions, have plenty to talk about heading into Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ford Field. Included in the talk is any path remaining to make the playoffs.
What is your reaction to Lions’ loss to the Bills?
Chirco: Overall wise, I feel like the Lions gave a solid effort. They challenged the Bills for all 60 minutes, but ultimately, some poor decision-making from Dan Campbell at the end of the game — i.e. the decision to have Jared Goff throw on third-and-1 on Detroit’s final offensive drive — cost the Lions dearly.
And, in the end, Detroit lost to a better team. Plain and simple, the Lions aren’t on the same level as a team like the Bills, which has aspirations of representing the AFC in the Super Bowl this season. And, with Josh Allen as their quarterback and star talent on both sides of the ball, they have the ability to get to the Super Bowl. Detroit, as presently structured, does not.
So, while it was good to see Campbell’s squad — once again — fight until the final whistle, Thursday’s loss also proved that the Lions are far away from being a true playoff contender.
Maakaron: I wish the Lions would have played a cleaner game on Thanksgiving. In their three wins this month, the defense forced turnovers, and Detroit’s opponents made more mistakes.
Against Buffalo, the team struggled in the secondary, plus along the offensive line.
I am most concerned about the clock management and play calls in critical situations. Putting the ball in Jared Goff’s hands, hoping he can make the key throw late is risky business, in my opinion.
Against top opponents, Detroit has the capability of competing, but can’t overcome coaching, clock management and play-calling errors.
How concerned are you about Dan Campbell’s clock management on Thursday?
Chirco: I am more than a bit concerned. Because beside for basically three weeks this season (during Detroit’s now expired three-game-win streak), it’s been a constant issue for Campbell.
At this point, it feels like the Lions would benefit from hiring someone to assist the second-year Detroit head man with handling the clock (and some of his late-game decision-making).
His erroneous clock management has seemingly reared its ugly head in each of the Lions’ seven losses this season. And, it’s something that needs to be cleaned up by Campbell immediately. Because until it does get tidied up, it’s going to continue to prevent Detroit from taking the next step in its rebuild.
Maakaron: The Lions’ clock management at the end of the first half was more of a concern than late in the game. For the Lions to call two offensive plays before the two-minute warning was a real head-scratcher.
It has the feel that bleeding the clock is not really in Campbell’s or the coaching staff’s wheelhouse.
Unfortunately, the Bills were able to take advantage of the added time, that Campbell afforded their offense, by not bleeding the clock more.
Was the third-and-1 play at the end of the game just never going to work with Goff being quarterback?
Chirco: Unfortunately, it did seem like that. Goff, at this point in his career, just isn’t the quarterback that’s capable of consistently making big-time throws late in games. He’s not a game-changing presence at the QB position, and the fact that he isn’t got the best of the Lions going up against Allen and the Bills Thursday.
Maakaron: I am a fan of reducing the risk a team takes, especially in short-yardage situations.
All season, the Lions have struggled to consistently execute when only one or two yards to secure a first down have been needed.
I would have never called a pass play in that moment. It is safe to assume that Goff and Chark have not had the necessary time to develop chemistry, so that play had little-to-no chance of working.
Also, it is extremely laughable for those defending the Lions going for the “kill shot” against the Bills. Excuse me while I stop laughing.
You still could have taken shots into the end zone, after securing the first down and again, bleeding the clock more.
Instead, the Lions left a great quarterback with too much time to beat them. I am swinging from getting mad and laughing every time the Lions try these things.
How many wins will the Lions earn in their final six games?
Chirco: Looking at the Lions’ final six games, they have some winnable games. It starts next week, with their matchup at Ford Field against the currently 3-7 Jacksonville Jaguars. I think Campbell’s squad has a chance to win four of its next five games, but will end up winning just three of those games (against the Jaguars, the Panthers in Week 16 and the Bears in Week 17). It’s why I have Detroit finishing with seven wins on the season (which was also my preseason prediction).
Maakaron: I think the Lions can win four of their remaining games. I am giving them a loss against the Vikings and one more loss that could be a surprise — maybe against the Panthers or Jets on the road.
I had the Lions winning eight games this season, and that is still on the table, with the remaining schedule shaping up the way it is.
Can the Lions still make the playoffs?
Chirco: Sure, they could back-door their way into the playoffs. But, they won’t. To me, despite the fact they’ve shown signs of turning the corner of late, they’re still clearly not a playoff-caliber team. They’re too banged up on both sides of the ball, and still possess too many deficiencies on defense. So, I’m of the mindset that Detroit is on the verge of missing out on the postseason for the sixth straight season.
Maakaron: I have a hard time believing the Lions will make the playoffs this season. There are just a couple of holes in the defense that make it difficult to end the season with a winning record.
But, with Jameson Williams and Romeo Okwara potentially returning, the final stretch of games will have much more meaning than they have had in recent seasons.
This article was produced by the staff at Sports Illustrated/All Lions. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions.
