DETROIT — Most groups, even contenders, may use a actuality test sooner or later throughout a season. They don’t seem to be unusual within the NFL. Some occur early, able to serving to the 53 guys in a locker room accumulate themselves earlier than issues snowball. Some occur at midseason when sufficient time has handed to see the larger image. And a few occur later, propelling groups to a postseason run.
The Detroit Lions obtained one on Sunday, in a 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Payments. What they do with it is going to be telling.
“It’s a troublesome tablet to swallow, however at the very least we all know now the place we stack up towards one of many AFC’s greatest groups,” head coach Dan Campbell stated Sunday. “And it’s not ok. Not in the present day, it’s not.”
Campbell took the blame for this one. That ought to come as a shock to nobody. Detroit has misplaced two video games this season, and each occasions he’s redirected criticism towards his staff and positioned it on himself. This time, for his staff’s sluggish begin, in some of the anticipated matchups this season.
This recreation was billed as a possible Tremendous Bowl preview. It pitted two of the league’s greatest — the 12-1 Lions vs. the 10-3 Payments — towards each other in Detroit. With solely a handful of video games left within the common season, it was as near a measuring stick recreation as Detroit would see the remainder of the best way. A possible have a look at a staff which may await them on the opposite aspect come February.
When the Payments gained the toss and deferred, the Lions couldn’t afford to play into their fingers. This recreation was about factors, with two defenses reeling of late. The Lions wanted a protracted drive — notably with a heavy dose of its speeding assault — to maintain the Buffalo offense off the sphere, letting them know they’d be the enforcers.
In some video games, it’s good to set the tone and dictate how the day goes to go. In a possible Tremendous Bowl preview, the Payments did. The Lions didn’t.
What we noticed was Jared Goff unbuckling his chin strap and jogging to the sideline, after an unsightly three-and-out on Detroit’s opening possession. Three performs, no yards, punt. That gave the ball again to the Payments simply 58 seconds into the sport. Then, the MVP front-runner took middle stage.
Allen and the Buffalo offense regarded able to seize the sport and by no means look again. They operated with a peaceful and picked up swagger that made you assume this was theirs to lose. It felt like each time they lined up for a primary down, they have been choosing up 5 or 6 yards, resulting in manageable pickups. It felt like they have been going to attain a landing each time they took the sphere.
These are the sorts of tells that may let you understand you’re going to have the ability to do no matter you need. The Lions know the sensation effectively. Simply not on this Sunday.
“I simply really feel like we didn’t play on the identical degree that that staff did in the present day,” Campbell stated. “That’s how I really feel, and that’s why, actually, I put this on me. I didn’t, I simply didn’t really feel like I had them able to go, not like we’ve been. You will get away with, perhaps when you’re not fairly all the best way to a ten, however not towards the Buffalo Payments, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs or Inexperienced Bay Packers, Minnesota, Philadelphia — whoever they’re. It’s not going to be ok, and it wasn’t ok in the present day.”
Allen and the Payments would rating touchdowns on their first three drives of the day, constructing a stable lead as Detroit’s offense performed catch-up by way of the air. They did the most effective they may, with Goff finishing 38 of his 58 cross makes an attempt for 494 yards and 5 touchdowns, however that’s not usually a successful recipe for the Lions. It normally signifies a shootout or an absence of speeding success. This time, it was each.
As a lot because the Lions would’ve appreciated to get the bottom recreation going, trailing early put them in a gap they merely couldn’t climb out of. They needed to abandon it. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery have been held to a mixed 35 speeding yards on 13 makes an attempt. Buffalo deserves credit score for successful on the line of scrimmage, towards an offensive line that usually doesn’t get tossed round the best way it did Sunday. If the Lions have been capable of maintain drives with their run recreation as a substitute of throwing it 58 occasions, they may have restricted Allen’s variety of possessions, resulting in a extra managed recreation. That didn’t occur.
As a substitute, Allen used his mobility and alien-like arm power to increase performs and primarily pressure a limping Detroit protection to play yard soccer all day lengthy. That’s a recreation you don’t wish to play with Allen. He’ll make you wanna seize your ball and go dwelling.
“Come on! Oh my goodness. That is Josh Allen to a tee.”
– Tony Romo on the @BuffaloBills completion that arrange a TD pic.twitter.com/mW1r9YOGQg
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 15, 2024
KEON IS SO BACK.
