Detroit Lions Podcast: Seth McLaughlin Scouting Report The Signing and the Bet The Detroit Lions added center Seth McLaughlin on a futures reserve contract. It is a calculated bet. He went undrafted because he tore his Achilles in November 2024 while playing for Ohio State. The Cincinnati Bengals signed him after the draft and kept him on the practice squad. Now he is a Detroit Lion with a clean lane to compete at his natural spot. McLaughlin started at Alabama and Ohio State. Three years. Big stages. Pro style offenses. He handled pressure and tempo. That background fits what the NFL asks of a center. The Detroit Lions Podcast dives into why this move makes sense and what it will require. Strengths That Play on Sundays McLaughlin’s calling card is pre-snap recognition. He diagnoses fronts, calls out pressure, and sets protection. He gets linemen on the same page. That shows up snap after snap on his Alabama and Ohio State tape. His technique is crisp. He fires off the ball with square pads and tight hands. His placement sits right in the middle of the shoulder pads. When a bull rush jars him, his feet reset fast. He re-squares his shoulders and hips, stays engaged, and avoids getting too wide. He keeps his balance. He also brings a bit of snarl. In space, he finds work. On stretch runs, he tracks and cuts off the backside linebacker. That second-level timing is real. It translates to NFL run concepts the Lions use. Risks, Role, and Room for Growth The injury is the headline. An Achilles is unpredictable, and he missed his entire rookie season. The other constraint is position. He is a center only. Shorter arms and his build make guard a poor fit. He is more weight-room strong than road grader strong. There are technical blemishes. He had penalties. He had snapping issues, more at Alabama, with a couple at Ohio State. Some were poorly timed. He has worked to fix them. For a center-only player, clean snaps are non-negotiable. That must hold in Detroit. Draft View and Path to Detroit Before the injury, he profiled as a mid-round target. He was viewed as a top-100 caliber player if healthy, with top-75 talk in optimistic moments. He went undrafted because of the Achilles, landed in Cincinnati, and spent most of the year on the practice squad. The Lions now give him a shot to prove the traits survived the rehab. The evaluation track record around him adds context. In the same interior line study that highlighted McLaughlin, Tate Ratledge was pegged as a second-round pick for Detroit, and he wound up being that. The process here is consistent. For the Detroit Lions, this is a smart, low-cost swing at center. If the health cooperates, the NFL-ready mind and technique can pay off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL6CaCphL_0 #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #sethmclaughlin #detroitlionscenter #futuresreservecontract #undraftedfreeagent #cincinnatibengalspracticesquad #achillestearnovember2024 #ohiostatecenter #alabamacenter #pre-snaprecognition #linecallsandadjustments #second-levelblocking #backsidelinebackeronstretchruns #shortarmsatcenter #snappingissuesatalabama #tateratledgesecondroundpick Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit Lions Podcast: Auburn Edge Faulk, Draft Needs, Playoff Picks Edge Urgency Defines Detroit’s Draft Lens The Daily DLP turns to the NFL draft, and edge help sits on top of the Detroit Lions’ board. Aidan Hutchinson carried a 91% snap load. That is unsustainable. The hosts noted only Hutchinson and Makai Wingo under contract at defensive end on the active roster. That reality frames every conversation. The Lions must add length, power, and fresh legs on the edge to speed up time to pressure and protect late-game leads. Mock Draft Shock: Auburn’s Faulk Lands in Detroit Jeff Risdon’s first Real GM mock draft slotted Auburn edge rusher Faulk to Detroit. Fans bristled. He explained his process. The goal is predicting what a team would do in that situation, not building a personal big board. In this range, edge aligns with Detroit’s needs and profile. Faulk reached the pick in the simulation. He might go higher in reality. With five of the top six teams still without head coaches, the board could tilt in unpredictable ways. Traits, Flaws, and Fit on the Edge Faulk checks Detroit’s trait boxes. Six-five. Two seventy to two seventy-five. Long. Strong. He plays the run and converts speed to power. One host called him a physical clone of Marcus Davenport, but healthy. The knocks are specific. He’s slow off the football. His hand usage comes and goes. The rush plan drifts. The phrase was blunt: consistent at being inconsistent. That said, those issues are coachable within Detroit’s development pipeline. The upside is real, and the fit is clean with what the Detroit Lions want from their edge defenders. The intent is simple. Take heat off Hutchinson. Add a crush-the-can pass rusher who can win early downs and close late in games. Rapid NFL Playoff Reads The conversation closed with quick NFL playoff picks. Seattle looks really good. Houston owns the best defense in football right now. D’Amico Ryans brings a mindset that mirrors Dan Campbell on the other side of the ball. The Texans are vulnerable, yet capable of winning it all if the offense holds up. Philadelphia lingers as a threat despite recent form. The reminder was simple: until you beat the man, you can’t be the man. The Detroit Lions Podcast will keep tracking the bracket while weighing how January outcomes ripple into April decisions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrh371VBt_8 #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #aidanhutchinson #kendrickfaulk #auburnedgerusher #marcusdavenportcomparison #timetopressure #speedtopower #handusage #slowoffthefootball #dailydlp #realgmmockdraft #makaiwingo #houstontexansdefense #seattleseahawks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit Lions Podcast: Lions Contact Mike McDaniel for OC OC Search Turns to Mike McDaniel The Detroit Lions fired John Morton. The Miami Dolphins fired head coach Mike McDaniel. Credible reports say the Lions contacted McDaniel about the offensive coordinator vacancy. The outreach reads like due diligence. He is a viable candidate with an inventive mind and a track record. The question is fit. Practice Tape and Scheme Mismatch Joint practices this summer left scars. McDaniel hardly engaged with players. Aloof and off putting came up around that field. Detroit just moved on from an OC players did not feel connected to. A repeat would be costly. The Dolphins offense landed bottom 10 in scoring and yards in each of the past two years and trended the wrong way. The usage did not match the roster. Tua was asked to throw short to the speediest wide receiving group in the game. The offensive line was asked to hold longer on routes he was not going to throw. That is a disconnect between talent and scheme. In the red zone the tells were obvious. You could read the call from the formation. That predictability helped stall drives. It mirrors a Detroit sore spot from this season. Detroit Context: Adapt or Fail Detroit at times called plays like Sam Laporta and Frank Rigg now were available. They were not. Results suffered. Miami’s issues looked similar. In those joint sessions the Lions defense beat the living hell out of Miami, especially the first day. Detroit knew what was coming. Think Tecmo Super Bowl when you pick the play and blow it up. Miami did not adjust. Players did not show fight. McDaniel stood and took it. That picture matters when you weigh scheme flexibility and sideline communication inside this NFL building. Alternatives and a Blough Path There is a workable path if Detroit believes in McDaniel’s concepts. Install him as OC and make David Blough the passing game coordinator. Let Blough learn the system for a year or two. Groom him. It is plausible. McDaniel has worked with dynamic offensive weapons. Devon A. Sheen compares to a smaller Jamir Gibbs. Jalen Waddle and Tyreek Hill thrived in space. Translating that speed and spacing to Detroit could hit, if the calls match the personnel and situation. Tua is not the answer for Detroit over Jared Goff. That is clear here. Todd Monken remains out there, technically still employed by the Baltimore Ravens. He is interesting and has had success in a variety of spots. The Lions need adaptability, clarity, and player connection. That should drive the hire. