Free Press sports writer Rainer Sabin answers three questions after the Detroit Lions fell to the Carolina Panthers, 37-23, in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday:
Where was this game lost?
After the Lions held their previous two opponents to a total of 72 rushing yards, there was reason to believe they had plugged the leaks up front prevalent during the team’s 1-6 start. But from the outset Saturday, the run defense reverted to its old form and collapsed under the pressure applied by the Panthers’ stable of running backs. The tandem of Chuba Hubbard and D’Onta Foreman took turns knifing through the Lions, sprinting through gaping holes opened by an offensive line that consistently dominated the point of attack and pushed its way into the second level. Detroit had no answers, as it folded in the trenches.
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More often than not, defenders filled the wrong gaps, missed tackles or were simply hoodwinked after Carolina placed them in conflict with several clever tactical moves. Consequently, the Lions regularly lost contain on the edge and found themselves chasing from behind. That was seen on the first play, when Aidan Hutchinson crashed inside and then watched Hubbard scoot by him during a 30-yard dash. Later in that drive, John Cominsky was fooled on a speed option, abandoning the pitchman to pursue Sam Darnold, who then flipped the ball to Raheem Blackshear for a 7-yard touchdown that pushed Carolina ahead, 7-0. It was an ominous sign of disaster. By the end of the half, the catastrophe was confirmed; Carolina had amassed 240 rushing yards on 22 carries while building a 24-7 lead. It only got worse. When the dust finally settled, Carolina had stampeded its way to a franchise-record 320 yards on the ground. A collapse no one expected had occurred.
How disappointing was this loss?
Since arriving in Allen Park last year, Dan Campbell has experienced his share of bad results that have materialized after the Lions blew leads or were simply blown of the field. But considering the stakes and the quality of the opponent Saturday, the miserable outcome in Charlotte could qualify as the most disappointing of Campbell’s tenure. In order to legitimize its recent run of success and squash the “Same Old Lions” narrative that has hung over this franchise for decades, Detroit needed to bust into the playoffs and signal to the rest of the NFL it was for real. But the Lions didn’t offer much evidence they’re ready for that bigger stage.
The defense was atrocious, the offense was impotent, and in totality, Campbell’s squad appeared as if it was going nowhere fast. All the good mojo accrued during the 6-1 rebound over the past seven weeks seemed to evaporate in the frigid Charlotte air. A team that should have been galvanized by its new-found prosperity came out flat and never mustered much fight against a 5-9 opponent with an interim coach. The weak effort was mystifying, but it ultimately falls on Campbell for allowing it to happen under his supervision. It was a complete failure.
Has the Lions’ playoff push been derailed?
As devastating as this loss was, the Lions are still alive in the playoff hunt. But they are barely breathing. According to Austin Mock of The Athletic, the defeat Saturday left Detroit with a 29.8% chance to make the postseason. A win would have transformed the Lions’ outlook. Mock calculated that a victory would have increased Detroit’s odds for a playoff berth by a significant margin, pushing them as high as 72.8%.
It didn’t seem too tall a task. Entering Saturday, Detroit was a 2½-point favorite on the road.
Among the Lions’ chief competition for a playoff spot, they had the easiest Week 16 game. After all, Seattle faced Kansas City and Washington was set to play San Francisco. Both the Seahawks and Commanders were underdogs against two of the league’s top teams. If Detroit was to make some headway toward its ultimate goal, the time was now.
But the Lions squandered a golden opportunity, and their forecast appears much bleaker than it did when the day began. It feels like December in The D again.