The playoff dream is not officially dead, but we are firmly in miracle territory.
For the first time since 2022, the Detroit Lions have lost back-to-back games, and it came at the worst possible moment. A week after losing to the Los Angeles Rams in a barnburner, the Lions fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a battle of ineptitude. Detroit now sits with a 8-7 record on the year and their playoff chances sit at six percent. Not only do they not control their own fate, they will need significant help from the football gods. Yet even if they make the playoffs against all odds, do we have any faith of a playoff run? The team looks lifeless and, given the onslaught that will be the NFC playoff bracket, they are not threatening anyone.
I found some winners and losers from this unfortunate loss, but I would not blame you for listing the entire team as an outright loser. Littles victories matter little when the season is almost over.
Loser: Hank Fraley, run game coordinator
Any number of things can shoulder the blame for this inept run game: the offensive line for not opening lanes, the running backs for failing to capitalize on opportunities, the defense for falling behind and forcing the run game to get abandoned, or passing game for floundering. This section is, in essence, a summary of multiple losers. However, the blame has to rest on Hank Fraley.
The offensive line coach and run game coordinator has looked completely outmatched for the previous two games—the strength of the 2024 Lions has evaporated. Last season, Detroit was dominant in the trenches, instilling the fear of God in opposing defenses with the speed and power of their linemen and running backs. This year, the Lions are the ones getting bullied. The Lions finished with 16 yards on 11 carries between Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Gibbs had seven carries for a mere two yards—TWO YARDS! We know how talented Gibbs is, so this output (or lack thereof) is downright disgusting from the run game. How can I list Gibbs as a Loser when he got hit in the backfield on most of his carries? No running back can succeed in that environment.
Aside from Penei Sewell, nobody is reliable on a weekly basis. Taylor Decker has battled injuries all season. Tate Ratledge has rookie growing pains. Nobody has been able to solidify the left guard or center positions. The Lions live and die by their run game, and the run game lives and dies by their offensive line. Fraley’s crew doesn’t have it this year.
Worse yet, this was a game in which the scheme truly failed the Lions. On multiple occasions, the backs were getting stopped in the backfield due to an untouched defender. Edges like Alex Highsmith were crashing down on run plays throughout the day, but the Lions never adjusted. The Lions kept pulling their guards, yet the guards continuously failed to get to their block in time—these were not athletic lapses either, the linemen simply had no time to move laterally.
The Lions run game is not executing at any level.
Loser: Kelvin Sheppard, DC
On average, I actually think that the Lions defense was not half bad against the Steelers. They pressured Aaron Rodgers fairly well and there were some good moments in coverage, in particular from Rock Ya-Sin.
However, the bad half was atrocious, and there within lies the problem: they keep giving up backbreaking plays. The Lions are getting stops on early downs. However, when the defense falters, it falters hard. The Steelers had two touchdown runs of 45 yards courtesy of Tyler Warren, as well as a 45-yard touchdown reception by Kenneth Gainwell. On top of that, the defense was allowing multiple third-and-long conversions. The epitome of their struggles came on the final drive of the first half, during which the Steelers methodically drove down the field with third down conversions of 11 yards, 12 yards, and 13 yards, plus the aforementioned 45-yard Gainwell touchdown on second down (and two seconds remaining).
Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard and his crew and not up to the task of competing in the NFL. The Steelers finished with 481 total yards of offense, and I would wager that 300 of those came on plays over 10 yards. It was chunk play after chunk play for the Steelers. They finished with 230 rushing yards and two touchdowns while averaging 8.5 yards per attempt, yet another week in which the run defense has been horrific—what happened to the dominance from the start of the season?
I can only chalk up so many failures to injuries. The Lions have played 15 games this season, we know who they are. They cannot stop explosive plays, even when facing off against a Steelers team that was previously incapable of them. They look outmatched by opposing offenses in every facet. Plain and simple, Kelvin Sheppard has failed them over the last month.