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i89gfyp3uvU #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #mikemcdaniel #offensivecoordinatorvacancy #johnmorton #miamidolphins #jointpractices #lionsdefense #redzoneoffense #davidblough #passinggamecoordinator #tua #jaredgoff #samlaporta #frankriggnow #toddmonken Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit Lions Podcast: Ragnow retirement and the O-line reckoning High Bar, Hard Truths The Detroit Lions walked into this NFL season with Super Bowl talk and a sky-high bar set by a 15-2 run the year before. The expectation was simple. When games tightened, they would flip the switch and bury teams. That switch never clicked. The Detroit Lions Podcast crew gathered for a season-ending roundtable and traced the arc from hype to hard lessons. The story centered on an offense that lost its core and never rediscovered rhythm. Drives stalled. Third downs piled up. The run game sputtered. Defensive injuries compounded the strain. The offense, once the engine, could not carry the load. The panel’s verdict was blunt. This team was not as good as many thought, and the gap revealed itself week after week. The Frank Ragnow Pivot The season turned when Frank Ragnow retired. That single move gutted the middle of the offensive line and forced a cascade of fixes that never stuck. A rookie guard stepped in on one side and, effectively, a rookie guard on the other. Taylor Decker battled through at left tackle. Penei Sewell carried as much as a right tackle can carry. The line could not clear lanes with consistency. It could not protect the structure of the offense on schedule. In the NFL, that is the most punishing failure. The consequences touched everything. Running the football lost bite. Third down kept getting longer. The offense chased instead of dictated. What last year’s group masked, this year’s group magnified. The Lions did not have an adequate answer once the center spot changed overnight. Offseason Questions Along the Line Every key question points back to the trenches. Who is the left tackle going to be? Who is the center going to be? Do the Lions move a guard to center and then replace that guard? Those choices will define the first steps toward 2025 and beyond. The conversation stretches to the skill group as well. What happens with David Montgomery? What does recovery look like for Sam Laporta, with a herniated disc raising real concern? Reset the line, and the rest can recalibrate. Fail to solve the core, and the same problems return. That was the consensus thread throughout the roundtable. 2025 and 2026 Outlook The room looked forward, and the tone was measured. There was even a note that 2026 feels better than 2025 right now. That tracks with the scale of the rebuild needed up front. The Detroit Lions must restore the center position, stabilize guard, and decide on left tackle. Do that, and the identity that once made them dangerous returns. The Detroit Lions Podcast closed on a simple truth. Fix the offensive line, and the offense regains its engine. Miss, and we are back here again talking about what might have been. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #frankragnallretired #offensiveline #lefttackle #center #rookieguard #taylordecker #penasewell #samlaporta #herniateddisc #davidmontgomery #thirddown #runningthefootball #injuriesonthedefense Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit Lions Podcast: Lions fire OC John Morton, identity reset No Playoff Preview, Real Talk Instead The Detroit Lions Podcast returned from the holiday break without a playoff show. The tone matched the season. Missed chances. Hard questions. Changes have already started. Offensive coordinator John Morton is out. The hosts recorded on Wednesday and expect Brad Holmes to speak Thursday. Dan Campbell has talked about getting back to what worked. The message is clear. The Detroit Lions need an identity reset. Identity Drift Shows in the Red Zone The episode drilled into situational errors. A Bears example stood out. Two straight red-zone trips reached the 10. Each series ended with three consecutive pass plays. Then it happened again on the next drive. That is not how this offense was built. It undercut the run game and the line. The NFL punishes predictability. The show connected that stretch to the broader theme Campbell raised about drifting from their roots. The result was stalled drives and frustration. Coordinator Fallout and Staff Questions Morton’s dismissal capped a season-long slide. The issues were visible from Week 1. He was replaced as play caller during the season, and he seemed to take shots in the media after that. The episode described how that dynamic felt like a wedge in the locker room. There had been chatter about Morton returning in a support role or coaching a position group. That is not happening. He is gone. Tyler Rolle is leaving for Iowa State to be the OC, which adds another moving piece. The run game needs stewardship. The show questioned whether Hank Fraley will remain the run game coordinator. That role could change or become a lesson learned. Names like Scotty Montgomery and Tashard Choice surfaced as influences on the room, but the point was bigger than any one title. The Detroit Lions must fix process, sequencing, and trust. What’s Next in Detroit Campbell’s comments about roots and situational football set the offseason agenda. Self-scout every call sheet. Rebuild the red-zone plan. Recommit to the physical identity that carried this team two and three years ago. The hosts expect visible changes as the NFL offseason unfolds. Holmes’ remarks should frame the next steps. The episode also teased draft conversation to close, with an eye on keeping the window open. The task is straightforward. Cut the noise. Align staff roles. Call games that fit the personnel. The Detroit Lions do not need a new soul. They need to play like themselves again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HW9g-DEiSU #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #johnmortonfiring #dancampbellpressconference #bradholmestospeak #redzoneplaycalling #bearsgameredzone #rungamecoordinator #hankfraley #scottymontgomery #tashardchoice #tylerrolletoiowastate #playcallerchange #gettingbacktoroots Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit Lions Podcast: John Morton Out and the OC Search Morton Out, Campbell Hints at Calling Plays The Detroit Lions moved on from offensive coordinator John Morton on Tuesday. The decision resets the offense and spotlights the play-calling question. Dan Campbell signaled he is open to handling the call sheet. He also suggested stability if the play caller is him. The likely model is clear. Hire an offensive coordinator who keeps the current Detroit Lions structure intact while sharpening schematics, play designs, game planning, and week-to-week sequencing. The midseason shift strained the operation. Campbell did a lot of the heavy lifting, and it bled into other duties. If that setup existed from Week 1, the outcome might have looked different. Now the Detroit Lions can define roles before the next snap. The NFL calendar will not wait. David Blough Makes Immediate Sense David Blough was the first name to surface. He served as the Washington Commanders quarterbacks coach last season. He is young and considered an up-and-comer. He once backed up in Detroit and understands the Lions locker room. He also knows Jared Goff well. That matters. Blough has been around varied systems, including Washington’s approach and time in Cleveland with Stefanski. Jumping to