SB Nation Reacts Results: Lions fan’s confidence dips following Bucs loss

The results from our latest SB Nation Reacts surveys are in and some Lions fans appear to be losing confidence in the direction of the team following loss.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Detroit Lions fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

In this week’s SB Nation Reacts survey, we asked Detroit Lions fans two questions:

1. Are you confident the Lions are headed in the right direction?
2. What is the most likely outcome of the Lions at Cardinals?

After opening the season with 99% of fans believing the Lions were headed in the right direction, that number dipped a bit, landing at 97%, following an overtime win over the Rams. Now, after a Week 2 loss to the Bucs, the confidence poll numbers have predictably dropped again.

After the Lions’ Week 2 loss to Seattle in 2023, confidence numbers dropped from 99% to 86%, and after this year’s Week 2 loss, once again, we see a harsh reaction, with confidence numbers dropping from 97% down to 79%.

With expectations high in Detroit, it’s not surprising to see this reaction following a loss, especially the first of the season. But if this is the reaction after each loss, it’s going to be a long season for some folks, because even good teams lose games in the NFL.

As POD commenter Archerino0 pointed out in the comment section: “We haven’t lost back-to-back games in a season and a half so I’ll wait until that happens to be concerned.”

So will that happen this week?

In our second question—What is the most likely outcome of the Lions at Cardinals?—we gave the fans options to pick a winner in the Lions’ next game, while also considering the current spread. The folks over at FanDuel Sportsbook opened the week with the Lions favored by 3 points, and the line remains unchanged.

The results of the poll show that 73% of fans believe the Lions will beat the Cardinals, with 45% believing it’ll be by at least three points. Leaving 27% of fans thinking the Lions will lose their first road game.

To get a closer look into the minds of Lions fans, here are a few of the explanations from the comment section of the original article, lightly edited for clarity:

• critical perspective: “I wish we had a different opponent this week. Cardinals scare me; I think they’re sneaky good. I’m confident in the Lions but this could turn into an existential crisis after this week if they’re not careful”
• APaperBag: “It’s very hard to carry over momentum from week to week in the NFL. Teams tend to fall (or rise) back to their mean and I don’t think the Cardinals will be as great as they were against a Rams team that were playing over their heads in week 1. I also think (and hope) the Lions offensive woes won’t be as bad as they were against the Bucs.”
• bigfoot tallguy: “There is an ebb and flow to all things. I think the Cards will be catching the Lions at the wrong time. Lions on the road, cornered, with their backs against the wall will be focused. I don’t think it will be pretty for the home team.”
• AzScorpion: “Cards fan here. I am super excited for this game. the Cards have, literally, modeled their rebuild after the Lions. Took a tackle in year one. A WR and defensive lineman in year two. They both run a version of the Shanahan scheme and are run first teams. It’s going to be a brutal 3 hours.”