Yes, I know the NFL season is a long journey filled with ups and downs. At this point in the season, I’m pleased with our record, especially considering all the injuries we’ve faced. However, one bad game reveals our team’s deficiencies and areas of concern. This rant might feel too harsh for some fans, but perhaps not harsh enough for others.
Powerhouse Team
As I feared, the Lions showed us what a physical powerhouse team looks like. We can complain about the refs or argue that a play or two could have made a difference, but the Lions took it to the Bucs in every facet of the game. Sure, their offense didn’t do much after taking a 21-9 lead in the third quarter, but they didn’t need to. Who’s to say we would have stopped them if they had to open up the offense again?
Grizzard’s Offense
Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard struggled to find answers for Kelvin Sheppard’s defense last night. Baker Mayfield didn’t help by losing his accuracy as the game went on, but Grizzard seemed a step behind the Lions’ defensive adjustments. We ran the ball on almost every first down in the first half, which isn’t the way to attack a defensive line led by Aidan Hutchinson. Your best chance to move the ball may come on first down. This was also the first game since the Eagles match where we played for third down. The Lions have a solid third-down defense, and I wasn’t comfortable in any of those situations, whether it was 3rd and 5, 3rd and 3, or even 3rd and 1.
Grizzard also seemed unprepared for the Lions’ heavy man-to-man coverage. They effectively shut down our zone route busters, even with backup defensive backs in the game. Coming out with crossing routes and man beaters on the first drive of the second half was a step in the right direction, but it shouldn’t take that long to make adjustments.
I’ve said it time and time again: the play-caller sets the players up for success or failure. Keeping a defense off balance makes execution easier for everyone. But when you run the ball on most first downs and consistently end up in third-down situations, you’re not helping your players win.
A Mirage of a Defense
The Lions' opening drives in both halves looked almost too easy, as if they knew exactly what defenses we were running. While our defense did make some big plays and Coach Bowles called some timely blitzes, there were too many busted coverages and missed gap assignments. You can’t afford that against a top-notch team. Do you feel confident that our defense could have stopped the Lions in the fourth quarter if they had opened up their offense again? I’m not so sure.
Glaring Player Weaknesses
Playing against the best teams highlights our weaknesses. SirVocea Dennis struggles in space; his lateral movement is below average. Logan Hall is always close to making a play but often ends up just a step behind. I mentioned last week that the Lions should target Hall, and they did—successfully. Charley Heck had a tough night against Hutchinson. He’s doing a solid job filling in while Luke Goedeke is out, but he’s not the long-term answer at right tackle.
Now, with Haason Reddick going down with an injury last night, does my call for trading for an edge defender sound more reasonable?
Again, this was just one game. I love this team; they have grit and great camaraderie. Winning against the Saints next week before heading into the bye is crucial. The Bucs should be playoff contenders, but I’m concerned about what the team will look like as we continue losing key players. The NFL is tough, and the Super Bowl-winning team isn’t always the one playing the best football right now. Here’s hoping we can be in that group by season’s end.
Grizzard also seemed unprepared for the Lions’ heavy man-to-man coverage.
Glad you raised this because it sure seemed like we were anticipating zone with the banged up secondary
listen, we knew the Bucs were going to lose some games this year and most had this one penciled in at the start of the season as well as especially after the Lions lost to the Chiefs a week ago.
The concern to me was more how Baker and the offense looked. It reminded me of some of the off games he had in 2023 where all in all the product was good but he had some clunkers. Baker hasn't had many poor performances in 2024 or 2025 with maybe Denver last year ringing a bell.
It made me question if this team....really could beat anyone as they've given us the confidence of the first 6 games.