offensive coordinator after two years as a coach is a big step. It becomes more reasonable if Campbell calls the plays. In that setup, Blough could drive passing concepts, opponent-specific installs, and weekly structure while the head coach manages the call flow. Antoine Randall El Fits the Room, With a Catch Another strong candidate is Antoine Randall El. He is the Chicago Bears wide receivers coach and assistant head coach. He left Detroit after a long run coaching the Lions receivers. That was not easy for him. His fingerprints are all over the current room. He helped rein in Jamo and earn his buy-in. Jamo rewarded that trust with a fantastic season. Randall l knows the personnel, the tone, and the standards. He has worked with Mark Brunell, Hank Fraley, and Scottie Montgomery. Seth Ryan is likely to remain and is well liked. The snag is title. Moving from assistant head coach to coordinator is technically a demotion. Extracting him from Chicago could be complicated. Internal Route Unlikely, External Fit Paramount An internal promotion appears unlikely. The Detroit Lions did not pivot in-season when it was needed most. Maybe they were averse to an in-season firing. Either way, the search points outward. The next OC must align with the offense built by Campbell and Ben Johnson, then refine the details. If Campbell keeps the call sheet, the coordinator’s job centers on design, sequencing, and opponent answers. The mandate is simple. Make the current Detroit Lions offense more efficient on Sundays. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6dP3VIyDo8 #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #johnmorton #offensivecoordinator #dancampbell #playcaller #davidblough #jaredgoff #washingtoncommanders #stefanski #antoinerandalll #widereceiverscoach #chicagobears #passinggamecoordinator #gameplanning #schematics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit Lions Podcast: Season Finale Lessons and the Road Ahead First to Worst: NFC North on a Razor’s Edge The Detroit Lions closed the regular season against the Bears with margins on full display. Three NFC North teams finished with nine wins, yet only one reached the postseason, aided by a tie the Packers picked up in Dallas. Small things flipped big outcomes. Halftime adjustments. A single injury. A drive-killing penalty. Details in weekly prep. The Bears carried a negative point differential for most of the year and lived off turnovers, and it still bought them extra wins and the division. In a season where the first-place team lost to the last-place team twice, the line between success and failure stayed paper thin. Offense Is Close, Even With a Battered Line Narratives say the offense slipped. The film and numbers say it’s close. The Lions were top 10 and often top five in major offensive categories with John Morton calling plays, then even better with Dan Campbell. That happened while the offensive line was in shambles. In Chicago, they executed without Penei Sewell, the best tackle on the team and arguably in football. The unit needs repair. Frank Ragnow is central to putting it back together. The offseason priority is obvious: restore the front. When the line is whole, the engine of this offense runs hot, and the entire operation follows. Numbers Over Narratives on Jared Goff The Jared Goff narratives keep coming. Cold weather. Gloves. Pressure. The reality undercuts each one. He won in the cold. He wears gloves. He handles pressure. Reliability defined his year amid a decimated tight end room and a messy line. He was one of the most accurate, consistent quarterbacks in the NFL. Top five and top 10 in the categories that matter, including yards and completion percentage. He played all 17 games and never missed a snap. The discourse won’t stop, but the production keeps answering it. Dan Cam, a Decker Salute, and the Road Ahead A new Dan Cam segment spotlighted Monday’s messages on urgency and detail. A salute to Taylor Decker is due. He deserves it. Team PR flagged four straight winning seasons, a note that landed awkwardly as the postseason slipped away. The point is taken. Head down. Fix the line. Keep the offense intact. In a division ruled by thin margins, the Detroit Lions can turn close into control by cleaning up the smallest things. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shSDvDlTYzE #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #seasonfinalevsbears #nfcnorthmargins #dancampbellpressconference #dancamsegment #taylordeckersalute #jaredgoffunderpressure #coldweathergame #offensivelineinshambles #frankragnow #peneisewellabsence #johnmortonplaycalling #turnoversandpointdifferential. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit Lions Podcast: Dan Campbell's F, OC Reset Campbell's Grade and What Comes Next Dan Campbell graded himself with an F. The Detroit Lions missed the NFL postseason. His end-of-year session landed early and it stung. He was blunt about accountability. He is the decision maker. The Detroit Lions Podcast drilled into what that means for the staff and the offense. Campbell would not detail what he wants to move away from. "I don't want to get into that right now," he said. He added that he needs a few days to think and "deep dive some areas" before making decisions. That restraint matters after a frustrating finish. Midseason Play Calling, Game Management, and Risk Campbell took over offensive play calling midseason. That is a different world than starting a season as the play caller. Delegation structures and weekly prep rhythms change. The offense often looked more coherent after the switch. The plans made more sense. Not always, but often. Some choices still need a governor. There were moments to take points. There were moments to dial back the impulse for gadget plays. One example loomed large: a trick look with David Montgomery trying to throw to Jared Goff on third and short in a must-win spot. The line between aggression and recklessness is thin. Closing that gap is part of the offseason brief. Staff Decisions, OC Path, and Line Lessons One conclusion was clear: bringing John Morton back as offensive coordinator cannot happen. If there is a way to soften that blow, a reassignment to tight ends was floated, but he is now at Iowa State after a one-and-done. Either way, the OC chair must be reset. Internal promotions seem unlikely. The staff did not make an in-season adjustment with Hank Fraley, Scottie Montgomery, Mark Brunell, or David Shaw to lighten Campbell's duties. If that was the plan, it would have happened to stabilize the offense and the sideline. The dual role of head coach and in-game play caller proved untenable over time. That reality fueled Campbell's harsh self-grade. The run game also drew scrutiny. Fraley remains a strong offensive line coach. As run game coordinator, though, this was not his best year. Too many assignments demanded blocks certain players could not physically execute. That is a coordination issue as much as a player issue. Some of that traces back to Morton. Some of it sits with the broader design. None of it means rash firings. It does mean recalibration. Campbell referenced lessons tied to Frank Ragnow and how they apply to Taylor Decker. Details were not disclosed, but the implication was thoughtful evaluation, not snap judgments. Decker is expected to speak with Brad Holmes soon. The message across Allen Park is consistent: think it through, fix the structure, and return with a cleaner plan for the next NFL season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kly7GrUmERU #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #dancampbell #nflpostseason #offensiveplaycalling #johnmorton #offensivecoordinatorsearch #hankfraley #scottiemontgomery #markbrunell #davidmontgomerytrickplay #jaredgoff #rungamecoordination #taylordecker #frankragnow #bradholmes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Defense flips the script in Chicago Jake Bates drilled the winner as time expired. The Detroit Lions closed the season by