A stunning Detroit Lions loss came down to the game’s final ten seconds, leaving the sold-out crowd at Ford Field in a state of suspended disbelief. As the scoreboard flashed the 20-16 score in favor of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Lions faithful appeared to be in shock.
5 Takeaways From the Lions Loss to the Bucs
After all, this was the Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell team that frequently fought back from 4th quarter deficits during the game’s closing seconds. Fans have grown accustomed to seeing this team emerge victorious after a successful last-minute drive. It’s become so commonplace that fans expect it.
It’s not just the fans who have high hopes for this team. The Lions entered the season with the expectation of not only winning their division but many experts picked this team as a Super Bowl contender. Sunday’s loss was a painful reality check that there is still more work to be done. But it’s also an opportunity to fine-tune certain elements early on before the season gets away. Here are five takeaways we learned from the Lions’ loss this week.
A Weak Offensive Performance
Perhaps the fact that the Lions won their last two meetings with the Buccaneers provided Tampa Bay with an added incentive to get the victory on Sunday. Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield looked impressive with one rushing touchdown and one passing touchdown. Despite heavy defensive pressure, he finished the game with a 90.9 rating, throwing 12 of 19 for 185 yards, and added five carries for another 34 yards.
But too many mistakes from the Lions also helped the Buccaneers. Sunday’s loss resulted from a combination of factors; costly penalties, a botched timing call, a third-quarter collapse, and an uncharacteristically weak performance from Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Although Goff’s 34 of 55 throws for 307 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions was undoubtedly his weakest performance in years, the Lions still had a chance to win the game in the closing seconds.
It’s hard to accept a weak offensive performance with so much talent on hand, but there were still highlights. Goff’s best play was a gorgeous 50-yard pass to third-year wide receiver Jameson Williams that resulted in the Lions’ first field goal. Amon-Ra St. Brown had a terrific bounce back from last week’s subdued performance. St. Brown finished the game with 11 receptions for 119 yards. Unfortunately, it came with a price. St. Brown left the game in the fourth quarter with an obvious injury. No word yet on the injury or his status for next week’s game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Lions running back David Montgomery continued his strong start this season, briefly giving the Lions a 16-13 lead with a one-yard touchdown. Former UFL standout, Jake Bates continues to be perfect in his NFL debut, contributing three field goals on Sunday.
Rookie Mistakes
One of the takeaways was the Lions committed too many mistakes that resulted in penalties and contributed to the Lions’ loss. The Lions’ first-round draft pick, cornerback Terrion Arnold, struggled to cover Tampa Bay veteran wide receiver Mike Evans without drawing costly penalties. Arnold was repeatedly flagged for penalties, including a pass interference call and a face mask, that resulted in points for the Buccaneers. Although Arnold has been flagged on four major penalties in the first two games, he did succeed in limiting the Buccaneers’ number-one receiver to only three receptions for 42 yards.
A Botched Play Call
Just before halftime, Tampa Bay led the Lions by a score of 13-6. The Lions had a chance for a last-minute field goal that would have narrowed the gap. Unfortunately, it was negated due to bad timing on the part of the coaching staff. When the Lions went to spike the ball and get in position to kick the field goal, they were flagged for having too many men on the field. The penalty resulted in a clock run-off and without any timeouts left, the first half ended. Afterward, Coach Dan Campbell took full accountability for the botched timing and said, “Critical error at the end of the half 100 percent on me.”
Third Quarter Collapse
There is another concerning pattern seen with the Lions. The team heads into the locker room at halftime with an impressive lead. But then the team comes out flat in the second half. In the third quarter, they fail to score any additional points while the opposing team suddenly evens the score or pulls ahead.
This is a dangerous trend. The lingering memory of the NFC championship against the San Francisco 49ers is a reminder of how quickly leads can evaporate. The Lions were ahead by a score of 24-7 at the half but the 49ers came surging back and Detroit lost the game by a score of 34-31. While the Lions’ come-from-behind victories may make for an exciting nail-biting finish, they wouldn’t be necessary if the team could hold the lead throughout the entire game.
Hutchinson Was Spectacular
Lions’ defensive star Aidan Hutchinson was simply amazing on Sunday coming up with 4.5 sacks on Mayfield. He was all over the Tampa Bay quarterback, pressuring him throughout the game, disrupting his ability to connect with Evans, and costing the team valuable yardage.
Unfortunately, Hutchinson’s career game had to come during a loss. It would have been the perfect day for Hutchinson and the team if the Lions had come away with the victory. Hutchinson has become an exciting, explosive presence for the Lions and undoubtedly one of the keys to this team’s success going forward. It’s fair to say if he continues to play at this level, he will become one of the greatest edge rushers of all time.
Takeaways From This Lions Loss
Despite the disappointing result on Sunday, it’s still early in the season. There is much to be learned from the mistakes and miscues in Sunday’s loss. Looking ahead to the rest of the season, these are the things the Lions will need to improve. But if there is one thing that defines this team, it’s Coach Campbell’s mantra of “grit.” This team has faced adversity and come back hard. The team will learn from these mistakes, gaining strength and wisdom as they get better each week.
