The Detroit Lions Podcast

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

The Detroit Lions got outclassed by a so-so Pittsburgh Steelers roster because the plan failed before the ball was kicked. In late December, that is a coaching loss. It exposed a defense without cohesion, a depth chart stretched past its limits, and a Dan Campbell team that needs answers now. This Detroit Lions Podcast recap stares hard at why. Coaching Exposed in Steelers Loss The NFL is unforgiving when preparation lags. Pittsburgh brought a clear script and executed it. Detroit arrived with a better cast and a worse idea. The coaches were not good enough. The defense had no identity. The game plan did not fit the personnel available. That mismatch showed up on every level, from alignments to adjustments. The Steelers dictated with modest talent because they were organized. The Lions were not. That’s the headline. It is also the trend. The final score felt earned, and not in a good way. Numbers over narratives point to the same truth. Too many explosive gains. Too many empty downs. Too many drives where Detroit never forced Pittsburgh off schedule. Depth, Scheme, and a Defense That Lost Its Shape Detroit’s backups are not winning games in December. Injuries gutted the defense and chipped away at the offensive line again. The “next man up” idea sounds brave. It does not stop crossing routes or protect a corner stranded in man coverage he cannot play. You cannot build a man-heavy scheme and then ask reserves to survive it. Detroit tried to mix in zone. That fell apart too. The front four must cover for the back end. It did not. The starters up front are healthy, as are the three linebackers behind them. Pressure still lagged. That left a shaky secondary to hold forever. Plans that counted on additions like Josh Paschal and Levi Onwuzurike never stabilized. The result has been a defense gashed by everyone, not just top NFC offenses but a middle-tier Steelers unit as well. Worse, the same problems surfaced in other spots. Remember the 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers performance in Detroit. The Lions handed him leverage with structure. He took it. That is a scheme problem. It is also a self-scout problem that has not yet been solved. Flags, Farewells, and the Stakes for Dan Campbell Officiating cannot be the story, but it keeps grabbing the mic. The calls at the end were brutal. They did not decide the outcome. They did shape the discourse. When pool reporters and penalty explanations dominate the postgame, the NFL has a quality control issue. Detroit cannot count on cleaner Sundays. It must become call-proof. Hard choices are next. Some of the Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes originals are nearing the exit. Alex Anzalone may have played his last game at Ford Field. Others with devoted followings could join him. Sentiment meets performance here. Depth must get better. So must the plan to deploy it. This is the inflection point. The Detroit Lions have the talent to compete. They need a defense that fits who is actually available, not who was penciled in back in June. Campbell’s next moves will define his tenure. Adapt now, or see December become a closed door again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsDHgopy-aQ #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #pittsburghsteelers #coachingloss #defensewithoutcohesion #depthchart #dancampbell #explosivegains #man-heavyscheme #crossingroutes #mancoverage #frontfour Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Playoff hopes dim after chaotic ending The Detroit Lions saw their playoff hopes fade in a 29-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The finish twisted the knife. Detroit appeared to score on the final snap. The celebration died when offensive pass interference wiped it away. The call, tied to Amon-Ra St. Brown, turned a stunning comeback into an empty box score. The moment fit the day. Frustration. Confusion. Missed chances. This loss stings because it was there to take. The Steelers were banged up. The Lions did not capitalize. Detroit’s offense sputtered on the ground. The defense broke late. In the NFL, that combination loses you games in December. Officiating confusion and accountability The officiating crew, led by Carl Cheffers, lost the plot in the final sequence. Communication failed on the field. Players and coaches were left guessing. Letter of the law, the offensive pass interference on St. Brown can be called. Process matters too. It did not look like the crew controlled the situation or explained it. That erodes trust. Earlier, an offensive pass interference flag on Isaac TeSlaa compounded the angst. TeSlaa was pushed by a defensive back into another defender, which triggered the foul. That nuance mattered. Detroit paid for the savvy by Pittsburgh. Calls like these underscore a bigger NFL problem. Transparency is lagging. The league needs an eye-in-the-sky voice. It needs clear, real-time explanations. With gambling tied