sweeping the division winners and silencing Soldier Field. The defense did the heavy lifting. With four of the top five defensive backs out, Kelvin Shepherd leaned into zone. The Lions played cover 4 and mix-and-match zone looks almost exclusively. Chicago expected man coverage. They did not get it. The results were obvious. The Bears were shut out for most of the game. Caleb Williams looked uncomfortable. Route timing frayed. Aidan Hutchison generated steady pressure. Ty Lake Williams delivered his best game of the season. The linebackers had shaky moments in coverage, and Colson Loveland stacked production, but the structure held. It took about three quarters before Chicago adjusted. By then, the tone was set. Goff, St. Brown, and a patched right side The Bears’ radio booth did not expect Jared Goff to move as much as he did. On the tape, the pocket work was efficient, not frantic. The bigger story was protection. Penei was ruled out on Friday. Chris Hubbard stepped in at right tackle and faced Montez Sweat. Hubbard had not played all season. He responded with a clean, composed performance that stabilized the edge. Inside, the much maligned interior offensive line delivered its best pass protection in a long time. It was not perfect. Goff had to flee a couple of snaps and had a few passes batted. But the plan matched the protection. Reads were on time. Matchups were targeted. Amon-Ra St. Brown roasted C.J. Gardner-Johnson throughout. Wherever that matchup appeared, the ball followed. North–south runs and the kick that ended it The run game stayed on schedule with quick hitters. No wasted lateral stretch calls. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs got north and south with decisiveness. Cutback lanes opened and were used. That rhythm mattered late. It set up the final drive that put Bates on the field with the game on his foot. He delivered. The kick split the uprights as the clock hit zero. The Detroit Lions walked out of Chicago with a victory, a sweep of the division winners, and momentum from a plan that fit the personnel. In an NFL season defined by attrition, the Lions adapted, defended space, and found answers at critical positions. From the rival airwaves Pre-game on Chicago radio centered on the Bears, their playoff paths, and even some delight at the Packers getting blasted by the Vikings. Those same voices were stunned when Detroit never played man coverage. They noted the late Chicago adjustment and also flagged Goff’s pocket movement. Next week brings Bears vs. Packers. This week belongs to Detroit. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #jakebates #aidanhutchisonpressure #chrishubbardrighttackle #peneiruledoutfriday #montezsweatmatchup #zonecoveragecover4 #kelvinshepherddefensivecoordinator #calebwilliamsuncomfortable #amon-rast.brownvscjgardner-johnson #jaredgoffmovement #interioroffensivelinepassprotection #north-southrungame #montyandgibbscutbacklanes #nomancoveragesurprise #game-winningfieldgoalastimeexpired Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears Post Game Show: Closing the 2025 Season at Soldier Field A Familiar Rivalry to End a Frustrating Year The Detroit Lions closed the 2025 NFL season on the road at Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears, a setting that has a way of sharpening emotions regardless of records or standings. This finale came with a different weight. Detroit entered the final week knowing the season had fallen short of expectations, and this game became less about playoff math and more about accountability, pride, and clarity heading into the offseason. On our post game show, we will focus on what this final performance says about the Lions as a whole. Was there urgency from the opening drive, or did the game reflect a team still searching for consistency? Division games against Chicago are never meaningless, and the Bears had plenty of motivation to play spoiler while evaluating their own future pieces. A major lens for this discussion will be Jared Goff. As the quarterback and the face of the offense, Goff’s play in this game will spark conversation regardless of the outcome. Did he command the offense cleanly? Was the passing game efficient and decisive? Did Detroit finish drives or settle for missed opportunities that defined much of the season? These questions frame the larger evaluation of where the Lions go next. What We Will Break Down on the Post Game Show Tonight’s Detroit Lions post game show will unpack the Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears matchup through several key themes: Offensive execution: How well did Detroit move the ball and sustain drives? Were the Lions balanced, or did the offense struggle with familiar issues in protection and timing? Quarterback performance: Goff’s decision making, accuracy, and leadership will be a central topic. This game offers one last data point before offseason conversations begin. Defensive effort: Did the Lions play with physicality and discipline against a Bears offense that thrives on mistakes? How well did Detroit handle third downs and red zone situations? Coaching and game management: End of season games often reveal philosophy. We will discuss play calling tendencies, in game adjustments, and whether Detroit showed signs of cohesion or fatigue. Young players and evaluation: Late season games are about the future as much as the present. Which players used this opportunity to make a case for bigger roles next year? Listener Calls and Detroit Lions Reaction As always, the most important part of the post game show is hearing from the fans. We will open the phone lines and take listener calls to capture the full Detroit Lions reaction to this season finale. Was this game a positive step toward resetting expectations, or did it reinforce frustrations that have lingered all year? The tone of this show will reflect a fan base processing a season that promised more than it delivered. There will be honest discussion, measured analysis, and space for emotion. That is what the final week is for. Join us for the Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears Post Game Show as we close out the 2025 season, break down the final performance, and start the conversation about what must change for Detroit to take the next step forward. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKiy24mVwPY Get yourself a Classic Detroit t-shirt here! Don't miss our great merch selection in the Detroit Lions Podcast store. Looking for the relief that CBD products can bring? Click here: https://bit.ly/2XzawlG Get your Lions Gear at: https://bit.ly/2Ooo5Px As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made here: https://amzn.to/36e2ZfD Donate Direct at: https://bit.ly/2qnEtFj Join the Patreon Crew at: https://bit.ly/2bgQgyj #DetroitLions, #Lions, #DetroitLionsPodcast, #OnePride, #LionsBears, #NFLWeek18, #JaredGoff, #SoldierField, #LionsFootball, #DetroitVsEverybody Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Week 2 Rerun, January Jolt The Detroit Lions Podcast opened with a shot of adrenaline from September. The NFL Network replayed the Week 2 demolition of the Chicago Bears. Detroit 52, Chicago 21. Jared Goff threw for 334 yards and five touchdowns with zero interceptions. Jahmyr Gibbs ripped 94 yards on the ground. David Montgomery added 57. Jameson Williams cleared 100 receiving yards and turned short catches into three touchdowns under 15 yards. The defense took the ball away twice and rang up four sacks. Tyson Bagent mopped up in garbage time. Jack Campbell flashed. Aidan Hutchinson collected a pair. Brian Branch made plays. It felt like a statement. After a flat Week 1 in Green Bay, that win reset the temperature on the season. For a minute, Detroit sat atop NFL power polls and looked like the class of the NFC. That broadcast stung a little. It reminded everyone what this roster looked like at full strength and how quickly it turned. Promise met attrition. Confidence met slippage on both sides of the ball. The Week 2 tape