If the Lions’ front office had been looking for a reason to fire Matt Patricia, they would have found one on Sunday. In the poor performance of any team this season, the Lions felt like they had lost to Patricia during the team’s 20-0 defeat to the Carolina Panthers.
If you’re wondering what Patricia’s hot seat temperature is in Detroit, on Thanksgiving you’ll open your oven before cooking your turkey and you’ll have a good idea. In this embarrassing loss, the offense could not move the ball forward, the defense could not stop the former XFL quarterback (PJ v Walker) and shut down all the Lions for the first time since 2009.
The past began early for Detroit, with Frank Ragnu to Matthew Stafford in the first quarter as one of the agglists coming on the Schugen snap. On play, Ragnu soon found a quick snap Staff Stafford – who had been dealing with a sore thumb all week – he just couldn’t catch it, and eventually ended up with the Panthers ball.
If a play features the day of the lions, it was definitely one of them.
It’s almost a blessing for Stafford that the instant didn’t get it, because anytime the ball got into his hands, he was doomed. The Lions ‘quarterback was fired five times and faced constant pressure from the Panthers defense which made the Lions’ offensive line look like a turnstile at a concert where all tickets were free.
The Lions just couldn’t do anything about the crime, and in the short time they did, Patricia hit the drive. On two consecutive drives in the second quarter, the Lions painted the ball from the Carolina territory. Patricia must have shown a little faith in her offense and walked for it, because in the worst case scenario, she was giving it back to the Panthers offense, led by the former XFL QB. Instead, he punished both times and the Lions would never threaten to touchdown in the game.
The Lions did not reach the red zone at one point and they only went inside Carolina’s 30-yard line once. It was the game the Lions had to win and they fell flat on their faces.
The Lions sat down at 5-5pm on Sunday and felt an outside shot to get them back in the NFC playoff race, but now that won’t happen. The only question that seems to be in Detroit is whether Patricia will survive the season.
Well, let’s move on to the grade for each game from the 11th week. If you’re looking for an ernda dive on the Cardinals-Seahawks game played on Thursday, be sure to click here.
Carolina 20-0 over Detroit
New Orleans 24-9 over Atlanta
Washington 20-9 over Cincinnati
Cleveland 22-17 over Philadelphia
Eagles-Browns grade by Jeff Care (Like grade? Hate grade?) Let him know on Twitter.)
Houston 27-22 over New England
Patriots-Texans Grade by Tyler Sullivan (Like grade? Hate grade?) Let him know on Twitter.)
Tennessee 30-24 Over Baltimore (OT)
Titans-Ravens Grade by Jordan Dajani (Like Grade? Hate Grade?) Let him know on Twitter.)
Pittsburgh 27-3 Jacksonville
Steelers-Jaguars Grade by Brian Diordo (Like grades? Hate grades?) Let him know on Twitter.)
Denver over Miami 20-13
Dolphins-Broncos Grade by Josh Edwards (Like Grade? Hate Grade?) Let him know on Twitter.)
31-28 over Dallas Minnesota
Cowboy-Vikings Grade by Patrick Wacker (Like grade? Hate grade?) Let him know on Twitter.)
