Duds and studs, Lions

[Magooch]

To beat the Lions you have to play a near perfect game. They played flawless except for a few bad penalties and we did not oblige. When you have a clime like today you have to adjust the offensive game plan. The Lions did. They did not take 40 or 50 yard shots into coverage. Normally, the Lions run Gibbs wide. With the wet conditions they ran inside the tackles and let the backs show their talent. The Packers did not. When you cross midfield the goal is to move the chains. Use a lot of high percentage plays particularly in this weather.

The kind of discouraging thing to me is that I thought today was a fairly mediocre game by Detroit’s standards. They didn’t make a ton of glaring mistakes (save for Branch) but were far from their best too. And so it felt like we would’ve needed to be near flawless to even hang with an average performance from these Lions.

 

[Pugger]

My hubby watched the first half and then left to pick me up at the airport. He told me MLF once again wins the toss and takes the ball instead of deferring. What is up with that nonsense?

 

[milani]

Just one, but it was an atrocious pick-six and there easily could have been others. He forces the ball into traffic at times when he just needs to

The kind of discouraging thing to me is that I thought today was a fairly mediocre game by Detroit’s standards. They didn’t make a ton of glaring mistakes (save for Branch) but were far from their best too. And so it felt like we would’ve needed to be near flawless to even hang with an average performance from these Lions.

Part of it was their game plan. The weather changed what they normally would try. As much as their coach is a gambler he also knows when to play percentages. When we see them in the dome their high flying offense will be on display.

 

[adambr2]

MLF is a dud in so many ways today that it would be a waste to spend time on anyone else.

First, he had the absolute perfect excuse to play Willis today. He had all the first team reps this week, Love was limited especially mobility wise by the groin injury, and the weather made it a run dominated game where a healthy mobile QB would have benefited us more than the better pure passer.

Obviously, Jordan is our guy, but for the injury, weather and matchup, Malik would have given us a better shot at a win today, and call it being stubborn or whatever you want-- MLF didn't pull the trigger.

The decision to receive seemed silly at the time and looks sillier in hindsight. You're facing the best 3rd quarter offense in the NFL. I get wanting to establish momentum, but it's one of those decisions where it BETTER work out if you're going to do it. Instead, we found ourselves down 7-3 and behind the 8 ball quickly.

Finally, most damningly, MLF has established a team culture in which clean football is not only not emphasized, a lack of it is not only tolerated, but ignored. Nixon set the tone immediately with a personal foul on the opening kickoff. After that, countless mental mistakes became too much to overcome. Repeated false starts -- my God you guys, you are at home. You know the snap count. Familiar special teams penalties where our guy simply tackles a man nowhere near the ball on a punt return and immediately sets us up deep in our own territory. As usual, there's no accountability for the player, and no accountability for Rick Bisaccia.

Matt Lafleur is becoming one of the longer tenured coaches in the league. He's been around awhile now, and the reputation is starting to take shape - great regular season coach. Can stack up high win totals. Doesn't have disciplined units. Disappears in big games, particularly in the playoffs.

 

[chemist]

MLF is a dud in so many ways today that it would be a waste to spend time on anyone else.

First, he had the absolute perfect excuse to play Willis today. He had all the first team reps this week, Love was limited especially mobility wise by the groin injury, and the weather made it a run dominated game where a healthy mobile QB would have benefited us more than the better pure passer.

Obviously, Jordan is our guy, but for the injury, weather and matchup, Malik would have given us a better shot at a win today, and call it being stubborn or whatever you want-- MLF didn't pull the trigger.

The decision to receive seemed silly at the time and looks sillier in hindsight. You're facing the best 3rd quarter offense in the NFL. I get wanting to establish momentum, but it's one of those decisions where it BETTER work out if you're going to do it. Instead, we found ourselves down 7-3 and behind the 8 ball quickly.

Finally, most damningly, MLF has established a team culture in which clean football is not only not emphasized, a lack of it is not only tolerated, but ignored. Nixon set the tone immediately with a personal foul on the opening kickoff. After that, countless mental mistakes became too much to overcome. Repeated false starts -- my God you guys, you are at home. You know the snap count. Familiar special teams penalties where our guy simply tackles a man nowhere near the ball on a punt return and immediately sets us up deep in our own territory. As usual, there's no accountability for the player, and no accountability for Rick Bisaccia.