is still proof of concept. It is also a measuring stick for what has been lost. From Firepower to Triage The current injury sheet is brutal. Alex Anzalone is out with a concussion after a failed midweek push. Penei Sewell is out. Alim McNeill is out with an abdominal injury. Kerby Joseph is out. Brian Branch is out. Sam LaPorta is out. S C.J. Moore’s replacement depth has thinned, and even “Harper” snaps matter now because the room is down three safeties. Avonte Maddox will play, but the secondary is patched together. Up front, the tackle plan is a guess. Giovanni Manu was not activated. Miles Frazier could be forced into a spot. Dan Skipper likely logs heavy work. Maybe “Yode” slides outside. Taylor Decker is fighting through it and has earned the benefit of the doubt. None of that stabilizes protection. It raises a real question about whether Goff should finish the season finale behind a compromised line. The idea of Kyle Allen getting meaningful snaps has merit. It is evaluation and preservation rolled into one. Season Finale Math The finale arrives tomorrow with little on the line for the Detroit Lions in the NFL standings. The Bears, the team Detroit roasted in September, have since won the division and are chasing the two seed. They get Green Bay next week. That development colors the mood. Detroit once ran away from Chicago. Now the roster is a shell of that September juggernaut. The calculus is simple. Health over hollow pride. Avoid new long-term injuries to Goff, Montgomery, Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and anyone already managing pain. Every sprain and strain now steals offseason recovery time. There is value in a winning record. There is much more value in a healthy spring. Use the finale to protect core pieces, test depth, and get out clean. The Week 2 blowout still matters. It shows what the Detroit Lions can be when whole. The job now is to make sure the next chance to look like that arrives with the roster intact. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvnuoB40it8 #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #offensiveline #injuries #schedule #draft #quarterback #jaredgoff #taylordecker #offensivelineinjuries #offensivelinedepth #quarterbackplay Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Week 18 Math and a New Year Edge Happy New Year from the Detroit Lions Podcast, and welcome to the clean slate of 2026. The Detroit Lions have one game left in the 2025 NFL season, a finale against the Bears. The tug here is real. Win the game, feel good, start 2026 with momentum. Or accept a loss that could lock in a last place schedule. The ideal lane is narrow but clear. Beat the Bears, then hope the Vikings beat the Packers. Minnesota holds the head-to-head tiebreaker on Detroit, so the Lions could still land fourth in the NFC North while finishing with a winning record. It is a strange picture. Eight or nine wins at the bottom of a division. Other divisions wobbling near that mark at the top. That is this year’s NFL. The message for fans is balance. Enjoy the stakes, do not let them own your sleep. You play to win. If the scenario breaks another way, accept the payoff in 2026 opponents. Either outcome has value. O-line Shuffle: Glasgow In, Eguakun Out The interior line is moving again. Graham Glasgow could start at center this week after the Browns poached Kingsley Eguakun off the Lions practice squad. Cleveland’s front is crushed by injuries, four of five starters on injured reserve, with Wyatt Teller shut down as well. They need a center look for Week 18, so Eguakun gets a shot. Detroit knows what it had. Eguakun showed some steadiness in pass protection against Pittsburgh, then scuffled against Minnesota. The bigger issue was body control and sustain in the run game. Too many reps ended before the whistle. In Detroit he profiled as depth, an interior reserve. The Lions wished him well. That is fair. The roster churn continues, and Glasgow stepping in at center fits the week’s needs. Health Updates: Sam LaPorta and the Tight End Plan Sam LaPorta’s timeline is clearer. The back surgery kept him out for any potential playoff run, which always felt likely. The target is training camp, and that matters. The Lions missed his hands and his leverage in space. The offense needs more of him, not less. Getting LaPorta right for 2026 is a priority that outpaces any short-term wish. Taylor Decker’s Decision and the Ragnow Example Taylor Decker opened the door to retirement. He has not gone there before, but he will consider it this offseason. That honesty resonates. The mileage is heavy, the hits add up, the age clock is loud. The old line is simple, once you are thinking about retirement, it can be hard to unthink it. Still, there is a counterpoint in the locker room storylines. Frank Ragnow was very retired, then felt the pull and tried to come back because he missed the game and felt the team needed him. That could weigh on Decker as he sorts through the choice. For now, it is Bears week. The Detroit Lions can win, feel good, and still find a softer 2026 draw if the Vikings handle the Packers. That is the edge of Week 18. That is the balance this team is walking into the new year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOxk_OCxSIE #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #detroitlionsvsbearsfinale #week18tiebreakermath #lastplaceschedule #vikingsoverpackersscenario #nfcnorthfourthplace #grahamglasgowatcenter #kingsleyeguakuntobrowns #clevelandoffensivelineinjuries #wyatttellershutdown #passprotectionagainstpittsburgh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Outside Eyes on Detroit The Detroit Lions Podcast hit the road to Cleveland, and the distance sharpened the view. From two bustling sports radio stations to family tables, the Cleveland market offered a mirror. Browns fans are arguing about quarterback lottery tickets. Detroit is not. The Lions have a coach with a clear identity, a front office with a plan, and a locker room that knows who belongs. The national noise about a collapse feels off. The season stung. It did not shatter the build. Culture and Core Pieces Dan Campbell’s program has a definition. You can point to a draft prospect and say, that is a Detroit Lion. That clarity matters. Amon-Ra St. Brown. Penei Sewell. Aidan Hutchinson. Brian Branch when he returns. The core is young and wired the right way. Even Alim McNeil, who battled injury and only flashed once, drew praise from people who study line play. The belief in him is real. Contrast that with Cleveland’s question of what a “Cleveland Brown” even is right now. The gap in identity is the story. Offensive Line Priorities The NFL season exposed needs, and right guard sits near the top. Cleveland talk shows are speaking about Joel Bitonio in the past tense. He has been a rock at left guard. He fits Detroit’s culture. Wyatt Teller holds down right guard in Cleveland, and that profile is exactly where the Lions could upgrade. The center plan came into focus too. Tate Ratledge projects as Detroit’s center in 2026 and beyond. That is about long-term fit, not 2025 limitations. Graham Glasgow handled center this year because he was more comfortable there, and because Jared Goff favored that stability. Michael Niese is in the mix for depth looks. The line is not a teardown. It is a targeted refinement. Week 18 in Chicago, Then the Long View It is Tuesday, the calendar’s final turn is in sight, and Week 18 awaits the Bears. Dan Campbell will not test Ratledge at center this week. That restraint tracks with the larger approach. Keep the standards. Protect the quarterback. Evaluate without panic. The Detroit Lions still have their quarterback in Jared Goff. They still have a top-end nucleus on offense and defense. The Browns are debating Shadur Sanders, trading up, or leaning on lottery tickets like Dante Moore or Fernando Mendoza. Detroit is not living in that chaos. The perspective from Cleveland underscored the point. The Lions are not falling off a