The Detroit Lions entered the season as a team looking to make a statement.
However, that wasn’t the case at all in the season opener.
All that talk about having a chip on their shoulders didn’t show against the rival Green Bay Packers, and the game was never as close as the final score.
That’s why Eric Edholm of NFL.com has the Lions falling from No. 5 to No. 8 in his latest power rankings.
“Even with a shockingly tame offensive day, the Lions still had three chances to score in the red zone before the game was out of reach, and they totaled six points. I’m sure there will be panic in Detroit (great song), especially now that the Lions are in Ben Johnson Week, but I think we had best exercise a little patience with John Morton, the play calling, the execution, and all of it. Defensively, there has to be some worry after CB Terrion Arnold’s injury, which was a haunting reminder of last year’s roster carnage. If Chicago beats Detroit at Ford Field this Sunday and the offense looks lifeless again, I suspect my tune on the Lions will change a bit,” Edholm wrote.
Detroit didn’t look sharp on offense in the first game without coordinator Ben Johnson, who is now head coach of the Chicago Bears, its Week 2 opponent.
Under John Morton, the Lions ran a predictable offense for most of Week 1, and they lacked Johnson’s deception and creativity.
Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley had something for everything the Lions were willing to try.
Now, the Lions will arguably step down in class for their second game.
As talented as the Bears may be, they’re also a work in progress, with Johnson learning what it takes to be a head coach.
It will also be Detroit’s home opener, and it can’t afford to fall to 0-2 if it harbors real Super Bowl aspirations.
It’s too early to sound the alarm, and there should be no shame in losing to a fellow contender, but the Lions need to bounce back right away.
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