Matt Lafleur is becoming one of the longer tenured coaches in the league. He's been around awhile now, and the reputation is starting to take shape - great regular season coach. Can stack up high win totals. Doesn't have disciplined units. Disappears in big games, particularly in the playoffs.

Studs:???

Might have been a stud: Malik willis if he had a chance to play the 2nd half.

Duds: Love, MLF for playing Love the whole game.

When both are healthy I see very little difference in the quality of play between love and willis. Not just my opinion. Its based on empirical evidence from the games each has played in.
What we had sunday was a hurt love and a healthy willis. In this situation The quality of play scales tip big time to willis, so who would you choose. MLF is not thinking clearly.

 

[rmontro]

Studs:???

Might have been a stud: Malik willis if he had a chance to play the 2nd half.

Or better yet, the whole game. It's a lot to ask Willis to make up a 14 point deficit (which is where he would be if he started the second half). I have a feeling Willis would have kept us in the game better.

 

[tynimiller]

I also like to try and do three in each...stretched it on stud *

Studs
Truthfully outside of a few bad missed tackles the defense kept the Lions to less than 150 yards through the air (when Goff continued to play MVP level efficiently) and kept their rushing game under 125, and only allowed 17 points...you told me we did that going into the game I'm predicting we won 100 out of 100 times.

Josh Jacobs - dude is just legit good.

*OL blocking...this group sucked at pre snap penalties and clean play elsewhere but just blocking they made it a winnable day.

Duds
Jenkins at center - yes was a terrible day to have to do a new position where you start everything...but sorry Elgton you got a L there.

Skill position players NOT called Josh Jacobs - Little harsh on Brooks, dude is overachieving for what he should be, but every single other person I believe had a drop.

Quay Walker - A missed tackle happens...but I gotta rewatch because a few folks I trust said four happened...that's inexcusable as your starting off ball.

 

[Sanguine camper]

Duds
Love- decision making has regressed.it matches the rest of the team's sloppiness.
MLF- Just a poor coaching job. Undisciplined, flat team. Like the horrific special teams in 2021, MLF is showing that he can go on week after week and be clueless on how to solve a season killing problem.

 

[AmishMafia]

I also like to try and do three in each...stretched it on stud *

Studs
Truthfully outside of a few bad missed tackles the defense kept the Lions to less than 150 yards through the air (when Goff continued to play MVP level efficiently) and kept their rushing game under 125, and only allowed 17 points...you told me we did that going into the game I'm predicting we won 100 out of 100 times.

Josh Jacobs - dude is just legit good.

*OL blocking...this group sucked at pre snap penalties and clean play elsewhere but just blocking they made it a winnable day.

Duds
Jenkins at center - yes was a terrible day to have to do a new position where you start everything...but sorry Elgton you got a L there.

Skill position players NOT called Josh Jacobs - Little harsh on Brooks, dude is overachieving for what he should be, but every single other person I believe had a drop.

Quay Walker - A missed tackle happens...but I gotta rewatch because a few folks I trust said four happened...that's inexcusable as your starting off ball.

I think Love deserves the dud as well. The pick 6 alone warrants the designation. He did make some great throws, but you can't make that mistake when you are up against a team you need to beat.

Crazy how we lost when you look at yardage totals, let alone getting beat bad.

Mistakes, mistakes, and more mistakes at critical times.

 

[Fooksmania]

Duds:
Wicks - This guy would be WR1 if he could catch the ball!
Watson - He just looks incapable

 

[Krabs]

Studs: Jacobs, then they stopped giving him the ball. Reed had some nice catches.

Duds: Really just comes down to Love. His level of play did not allow anyone to be a stud. That pick 6 was the 2nd worst pick 6 I have seen in my life. The worst one was Love throwing that pick 6 against the Rams. I'm really disappointed in his level of play. They clearly are not getting their return on their investment with him. He has to get the interception thing figured out. While he says he needs to be aggressive, that doesn't mean take a chance every time you're under pressure. Just awful decision making.

 

[tynimiller]

Studs: Jacobs, then they stopped giving him the ball. Reed had some nice catches.

His ankle was barely walkable eventually....

 

[Voyageur]

Brady was critical not only of Love's judgment but MLF's play sequences. It was like Coaching 101. " Down and distance, weather conditions, the score, the clock. " I criticized MM in Atlanta today but MLF did not have a leg on him.