cliff. They are figuring out their next set of edges. Identity. Interior line upgrades. Health for young stars. That is the work. That is how a contender stays a contender in the NFL. From Cleveland to Detroit, the message landed. Stay the course. Build the line. Trust the culture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB5sjNV_8eY #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #rightguardpriority #interiorlineupgrades #grahamglasgowatcenter #jaredgoffpreference #tateratledge2026center #michaelniesedepth #wyatttellerprofile #joelbitonioveteranguard #week18inchicago #protectthequarterback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the Minneapolis Meltdown The Detroit Lions walked out of Minneapolis with bruises and questions. The Minnesota Vikings exposed protection issues, timing issues, and game-management issues. It was hard to watch. On the latest episode of The Grey Area, the conversation turned fast from pain to purpose. This is the last week of the season. The Bears are next. The focus is whether anything learned in that loss will shape what happens now. Dan Campbell’s words mattered. Right after the game he said the Lions “gotta make changes.” No hedging. No deflection. His Monday tone was calmer, but the message stood. Change is coming, and he has to be the agent of it. That echoes his raw line after the NFC title loss two seasons ago about “that might have been our shot.” Seasons in the NFL are fragile. Windows swing fast. What happens next decides whether that old line is a footnote or a warning. There was no comfort in the tape. Execution sagged. Play calling sputtered. The Vikings dictated terms. That adds weight to Week 18. Not for stats. For choices. Campbell’s Crossroads: Play, Rest, or Recalibrate Grey wrestles with the final-week question. To play or not to play. The roster is banged up. The rhythm is off. The instinct to chase numbers gives way to a need to reset habits. The staff has to decide who benefits from snaps and who needs a seat. No simple answer, but clarity is required. Campbell already pushed past the usual coach-speak about “on to the next one.” He went straight to overhaul talk, with a game still left. That tells you where his head is. Numbers over narratives took a back seat. This week the lesson is bigger than the box score. The Lions need a cleaner plan and a cleaner identity before Chicago. That is the work. Fix the Offensive Line, Fix the Offense The priority is clear. The offensive line is job one. Find a center. Stack guard depth. Solve tackle. You can do that in one offseason. Other teams have done it with castoffs. If Brad Holmes and Campbell hit on those spots, a lot of what failed in Minnesota vanishes. Protection stabilizes the pass game. The run game breathes. Play calling opens up. Defense needs help too. All three levels. But without the line, you get what you just saw. The blueprint is attainable. The roster core can support quick repair. The front office has to execute. Temperature Check: Fans, Accountability, and the Bears Ahead Fans are angry. They should be. The team has traded on two years of success. Prices went up. Expectations followed. Then came the worst Lions performance in years, by execution and by design. That stings. The enemies list segment landed hard because accountability matters right now. Giving in to lesser angels is easy. The smarter move is to demand concrete fixes. The Detroit Lions still control their response. Beat the Bears with purpose. Then attack the line, the depth, and the defensive holes. Campbell opened the door to change. Now he has to walk through it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WqWARwBd_E #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #minneapolismeltdown #minnesotavikings #protectionissues #game-managementissues #dancampbell #week18 #chicagobears #playorrest #offensivelineoverhaul #findacenter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Week 18 Door Opened, Lions Stumbled The NFL weekend handed the Detroit Lions every break. Green Bay got drilled. Chicago lost to San Francisco. A win-and-in shot with the Chicago Bears in Week 18 sat on the table. Detroit did not hold up its end. The Christmas loss to the Minnesota Vikings turned opportunity into regret. The Vikings were a known entity. They crowd the middle. They blitz. They play downhill. Detroit still walked into the trap. The result felt like a coaching loss from prep to whistle. That sting was familiar. The opener against Green Bay carried the same scent. The Detroit Lions Podcast audience heard the frustration. A good team played small in a gotta-have-it moment. NFC Results That Framed It Everything else aligned. The Packers got blown away. Jordan Love was out. Baltimore rolled, and Derrick Henry ran wild. Malik Willis played well before leaving hurt again. Chicago then dropped a high-scoring thriller to the 49ers on Sunday night. The Bears sit high in the NFC mix, pending what the Rams do. Seattle sits at number one. All of it kept a Week 18 showdown in play. Detroit only needed to cash its Christmas ticket. It did not. The 12 Personnel Trap on Offense The offensive plan made it harder. Detroit leaned into 12 personnel and pounded inside. That shrank the field. Linebackers crept up. Safeties walked down. Put Shane Zylstra or Giovanni Ricci in the slot and defenses do not fear the seam. They crowd the box and choke the space where Detroit wanted to live. Spacing matters. You chase linebackers and safeties off with speed and threat. Kalif Raymond changes leverage. Isaac Teslaw does too. Use them to widen the second level and clear seams. Detroit instead condensed everything and invited contact. Inside runs met free hitters. Protection saw extra bodies and late blitzers. The Vikings love that fight. Detroit gave it to them snap after snap. Irrespective of line play, the structure was off. The Lions drew defenders into the very area they targeted. That is backwards. Against an aggressive front, widen, stress, and punish. Detroit did not. Coaching Heat: Campbell and Morton This one lands on the headsets. Dan Campbell as play caller. John Morton as offensive coordinator. Minnesota started Max Brosmer and had backups across the offensive line. Short week for both teams. The Vikings still looked more prepared for what Detroit would do than Detroit was for what Minnesota always does. That is the rub. The worry now is persistence. Keeping Morton in any capacity invites more of the same. Scheme must create its own luck. Preparation must steal downs. The Lions can manufacture it with smarter spacing, better personnel groupings, and quicker answers to pressure. Week 18 still offers meaning. The path narrowed because Detroit gave it away. The fix is not mystical. It is alignment, speed on the field, and a plan that refuses to play to an opponent’s strength. