Roundtable: Will Lions Rebound against Saints?
1.) How concerned are you about Jared Goff turning the football over?
Christian Booher: Goff has been plagued by turnovers at times since he came to Detroit. When it’s been good with him, it’s been very good. On the flip side, the bad has been almost equally as bad.
This recent stretch hasn’t shaken my belief in Goff, as he has been a key part of the team’s success. However, the turnover issues that he’s run into have directly contributed to the team’s offensive struggles.
I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt, but it’s hard not to be concerned after two consecutive three turnover showings. I still believe in him, but I’m banking on a better showing against the Saints next week.
Vito Chirco: I'm very concerned. He's turned the football over a staggering six times the past two weeks, and has rarely put the Lions in a position to win (outside of the last 4:00 of Detroit's divisional contest with Chicago).
Going into the Lions’ Week 13 tilt in New Orleans, he needs to clean up things, and get back to playing the brand of football that made him a fringe MVP candidate earlier this season. If he doesn't, Detroit could be in store for a late-season swoon.
2.) What did the Packers do well against the Lions?
Booher: They diced up the second and third levels of the defense. The middle of the field was a prime picking point for Jordan Love, as the coverage in that area offered little resistance.
Defensively, the Lions’ offensive line looked overmatched for the first time this season. Part of that is due to Jonah Jackson being out, but the Packers’ array of stunts was difficult for the Lions to deal with.
Chirco: First off, they pressured and got in the face of Goff all game long. Rashan Gary, who finished with three sacks, and his Packers teammates took Goff off his game, and made him look like a very inexperienced passer with little-to-no pocket presence and awareness.
Second, they dialed up some solid plays for Jordan Love. Love, who completed 22-of-32 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns, had a field day against the Lions, which never got home against the fourth-year Green Bay passer. Also, Detroit had no answer for Christian Watson, who was able to get open all afternoon long and finished with 94 yards and a score.
All in all, it was an extremely underwhelming and disappointing performance from Goff and the Lions defensively.
3.) Dan Campbell admitted calling for a fake punt was a bad decision. How much is Campbell to blame for Thursday's loss?
Booher: I think the blame has to spread across the head coach and both coordinators. Campbell’s risky decisions look great when they work and bad when they don’t, so it’s hard to fault him too much in this instance. Had it worked and led to points, it would’ve been an excellent decision.
I think the struggles of both coordinators are worth noting. Ben Johnson didn’t have his best game, while Aaron Glenn’s defense was once again picked apart.
Chirco: I think it was an inexcusable call with Detroit down, 23-14, and on its own 23-yard line. And, it led to some easy points for Green Bay (a touchdown), which basically put the game out of reach for Campbell's squad.
However, Campbell shouldn't be the only one blamed for Thursday's loss. I'd also place a fair amount of it on the shoulders of Goff and Detroit's offensive line, plus Aaron Glenn's unit. And, as I've expressed previously at All Lions, Ben Johnson also deserves to come under fire for his predictable play-calling.
So, Campbell is far from the only culprit for Detroit's Thanksgiving loss to the Packers. However, at the same time, he doesn't get to go unscathed.
4.) If you could invite one Lions player over for dinner, who would you have over?
Booher: I would love to hear stories from these players on the daily ins and outs of being in the NFL, so just about any player would suffice.
I think someone like Frank Ragnow or Taylor Decker would be my choice. Each would have plenty to tell given their experience in the league and longevity in Detroit. Hearing them tell their stories about their time in Detroit, all the highs and lows, would be fascinating.
Chirco: I think I'm going to go with Amon-Ra St. Brown. He seems like a very media friendly player, and I'd love to hear from him what it's like to have a brother (Equanimeous) who also plays in the NFL. I'd also be curious to find out about what goes into the recording of an episode of the “St. Brown Brothers” podcast. There's so much that I'd love to pick Amon-Ra's brain about – including his upbringing and playing for a passionate fanbase like Detroit's – and I think he'd make for a great dinner guest.
5.) How confident are you that the Lions will rebound against the Saints?
Booher: I'm sold on what Dan Campbell is building in Detroit. I think winning the Chicago game glossed over plenty of issues that the team faced, which carried over into the loss to Green Bay.
As a result, I think the extended break will offer an opportunity for the Lions to get back to the drawing board. Campbell has been adamant that losses offer lessons, so Detroit will be studying harder after losing to the Packers.
Winning cures all, so what went wrong Sunday against Chicago was glossed over. The issues against Green Bay loom larger because they resulted in a humiliating loss on a national stage.
With the Lions having an extra week, I’m very confident that Campbell gets the train back on the rails in what will be the first return to New Orleans for both he and Glenn.
Chirco: I'll chalk up Thursday's loss to Green Bay as being the result of Detroit having a short week to prepare and not being ready for playing on Thanksgiving (i.e. not being ready for facing a vastly improved Jordan Love).
The Lions don't get a mulligan the rest of this season, though, and need to bounce back against New Orleans. I know New Orleans is a tough place to play, but it's not the same intimidating place without the likes of Sean Payton and Drew Brees. So, yes, I do believe Detroit gets back on the right track against the Derek Carr-led Saints, which haven't been overly impressive with Carr under center this season.