I've seen a lot of fans criticizing Brady's critique of what Love was doing wrong. The problem was, he was right. The things he saw was things some of us have seen since this year started. Love is still learning, and has to be a little more into making the subtle little changes that can make him an elite QB. Right now, that big contract has to be filling his head with a little more self confidence than he should have, when it comes to how the game should play out.

Lots of little things he needs to correct, and some glaring problems as well. I think he's going to do just fine in the end.

 

[Krabs]

His ankle was barely walkable eventually....

Maybe that is why they stopped giving him the ball. I'm happy for the bye week. First, it will let the players rest up and regroup. Second, I selfishly need a break from football.

 

[Voyageur]

His ankle was barely walkable eventually....

Exactly! At halftime, he was toast with that ankle. It was someone else's turn to step up and carry the load. He needs to heal over the next two weeks. We desperately need him on the field.

 

[tynimiller]

I've seen a lot of fans criticizing Brady's critique of what Love was doing wrong. The problem was, he was right. The things he saw was things some of us have seen since this year started. Love is still learning, and has to be a little more into making the subtle little changes that can make him an elite QB. Right now, that big contract has to be filling his head with a little more self confidence than he should have, when it comes to how the game should play out.

Lots of little things he needs to correct, and some glaring problems as well. I think he's going to do just fine in the end.

Absolutely, and in truth Brady knows how good Love is and can be - I doubt he's makes some of the small observations like he does if he felt he was just skilled enough to barely be in the league. Brady can see Love is fully capable of being one of the special game changers at the position...

 

[Voyageur]

Absolutely, and in truth Brady knows how good Love is and can be - I doubt he's makes some of the small observations like he does if he felt he was just skilled enough to barely be in the league. Brady can see Love is fully capable of being one of the special game changers at the position...

People spend way too much time having their memories clouded by "he's the enemy" in football, because the guy played for another team. To me that's not normal. Brady was probably the best QB to ever play in the NFL, but he was a caretaker of the football who threw the pass only when needed, for a few years, until he learned how to handle himself under every condition he'd encounter on the field. I think way too many fans carry grudges for absolutely no reason whatsoever. It's illogical.

 

[Krabs]

People spend way too much time having their memories clouded by "he's the enemy" in football, because the guy played for another team. To me that's not normal. Brady was probably the best QB to ever play in the NFL, but he was a caretaker of the football who threw the pass only when needed, for a few years, until he learned how to handle himself under every condition he'd encounter on the field. I think way too many fans carry grudges for absolutely no reason whatsoever. It's illogical.

I don't disagree with your thought process. The only thing I would argue is that he is hard to listen to. He needs more time in the booth and experience. He is not very smooth and his "filler" lines are completely generic.

 

[Voyageur]

I don't disagree with your thought process. The only thing I would argue is that he is hard to listen to. He needs more time in the booth and experience. He is not very smooth and his "filler" lines are completely generic.

No doubt. He drones on. The saving grace was that the NFL has let in so darned much crowd noise now that you can hardly hear the announcers. In his case, that's a definite plus. But, like you said, just like playing QB, you learn by doing, and get better.

 

[OldSchool101]

In truth Love was wreckless with the Ball. He was Favre on a semi bad day. I understand it was rainy and a windy night. However late in the game Goff was 84.1% reception rate on over 20+ throws. So blaming the weather for every decision or drop or poor throw is also not acceptable. You own it when you drop passes or get wild with a throw and if it’s a continual problem you should be temporarily benched. He really should’ve had 1-2 more INT and he continued being a reckless after getting a pass on those.

Dud: Wicks.
We seem hell bent on Wicks. I realize he’s a fan favorite and I lived an hour from where he graduated so I’m well aware of his roots. I don’t care! this is PRO football not Pee Wee league. He’s obviously very talented but who cares if you can’t do the fundamentals?! If I have the prettiest and fastest sport car but the steering goes out every other corner is it really one I want to invest more into? I’ll be dead from a head on I don’t need pretty, I need a car that turns on a dime or I’ll be in a body cast. Bench him until he earns the right to be in the field. Right now he’s awful bad on historic levels.

Wicks has 16 receptions on 43 targets. I challenge anyone defending him to give me the name of the last NFL player with equal or note targets but and receptions. Skip 2024, Calvin Ridley is the next lowest at 45.8% catch rate to Wicks 37.1% rate (lowest in the NFL in 2024 by -9%)

 

[chemist]

I've seen a lot of fans criticizing Brady's critique of what Love was doing wrong. The problem was, he was right. The things he saw was things some of us have seen since this year started. Love is still learning, and has to be a little more into making the subtle little changes that can make him an elite QB. Right now, that big contract has to be filling his head with a little more self confidence than he should have, when it comes to how the game should play out.