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnAcmdsNjlw #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #minnesotavikings #chicagobears #greenbaypackers #sanfrancisco49ers #jordanlove #derrickhenry #malikwillis #12personnel #lateblitzers #spacing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit Lions Stumble Into the Finale After a Christmas Collapse The Detroit Lions walked into U.S. Bank Stadium on Christmas with their season on the line and walked out with it basically over. The loss to the Minnesota Vikings did not feel like a one-off. It felt like every nightmare Detroit fans have been trying to forget, all crammed into one afternoon. Bad starts. Bad breaks. Bad decisions. A team that looked tight, reactive, and completely out of rhythm when it mattered most. If you are asking how an NFL roster that still flashes top-tier talent can end up eliminated before the final week, the answer starts with the way the game unfolded. Detroit never got control of the moment. It began with a penalty that set the tone and it never got better. The offense spiraled. The turnovers stacked. The Vikings did not have to be great for four quarters. They only had to be functional while Detroit handed them short fields and momentum. This was not just a Jared Goff game, but it was one where everything went sideways. He started clean, then got stuck forcing throws, locking in on Amon-Ra St. Brown, and trying to dig out of holes that never should have existed. When you are down multiple scores and your offensive line is held together with tape and optimism, the margin disappears. That is when the bad habits show up. That is when the same old Lions feeling creeps back in. Personnel Misfires, Coaching Blind Spots, and What the Finale Must Be The most frustrating part is that the problems were not mysterious. Detroit has been stretched thin by injuries all year, but the staff kept trying to plug-and-play replacements as if the skill sets were interchangeable. They are not. When you lose Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, you cannot call defense like they are still on the field. When you lose Sam LaPorta, you cannot pretend the tight end room is the same. When the interior pass rush is missing juice, you cannot expect the back end to survive forever. The personnel usage told the story. Heavy tight end packages without credible tight end threats condense the field and invite defenders into the box. That makes the run game harder and shrinks the passing windows. Detroit played into exactly what Minnesota wanted, then spent the rest of the day trying to climb out. Now the Lions head into the season finale with the playoffs gone, which changes the stakes but not the responsibility. This is still Ford Field. This is still Dan Campbell. And this is still an organization that cannot afford to drift into a losing culture after a 15-win season. The finale has to be a hard reset. Play fast. Play clean. Stop asking backups to be stars. Put players in roles they can actually win. And just as important, take a serious look at why Detroit keeps drafting and acquiring talent that cannot stay on the field. That is not bad luck anymore. That is a pattern. The Lions may be eliminated, but the evaluation is not. Sunday is about pride, clarity, and making sure this stumble does not become a new standard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEQOVKTTuFI Get yourself a Classic Detroit t-shirt here! Don't miss our great merch selection in the Detroit Lions Podcast store. Looking for the relief that CBD products can bring? Click here: https://bit.ly/2XzawlG Get your Lions Gear at: https://bit.ly/2Ooo5Px As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made here: https://amzn.to/36e2ZfD Donate Direct at: https://bit.ly/2qnEtFj Join the Patreon Crew at: https://bit.ly/2bgQgyj #DetroitLions, #Lions, #DetroitLionsPodcast, #OnePride, #ChristmasCollapse #LionsEliminated #SeasonOnTheLine #TurnoverTrouble #InjuryExposed #CoachingQuestions #GoffUnderFire #VikingsLoss #EndOfTheRun #FinaleWithPride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Christmas Collapse in Minnesota The Detroit Lions turned a dominant defensive effort into a bitter loss on Christmas. They fell to the Minnesota Vikings despite allowing only three net passing yards until the final snap. The NFL will not remember the style points. It will remember six Detroit giveaways and one back-breaking coverage bust. That was the difference in a game the Lions should have closed. The numbers sting. Minnesota finished with just 11 first downs and 161 total yards on 51 plays. Sixty-five came on Jordan Addison’s game-sealing touchdown. One play erased three quarters of work. It also punished the same structural stress the Lions have failed to solve all season when opponents dress up misdirection and eye candy. This Detroit Lions Podcast breakdown is about hard truths. The Lions invited disaster with turnovers, protection issues, and a run game that never tilted the field. Minnesota crowded the box and disguised pressure. Detroit never adjusted enough. Defense Dominates Until One Bust For most of the day, the defense smothered the Vikings. The front squeezed lanes. The safeties rallied downhill. Max Brosmer accomplished little until the shot that mattered. Then the Lions lost their landmarks. The pattern reappeared. Minnesota mirrored what the Rams, Steelers, Packers, and Cowboys have shown on film. Motion and window dressing pulled the second level inside. The safeties bit. The linebackers held too long. DJ Reed crashed outside leverage with no help behind him. Earlier weeks, it was Amik Robertson or Rak Yassin on the wrong end of similar concepts. On Christmas, Addison ran free. One lapse undone a superb afternoon. Even with that bust, the defense played well enough to win. It cannot be asked to survive six offensive turnovers. Offense Unravels: Line, Plan, and Quarterback Jared Goff started sharp. He drilled a third-down throw on the move to Jameson Williams. He dropped a red-zone strike to Isaac to slaw for the lone touchdown. Then the wheels came off. Minnesota dialed pressure. Detroit’s offensive line could not sort it out, and the giveaways piled up. Personnel reality bit hard. Kingsley Agwacun made only his second career start at center. Dan Skipper stepped in at left tackle with Taylor Decker out due to illness. Christian Mahogany gutted through his leg recovery but is not close to full strength. Asking this group to reach across two gaps or land difficult reach blocks was wishful. The run game vanished, and the pocket turned static. There were answers on tape. Shorter drops. Quicker triggers. Roll the launch point right and left. When Goff moved by design, throwing angles opened and timing improved. Detroit did not lean on that enough. Play calling invited the rush instead of using it against an aggressive front with screens, tempo, and rhythmic underneath throws. The equation is simple. Protect the ball. Protect the edges. Protect your defense’s work. The Lions did none of it in Minnesota. One explosive allowed and six giveaways define a loss no one in Detroit will soon forget. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5AOYbHi4BY #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #minnesotavikings #sixgiveaways #coveragebust #jordanaddisongame-sealingtouchdown #misdirectionandeyecandy #motionandwindowdressing #crowdedthebox #disguisedpressure #protectionissues #kingsleyagwacun Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christmas Eve Stakes and a Narrow Path The Detroit Lions fly to Minneapolis with a slim, real path. Win at the Vikings on Christmas. Win at the Bears in Chicago. Hope the Packers lose out. That is the math. It is not pretty, but it exists. The other motivator is pride. Going from the best record in the NFC last year to the basement in the NFC North will not sit well with Dan Campbell or his locker room. The Lions are favored. They should play like a team with playoff vitality. Context matters in December in the NFL. Detroit needs urgency and clean execution. The margin is small. The opponent is wounded, not harmless. Vikings Quarterback Shuffle: Max Brosmer Time Minnesota ruled out JJ McCarthy on Tuesday afternoon. A hairline fracture in his hand ends his season. In comes Max Brosmer. He is an undrafted rookie with one start and mop-up reps. He has an arm and workable accuracy. He lost to the Seahawks, which happens to many. He is not Aaron Rodgers or Matthew Stafford. He is not even a fully healthy Jordan Love. That is a reprieve for a Detroit defense that has seen a run of top quarterbacks. The Vikings are battered elsewhere. Christian Darrisaw, their left tackle, is out. They have shut players down after elimination, similar to how the Lions just shut down Kirby Joseph. The depth chart is thin, but the skill talent around Brosmer still gives structure. Detroit must turn those absences into pressure and turnovers. A Defense That Hasn’t Allowed a Passing TD in Six Games Here is the problem for the Lions offense. The Vikings have not allowed a passing touchdown in six straight games. That is the first time a team has done it since the 1989 Browns. This