📺: @paramountplus & @NFLonCBS#ProBowlVote | @keoncoleman6 pic.twitter.com/0d8KkW84TS
— Buffalo Payments (@BuffaloBills) December 15, 2024
The Payments completed with 48 factors, 559 yards, averaged 8.2 yards per play and rushed for a whopping 197 yards. It was simply Detroit’s worst defensive efficiency of the season. Buffalo moved the ball with a lot effectivity that Campbell felt compelled to strive an onside kick whereas down 10 with 12 minutes left within the recreation, simply to attempt to steal a possession for his offense. If a Payments participant had fallen on the onside strive, you could possibly perhaps stop them from operating off severe clock (like Buffalo did on its subsequent possession) and maintain them to a discipline purpose. As a substitute, Mack Hollis batted the ball to himself and returned it to Detroit’s 5-yard line, organising one other Payments landing.
The ball didn’t bounce their means on this recreation.
“I simply thought we’d get the possession,” Campbell stated of the onside kick try. “I believed we have been going to get that ball. It was one in every of (Jake) Bates’ greatest kicks that I’ve seen him have. That was an enormous kicker on the finish, you understand, that factor took a very good soar on us and Hollins made a heck of a play on it. And, you understand, clearly, now sitting right here hindsight after them taking it right down to the 3-yard line, yeah, I want I wouldn’t have carried out that. However it’s what it’s.”
Making issues worse, an already-thin Lions protection might be even thinner after Sunday’s loss. Star defensive sort out Alim McNeill left the sport after touchdown awkwardly on a play. He was visibly annoyed strolling off the sphere and was noticed with trainers earlier than heading into the blue medical tent. The Lions later introduced that he could be dominated out with a knee harm. Cornerback Carlton Davis was evaluated for a concussion and didn’t return after struggling a jaw harm. Campbell stated he’ll know extra about each tomorrow, however stated he doesn’t be ok with both participant right now.
“Usually if I’m like saying ‘I don’t really feel good,’ which means not good for the remainder of the 12 months,” Campbell stated. “So, don’t be ok with it.”
Getting into Sunday, town of Detroit hadn’t seen its NFL franchise lose since mid-September. And but, it seems like we’ve reached a pivotal level within the season. It’s price dissecting after a recreation like this.
The Lions (12-2) now have the identical document because the Eagles (12-2). The Vikings may be part of them with a win over the Bears on Monday night time. They’ve work to do earlier than the tip of the season and, fairly frankly, can’t keep away from a slip-up from right here on out. Each groups are lurking.
The accidents proceed to pile up. McNeill and Davis could be huge losses in the event that they’re carried out for the season. It seems like we’ve stated that about 5 or 6 totally different gamers, and there are solely so many extra left standing. This isn’t the identical protection that was holding groups beneath 20 factors each week. Most of the faces deployed on the market would go unnoticed strolling the streets of Detroit. It’s been a nightmare season on the harm entrance defensively.
On the identical time, let’s take a step again right here. The Lions have 4 wins towards different groups at present occupying playoff spots within the NFC — the Vikings (1-0), Packers (2-0) and Rams (1-0). Beginning 12-1 and successful 11 straight, with all of the accidents they suffered, is as spectacular a feat as we’ve seen this 12 months. It was unlikely the Lions have been going to trip into the playoffs on a 15-game successful streak. They have been in all probability due for a loss.
As for seeding and the NFC North race — that second win over the Packers gave the Lions much-needed respiration room, lessening the blow of a possible letdown vs. the Payments. Due to that win, the Lions and Eagles are tied for first within the NFC, with Detroit remaining in pole place. If the Lions win out towards the Bears, 49ers and Vikings, they will nonetheless safe the No. 1 seed, even when the Eagles win out, too. The identical factor goes for the NFC North race vs. the Vikings. Win all three and also you win the division. They’ve to consider this as a three-game season.
Dropping to the Payments by six, even with every part that’s occurred isn’t price abandoning ship. The Lions gained’t need to face Josh Allen each week. If these groups meet once more this season, it is going to be within the Tremendous Bowl. The Lions shouldn’t lose sleep over this recreation or a possible rematch in February. They should concentrate on what’s subsequent.
“We’ll be simply tremendous,” Goff stated. “I’m certain there can be a ton of stuff written in regards to the sky falling, however no, internally, we’re good. … We might’ve liked to win each recreation out, all through the Tremendous Bowl, and I hope we will look again on this one as a very good studying lesson for us and transfer on and use a number of the stuff that we discovered on this recreation to assist us win these subsequent three earlier than we hit the playoffs.”
The Lions consider they’re battle-tested. Properly, they’re about to face their largest battle but — a three-game stretch to perform their regular-season objectives.
What they do from right here will inform us rather a lot in regards to the staff they in the end are.
(Picture of Jared Goff: Mike Mulholland / Getty Photographs)