Lots of little things he needs to correct, and some glaring problems as well. I think he's going to do just fine in the end.

I look at that big contract love got from terry bradshaws POV. Throwing a lot of money at someone tends to change them. As bradshaw put it " they feel they have to over earn their pay" . They feel more pressure to make things happen on every play. Playing like that leads to bad decisions and that is what we are seeing from love. He had 11 INTs all of last year. Hes already reached that level this year.
Love still needs more seasoning. He also needs to come to terms with that huge salary and internally accept that he only needs to play within himself. He doesnt have to be spectacular, just play a solid game. That will be enough to win most games.

 

[gopkrs]

My hubby watched the first half and then left to pick me up at the airport. He told me MLF once again wins the toss and takes the ball instead of deferring. What is up with that nonsense?

We did good with
that first possession. Not silly. Took a lot of time off the clock and scored.

 

[OOMPA Tailgate]

4 mins to go (3rd quarter) - down by 21 pts - NO time management - no Huddle calling?!

before the half - the team HAD 2 sets....the first was no "deep pass" instead it was **** and dunk - all 1st half we ran all over that Dome team

Lambeau field "mis-Stink"

 

[OOMPA Tailgate]

This was one of the more disappointing games I’ve watched this season. The score didn’t reflect the beatdown. Had the Lions really wanted to they could’ve pressed for more points and likely had them.

It was a mistake starting Love. I was fully prepared to admit I was wrong, but I wasn’t. I’m about 75% sure had we played Malik and committed to running the ball 1:1 we stay within 1 score into the 4th quarter with a 50/50 chance of winning. This home game and weather was the PERFECT setup to run and what did we do? repeated what every other losing team had to the Lions this year. It was EXACTLY the formula used by Detroit in every game to embarrass opponents and we even encouraged it. Exactly their formula. Lower yards, higher efficiency short passing win turnover battle. Control the LOS running. Trifecta.
Everything I would’ve said we needed we did the exact opposite.
Do NOT abandon the Running game
Use Malik to support that Running attack
No forcing an INT
Play extra discipined.

We thought we’d outsmart a well disciplined Team, but in process embarrassed ourselves and revealed we aren’t very well coached at all.

Dud: Matt and Staff
Staff putting our injured QB in harms way. I can only pray Love didn’t incur any setback. The injury to insult gets a double F- Worst decision I’ve seen our Coaching staff make to date. I’m normally positive. The only thing I’m positive on today is the entirety of this showing worries me FAR past an awful looking embarrassing loss.

We just went backwards to a point I hope we can erase everything we were thinking in this one. It was bad coaching and bad decision making on an entirely new level.

Agreed 1000%

 

[milani]

In truth Love was wreckless with the Ball. He was Favre on a semi bad day. I understand it was rainy and a windy night. However late in the game Goff was 84.1% reception rate on over 20+ throws. So blaming the weather for every decision or drop or poor throw is also not acceptable. You own it when you drop passes or get wild with a throw and if it’s a continual problem you should be temporarily benched. He really should’ve had 1-2 more INT and he continued being a reckless after getting a pass on those.

Dud: Wicks.
We seem hell bent on Wicks. I realize he’s a fan favorite and I lived an hour from where he graduated so I’m well aware of his roots. I don’t care! this is PRO football not Pee Wee league. He’s obviously very talented but who cares if you can’t do the fundamentals?! If I have the prettiest and fastest sport car but the steering goes out every other corner is it really one I want to invest more into? I’ll be dead from a head on I don’t need pretty, I need a car that turns on a dime or I’ll be in a body cast. Bench him until he earns the right to be in the field. Right now he’s awful bad on historic levels.

Wicks has 16 receptions on 43 targets. I challenge anyone defending him to give me the name of the last NFL player with equal or note targets but and receptions. Skip 2024, Calvin Ridley is the next lowest at 45.8% catch rate to Wicks 37.1% rate (lowest in the NFL in 2024 by -9%)

Wicks maybe why they gave Melton some PT yesterday. They need to get better. You are correct that Love is more like Favre in thar he throws into coverage and double coverage expecting the receiver to make a great play. Throw to someone who is open or throw it away. Pull it down and run like Willis.