Winner: Jared Goff, QB
I want to hear zero discussion about replacing Goff next offseason. For as bad as the offense has been this season, rarely has it been Goff’s outright fault. With no blocking and no run game, Goff still managed to put up 364 passing yards and three touchdowns, while also coming an offensive pass interference away from one of the most miraculous game-winning touchdowns in NFL history.
Early in his Lions career, Goff was a weak point in the offense—the offense had to work around him. Over the last two seasons, Goff and the offense were a perfect complement of passing and rushing. This season, however, it has been Goff playing excellent football while most of the roster collapses around him. The go-to connection with St. Brown was off on Sunday (nine targets for just four catches and 54 yards), but the Lions still got production from their passing game thanks to Goff. I do not blame Goff for the opening drive sack, nor the failed fourth down nor the safety. He has athletic limitations, sure, but the offensive line and the offensive playbook rarely set him up for success. Right now, the Lions are losing despite Goff’s efforts.
Winner: Kalif Raymond, WR
The Lions finally remembered that Raymond can be a playmaker. With only 170 receiving yards entering this week, Raymond was an afterthought in the offense. This game was a perfect illustration of why he is a great complimentary weapon. Much like Jameson Williams, he is electric with the ball in his hands. He finished with four catches for 62 yards. Of those plays, two stand out in particular. He turned on the burners on a crossing route and took it all the way for a 27-yard touchdown. Earlier in the game, he had a phenomenal first down conversion in which he used his speed and agility to outmaneuver a defender to reach the sticks.
I do not understand why it has been a struggle to get Raymond involved. Get him the ball a few times per game and see the magic.
Loser: Alex Anzalone, LB
Anzalone had one of the worst outings of his Lions tenure. Whether through the air or on the ground, the Steelers were attacking him at every opportunity. Per PFF’s in-game stats (which are not finalized yet), Anzalone allowed seven receptions for 103 yards, 47 of which came on the Gainwell touchdown catch in which he also committed defensive pass interference. Anzalone normally has a nose for the football, but too often was he out of place or out of pace against the Steelers. Whether due to the speed of the running backs or the size of the tight ends, Anzalone was on the losing side of nearly every matchup.
Winner: D.J. Reed and Rock Ya-Sin, CBs
Credit where credit’s due. Reed had a solid showing against the Steelers, arguably his lone positive games since returning from injury, while Ya-Sin continues to prove he is worthy of starting. Between Reed and Ya-Sin, fan-punching DK Metcalf was held to four catches for 42 yards on nine targets, with Ya-Sin adding a pass breakup. Of the Steelers’ 266 passing yards, a majority of them came from running backs, tight ends, or slot receivers. The Lions outside cornerbacks were doing a good job along the perimeter.
Loser: Marcus Davenport and Alim McNeill, DL
Nothing good has come from Davenport this season. He already had his annual injured reserve stint, but despite returning to the lineup, he has been a ghost. He has just one sack this season, all the way back in Week 2. Since his return, he has been absent as a pass rusher and a liability in run defense. There are no positives to his game right now, and I honestly see no reason to play him over the likes of Al-Quadin Muhammad or Tyrus Wheat—in fact, why not give Ahmed Hassanein a shot?
As for McNeill, this is an unfortunate part of his recovery from ACL surgery. Since being activated, the star defensive tackle looks far from worthy that title. His run defense has declined significantly and he is far too often moved off his spot despite his size and power. He has the occasional flashes as a pass rusher, but as a whole, he does not look like his 2024 self. Next season will be the true test of whether he can return to form or not.
Winner: Anthony Firkser, TE
Early on, Firkser was shaping up to be a slam-dunk entry in my winner category. Instead, he is a modest winner. Surprisingly, he was a focal point of the offense on their opening drive, racking up three catches for 34 yards. After losing Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright, the Lions had not had tight end production like this. Instead, however, Firkser saw just one more catch the rest of the way to bring his game total to four catches for 40 yards. It will still go down as a positive from him (he was rarely used as a run blocker), but the Lions failed to build on his early success.
See More:
