Detroit, MI
Should Detroit Lions fans be worried after ugly loss to Packers on Thanksgiving?
DETROIT – Should Detroit Lions fans be worried after the ugly loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving?
The sky isn’t falling, but yes, there’s definitely reason for concern. Multiple reasons, actually.
It wasn’t a huge surprise that the Lions lost again on Thanksgiving. The Packers are a professional football team and very capable of winning on any given week. But the way the Lions lost — that’s what felt jarring.
The defense, for a third week in a row, looked overmatched for the majority of the game. Since the team’s bye week, Aaron Glenn’s group hasn’t had many answers for the Chargers, Bears, and Packers — three teams with losing records on the season.
Aidan Hutchinson is the only player capable of getting pressure on the quarterback, and when teams commit to keeping him in check, opposing passers have all day to look downfield. That’s exactly what happened Thursday, as Jordan Love picked apart the Lions to the tune of 268 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Jerry Jacobs had his worst game since the loss to the Seahawks in Week 2. Love targeted him play after play, whether he was matched up with Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, or Jayden Reed. Those plays rarely went Detroit’s way.
But unlike in Los Angeles, when the offense scored 41 points, or against Chicago, when a furious comeback erased a 12-point deficit, the Lions couldn’t dig themselves out of a hole on Thanksgiving. That was just as much the fault of the offense as the defense.
Jared Goff turned the ball over three times for the second game in a row — this time a trio of fumbles. The Lions went 0-for-4 in fourth-down attempts that mattered, converting only once after the game had already been decided.
In Goff’s defense, he didn’t have much time to make decisions. He was hit 12 times on Thursday and sacked thrice by Rashan Gary, who spent the afternoon roasting Taylor Decker like a Thanksgiving turkey. When Goff did have time, his throws were often errant, or receivers weren’t on the same page.
The Packers dominated the Lions for 60 minutes in every phase of the game.
It was a stunning 180 from the last head-to-head matchup, when the Lions went into Lambeau Field and bullied Green Bay. This was an opportunity for the Lions to bury the Packers once and for all, but instead, the NFC North race is far from over.
Green Bay is still three games behind the Lions, but now, the Minnesota Vikings are only two games back, and this divisional loss by Detroit could prove costly in a tiebreaker scenario. The Lions and Vikings have two head-to-head matchups remaining in Weeks 16 and 18.
What once looked like a formality is now very much a race that’s up in the air.
Other than their one-point victory over the Kansas City Chiefs — who were without star players Travis Kelce and Chris Jones — the Lions have only beaten teams with losing records. They were defeated by both of the other playoff contenders on their schedule: Seattle and Baltimore.
That begs the question: Is this team as good as we thought at the bye?
The Chargers exposed some defensive weaknesses, sure. But these last two performances against the Bears and Packers were far more concerning. Other than a four-minute window at the end of the Chicago game, the Lions have been dominated by the two worst teams in the NFC North, while Goff, their leader, has six turnovers.
Looking ahead, Detroit doesn’t have an easy road. Next weekend brings a road game against the first-place Saints, followed by a trip to Chicago. Then, the Lions host a Broncos team that’s on a four-game winning streak before the difficult Vikings-Cowboys-Vikings stretch to end the regular season.
Like I said, the sky isn’t falling — at least not yet. Every single Lions fan would have gladly taken an 8-3 start and a two-game lead in the division with six weeks to go.
But the confidence of the fan base has to be shaken. If Dan Campbell can’t patch up this defense and get Goff back on track, fans could be in for a whole new kind of heartbreak.
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Detroit, MI
Why Ben Johnson Coaching Chicago Bears Could Be Disaster
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s name is being floated around as a top candidate for a head coaching vacancy within the NFC North.
Johnson is reportedly intrigued by the Chicago Bears’ head coaching job, which opened after the Bears fired Matt Eberflus on the day after Thanksgiving. Some analysts viewed the Lions’ 34-17 win over the Bears on Sunday, which featured one of the most unique trick plays of the season, as an audition from Johnson for the vacancy.
It’s worth noting that Johnson turned down interest from teams across the league to remain with the Lions after last season, and could be in position to do so again depending on how the team’s season finishes.
The Bears job is one of several expected to be open, but it’s the one that Johnson has been associated closest to at this point. With the success that Johnson’s offenses have had over his three years as coordinator, and the proximity that the Bears have to Detroit as members of the NFC North, it is a natural pairing.
However, there’s more elements to a potential pairing that could be cause for concern. For starters, the Bears have struggled mightily as of late. They haven’t finished with a winning record since their 12-4 season in 2018, and have made just one other playoff appearance (2020) in that time span.
There has been disfunction throughout the organization this season, as they’ve lost nine games in a row dating back to a Hail Mary loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 8.
Additionally, there’s concern about the longevity of general manager Ryan Poles, and the team’s ownership, the McCaskey family, has drawn criticism from the fan base for its decision-making.
Because the Bears have struggled, and looked hapless at points, Johnson likely wouldn’t be easily enticed to inherit this situation.
MORE: Ben Johnson Expected to Interview With Bears, ‘Intrigued’ by Job
However, the Bears also do have some elements working for them. Most notably, Johnson would get the opportunity to work with 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. The USC product has shown some promise throughout a rookie season that has lacked significant wins, but one filled with promise.
Johnson had high praise for Williams when asked about him by Lions OnSI leading up to the Week 16 game. He has thrown for 3,271 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions over the course of his first NFL campaign.
It’s easy to see why the Bears would be interested in Johnson. He’s the creative architect of one of the league’s best offenses and has played a vital role in Jared Goff’s career revival over the last several seasons.
What the 38-year-old coach has done with Goff has been well-documented. If he were to strike up a relationship of this nature with Williams, he could make the young passer into one of the league’s best talents at the position.
Williams has good weapons around him that could allow him to succeed in the right scheme. Chicago could also have another high draft pick depending on where they finish, which will allow whomever takes over as coach to add another highly touted piece to the roster.
Additionally, it’s expected that the Bears will break ground on a new stadium next year with hopes of finishing construction in 2028.
Ultimately, it’s been reported that Johnson won’t interview for jobs simply to say he did it. Rather, he is expected to be selective and interview for positions that he would want to take. If he does take a meeting with Chicago, which he is reportedly expected to do, it would be a sign that he would want the job.
Johnson’s focus in the current future remains on bringing a Super Bowl to Detroit this season. If he were to do that, it would make the potential pill of him taking over in Chicago much easier to swallow. However, the Bears’ interest will make the offseason very intriguing as Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn both navigate their futures.
Detroit, MI
Metro Detroit weather forecast Dec. 24, 2024 — 11 p.m. Update
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Detroit, MI
Auto shop hosting free oil change giveaway in Detroit on Christmas for those in need
DETROIT (WXYZ) — FastLane Oil Change in Detroit is giving back this holiday.
The shop on W. 8 Mile Road near the Soutfield Freeway is gifting 25 free oil changes and wiper blades for people in need Wednesday on Christmas Day.
And it doesn’t end there. Customers in line behind the first 15 cars will get half off a regularly priced oil change.
To add to the holiday giving, the business is helping a mother of nine get her car back on the road with new brakes, rotors, pads and filters for free. It’s something that she says significantly help her this holiday.
“A stress that was lifted off of my shoulders because this was something that was gonna need to be done sooner than later, but I was putting it off because it wasn’t in the budget, especially right now,” Rashanda Martin said.
In addition, the Blazin’ Grill right next door to the car shop is giving away 100 free meals on Wednesday. The free and half-off promotions will run from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. The offers are good for Christmas Day only for families and individuals in need.
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