is a legit unit. They blitzed the Lions to great effect in the first meeting. They hammered the A gap. They made life hard for Jared Goff. Detroit’s passing game has been inconsistent. Goff has been pretty good, but the interior pass protection must be better. Answers versus the A-gap pressure are non-negotiable. Quick decisions. Firm guards and center. Defined hot routes. Detroit Lions Podcast coverage this week centers on interior protection, blitz answers, and a battered Vikings offense. If the Lions cannot block inside, points will be scarce again. What It Means in Minneapolis and Beyond This sets up a grind. Expect Detroit to lean on pass rush against a backup left tackle and an inexperienced quarterback. Expect Minnesota to heat up Goff and test Detroit’s A-gap integrity. Field position matters. So do red zone calls when passing touchdowns are hard to find. Win, and the Lions keep the playoff thread intact and roll into Chicago with purpose. Lose, and last place looms. The formula is simple. Protect the pocket inside. Tackle after the catch. Finish drives with touchdowns. It is Christmas in the NFL. Style points can wait. The Lions need a road win to keep the season alive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7n9Z9vYgPU #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #a-gappressure #interiorpassprotection #jaredgoff #maxbrosmer #jjmccarthy #christiandarrisaw #backuplefttackle #undraftedrookie #sixstraightgames #passingtouchdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back-to-Back Gut Punch Sets Up Christmas Stakes The Detroit Lions let a win slip in Week 16. Pittsburgh beat them 29-24. Detroit fell to 8-7 and took its first back-to-back loss since 2022. The Lions had first and goal at the 1 with seconds left and still walked off with a defeat. This was not a no-show. The Steelers looked like an AFC playoff team and strung together a suffocating, clock-chewing drive. Yet the chance was there. The miss stings. Now the NFL calendar points to Christmas Day. Vikings on Netflix. Detroit must win out. Green Bay must lose out. The Packers draw the Ravens next and finish with the Vikings. The Lions close with Minnesota and Chicago. The path exists, but it is narrow. The latest Detroit Lions Podcast lays out why the margin keeps shrinking. Third-Quarter Vanish, Red-Zone Regret The same issue keeps surfacing. The third quarter turns into a freezer. Negative yards. Empty possessions. Rhythm gone. Then a desperate rally follows and the game tightens late. That script played out again. The offense disappeared for long stretches, then reached the doorstep and failed to finish. First and goal at the 1. No points. That sequence defines the afternoon as much as any explosive play. Situational football hurt. Short-yardage execution hurt. The Lions have been one of the league’s best at bouncing back after losses. Fifteen straight wins after a defeat had been the NFL’s top mark. That streak and the margin for error evaporated in Pittsburgh. Run-Game Mechanics Under the Microscope The podcast dug into the run fits and assignments. Too often Detroit left the backside end unaccounted for after motion. An H-back would be aligned to help and then move away at the snap. The edge stayed naked and got knifed. Early on, Anthony Firkser aligned in the backfield to the left with Alex Highsmith outside. Motion pulled Firkser away, and Highsmith charged straight through. On other calls, guards were asked to pull across the formation and reach Highsmith. That is a tough ask against that burst and angle. There was a bright spot up front. Kingsley Accucon made his first career start and graded as the Lions’ top run blocker. He showed promise. The contrast with earlier rotations that leaned on Tristan Colon at left guard and center raises timing questions. The unit needs continuity and cleaner answers on the edge. Defense Bent, Then Broke; Christmas in Minneapolis Pittsburgh’s marathon march felt like ten minutes of scrimmage control. The defense gave up chunk runs late. Tackling and edge integrity sagged in the fourth quarter. Detroit never flipped the script in real time and paid for it. Next up is Minnesota on Christmas Day. Does it matter? It does if the Detroit Lions want the hunt to mean anything. Start fast. Fix the third-quarter lull. Secure the backside against the Vikings’ rush looks. In the red zone, pick a hat on a hat and punch. All of it is on tape, as the Detroit Lions Podcast laid out. The job now is to make it look different in Minneapolis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujTq6e7WSVA #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #third-quartervanish #red-zoneregret #firstandgoalatthe1 #clock-chewingdrive #runfitsandassignments #backsideendunaccounted #h-backmotion #alexhighsmith #anthonyfirkserinthebackfield #pullingguardreach Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trenches Tell the Story Two Days Before Christmas The Detroit Lions walked out of Sunday with a scar. The loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers came from the line of scrimmage. Film study backed it up. So did the grades. In the NFL, you cannot live in the low 40s up front and expect to win. The Detroit Lions Podcast broke it down with clear eyes and a steady pulse. The last two weeks produced the worst graded run blocking of the season. The last two games also produced the worst run defense grades. Tackling fell off a cliff. The base scoring mark sits at 60. Detroit lived below 50. That is losing football. Detroit’s pass rush showed signs of life with stunts and loops, but the run fits and block shedding were not good enough. A veteran like Aaron Rodgers gets the ball out fast. One underthrown moonball turned into a fluke touchdown, and it stung more because no one finished the play. No whistle. No touch. Six points anyway. Center Spotlight and a Veteran Reality Kingsley Eguacan gave the Lions something to build on. Thrown into center against a well coached Pittsburgh front, he held up acceptably. Not perfect. Good enough to see again. He has guard experience from Florida. He has two years in the system. That matters. The evaluation window should stay open these last two weeks to see if he can be a low cost backup in 2026. Graham Glasgow is a pro’s pro. Tough. Smart. Trusted by Jared Goff and the staff. He also represents the present more than the future. That balance defines where this offensive line sits. Detroit needs answers now, but it must also cultivate depth that sticks. Eguacan earned another look. Front Seven Accountability Detroit’s defensive line investment is real. DJ Reader. Tylik Williams. Alim McNeill. The return has lagged in the run game. Blocks are sticking too easily. Aidan Hutchinson included. Shedding has to improve. The drills exist, but the mindset and urgency must rise. Think less. Strike more. Finish tackles. McNeill’s arc is a reminder of time lost. He looked great in his first game back. Since then he has not been very good. A couple of late run stops showed up, but consistency is missing after nine to ten months without football. He knows it. The unit feels it. The Lions need their middle to anchor again. The Steelers’ lucky strike exposed another cardinal rule. Play to the whistle. Alex Anzalone went head over heels. Others had to clean it up. No one did. That is fixable with focus. What Must Change Now The Detroit Lions must reclaim the line of scrimmage. Better run fits. Cleaner tackling. Faster block shedding. Keep the pass rush games that worked. Keep evaluating interior depth on offense. Trust your eyes before the grades, but let the numbers confirm the urgency. December demands clarity. Detroit has to find it in the trenches. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiJwlH7f5YM #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #offensiveline #runblocking #rundefensegrades #tackling #passrushstunts #runfits #blockshedding #kingsleyeguacan #grahamglasgow #djreader Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices