Every team that has played the Detroit Lions has been blown out the following week. Is this a real phenomenon or a coincidence? We debate in our latest mailbag.
It’s hard to judge anything from a three-game sample, but there has been an odd phenomenon regarding Detroit Lions’ opponents. The first three teams the Lions have faced have all been absolutely blown out the week following their game against Detroit.
Rams: Lost to Cardinals 41-10 after Lions game
Buccaneers: Lost to Broncos, 26-7 after Lions game
Cardinals: Lost to Commanders, 42-14 after Lions game
It’s pretty stunning just how bad these teams played after their bout with Detroit, particularly teams like the Bucs and Cardinals, who have played every other game tight and have wins under their belt. But at the same time, the Rams have been decimated by injury, the 1-3 Cardinals don’t look nearly as lethal as when they destroyed the Rams, and the Bucs are now just 3-2 after blowing Thursday night’s game.
Still, there is seemingly some logic in this “Lions hangover” theory. Take, for example, the Buccaneers game. After their win over the Lions, one Tampa reporter said there were executives with tears in their eyes, to which Bucs coach Todd Bowles hilariously replied.
“You let me know who they are, I’ll find them. There’s no crying in football Week 2. I’m going to find out,” Bowles said.
As silly as the story is, it does speak to how big of a deal Lions games are to their opponent. The argument could certainly be logically made that teams expend all of their energy trying to beat one of the best rosters in football. Combine that with Detroit’s physical style of play, and it could certainly make sense that opponents are still reeling from the game the following week.
Erik Schlitt and I debate whether this phenomenon is actually real or if this is just a coincidence and a small sample size. That discussion happens at the 40:15 point of our Midweek Mailbag podcast, which is embedded below.
Other topics discussed this week (in order):
- What went wrong with the Lions’ run defense vs. Seattle?
- Has the priority of re-signings changed with Derrick Barnes, Levi Onwuzurike, Carlton Davis, etc.?
- Why wasn’t Jared Goff given forward progress on the safety?
- How important is Kerby Joseph to the defense given how much base defense and single-high they play?
- Where do the Lions need more depth? Could Harold Landry or Davante Adams be targets?
- Is there anyone the Lions should have taken over their 2024 NFL Draft selections given small contributions thus far?