So the 2 powerhouses in the NFC are Philadelphia and Detroit. Philly spanked us in the first half but then we seem to have figured them out in the second half and Detroit was just like a cat toying with their food as if not for mishaps/aggressive coaching the game would have been even more of a blow out.
on the Brightside, the Bucs in 2020 got blown out by the Saints 38-3 and went on to beat them in the playoffs and win a Superbowl. All is not loss
BUT...we better beat the Saints heading into the bye week. Being 6-2 at the bye week? could not ask for more. All is well, the world is right again
but if we lose to that shithole team, then yeah, 5-3 looking more like that typical 10 win first round exit as opposed to us being a contender
I'm sure Jason Licht is trying to figure that out now...which team are we...which baker are we....because that can determine whether we make a move at deadline to try and get a championship. To me....it's there for the taking but not a good look that the 2 teams ahead of us, essentially kicked our asses.
BUT...we better beat the Saints heading into the bye week. Being 6-2 at the bye week? could not ask for more. All is well, the world is right again
but if we lose to that shithole team, then yeah, 5-3 looking more like that typical 10 win first round exit as opposed to us being a contender
absolutely. must win in terms of self confidence for the rest of the season
agree with the rest as well
BUT...we better beat the Saints heading into the bye week. Being 6-2 at the bye week? could not ask for more. All is well, the world is right again
maybe the "benefit" to the lions loss will be showing jup determined to win the Saints game. NFL teams seem prone to taking the bye week early
The OL was largely garbage almost the entire night. Hard to do anything on offense when the right side is constantly getting blown up.
Injuries are the worst part of this game. I don't mind that we lost. I think it could be a little added motivation for the playoffs when you lose to a team in the regular season. I think the goal should be to get healthy and get into the playoffs. Do that then we can beat any team in the playoffs I think.
To me the whole game, on offense, was off because our offensive line was destroyed. This is the second consecutive year we’ve played the Lions and Goedeke has been out injured. We’ve got to cut ties with these guys that are continuously injured. They can’t be counted on. Started with Carlton Davis, but stopped there.
baker was very off all night. But he was running for his life the entire evening.
Injuries are the worst part of this game. I don't mind that we lost. I think it could be a little added motivation for the playoffs when you lose to a team in the regular season. I think the goal should be to get healthy and get into the playoffs. Do that then we can beat any team in the playoffs I think.
hate to say it, but i dont think get healthy is going to happen brother.
Not sure how or why people are blaming Grizz for anything last night. Right side of the line was getting absolutely dominated all night long. Baker was missing every throw high or wide including two easy touchdowns to Egbuka and Tez.
To me the whole game, on offense, was off because our offensive line was destroyed. This is the second consecutive year we’ve played the Lions and Goedeke has been out injured. We’ve got to cut ties with these guys that are continuously injured. They can’t be counted on. Started with Carlton Davis, but stopped there.
baker was very off all night. But he was running for his life the entire evening.
Yes, lets cut ties with the guy who just signed a massive deal and is one of the better RT's in the league. Concussion last year kept him out a few games and this year we rushed him back and reaggravated a foot injury.
I don't have much more to say about the game except when that push from the D-line keeps coming, you got to get the ball out quick. I was surprised that the Bucs didn't run more shorter to medium routes to get the ball out quicker. It seemed like screens to the outside and deep balls were the flavor of the day.
@bchaves8 - obviously there are many different reasons for our offenses lack of production last night, and the coaches play a part in that as well. I focus on Grizz more with the first half. He got out-schemed in the first half. He was not ready for Sheppard to play so much man-to-man coverage and didn’t adjust until halftime. And he ran run plays (in the 1st half) on first down at a much higher rate than he has all year. And when he called passes he was looking for the big hitters, probably because they had so much success with it against the niners. I didn’t see nearly as many receiver, RB, TE screens as he called last week. To me, he was a little tight with his play calls in the first half.
Grizzard also seemed unprepared for the Lions’ heavy man-to-man coverage.
And, to make matters worse, it took him an entire half to make an adjustment.
Then after that opening 2nd half drive, he resorted back to the same stuff he ran in the 1st half.
Hope he learns from this.