into every broadcast, the room for opaque officiating is gone. Run game stalls, defense cracks late The Detroit Lions run game vanished. David Montgomery had four carries for 14 yards. His longest went for 17, which means the rest lost three yards. Jameer Gibbs had seven carries for two yards. His longest was six. The other six lost four yards. Jared Goff lost a yard on a designed run. That is a non-starter for a Detroit offense built on balance. It is more galling given Pittsburgh’s injuries. No T.J. Watt. No Nick Herbig. Cornerbacks rotating. The Lions offensive line was makeshift, but the execution fell short. Detroit could not move bodies or sustain tracks. The Steelers defensive front won too many snaps on first down. The sticks flipped, and the playbook shrank. Defensively, Detroit blinked in the biggest moments. Two long Jaylen Warren runs in the fourth quarter tilted the field and the clock. Those gap fits must be airtight. They were not. The Lions did not play well enough to overcome that, even without the officiating swirl. Short week to Christmas kickoff An abbreviated week now looms. The Detroit Lions play again on Christmas. The locker room has to flush this and find urgency. The margin is gone. The path is narrow. What remains is pride, correction, and sharper detail. The Detroit Lions Podcast daily notes it plainly. Detroit must own the self-inflicted wounds, demand clarity from the league, and run the ball when it matters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04GqVJ-4R4s #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #amon-rast.brown #offensivepassinterference #carlcheffers #isaacteslaa #davidmontgomery #jameergibbs #jaredgoff #jaylenwarren #t.j.watt #nickherbig Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit Lions vs Pittsburgh Steelers Post Game Show: A December Fight at Ford Field Everything on the Line for the Lions in Week 16 The Detroit Lions entered Week 16 of the NFL season with no margin for error, hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ford Field in a game that carried unmistakable playoff urgency. December football rarely offers subtlety, and this match-up fit the bill. The Lions needed a complete performance, while the Steelers arrived with their own postseason hopes hinging on discipline, defense, and physical execution. On our post game show, the focus turns to how Detroit handled the moment. Did the Lions play free and aggressive, or did the weight of the situation show early? Ford Field has been a fortress at times this season, and the atmosphere reflected what was at stake. We will break down how the Lions responded to that energy and whether it translated into clean execution on the field. One of the defining storylines heading into the game was how Detroit would deal with Pittsburgh’s identity. The Steelers are built around defense, pressure, and forcing mistakes. That puts immediate emphasis on Jared Goff’s decision making, the offensive line’s communication, and Detroit’s ability to stay ahead of the chains. Whether the Lions leaned on the run game or trusted the passing attack to move the ball will be a central part of the discussion. Key Talking Points from Lions vs Steelers Tonight’s Detroit Lions post game show will cover the most important themes from this late season clash: Quarterback composure: Goff has been at his best when playing within rhythm and avoiding turnovers. We will evaluate how he handled Pittsburgh’s pressure packages and disguised coverages. Defensive toughness: The Steelers rarely beat themselves. Did Detroit’s defense create negative plays, win on early downs, and force Pittsburgh into uncomfortable situations? Physicality and field position: Games like this often come down to hidden yards. We will examine special teams, punt coverage, and how both teams managed field position. Coaching decisions under pressure: Late season games test a staff’s nerve. We will discuss fourth down choices, clock management, and red zone strategy. Execution in critical moments: Third downs, short yardage, and turnovers tend to decide games with playoff implications. Detroit’s performance in these moments will be a major focus. Listener Calls and Detroit Lions Reaction The heart of the post game show is always the fans, and tonight will be no different. We will open the phone lines and take listener calls to capture the full Detroit Lions reaction to a game that could define the season. Were fans encouraged by the Lions’ resolve? Did this performance reflect a team ready for January football, or were there missed opportunities that loom large? December games against teams like Pittsburgh reveal who you are. They expose flaws, reward toughness, and leave no room for excuses. Regardless of the final score, this match-up provides a clear snapshot of where the Lions stand as the playoff picture tightens. Join us for the Detroit Lions vs Pittsburgh Steelers Post Game Show as we break down every critical moment, analyze what it means for the Lions’ postseason push, and hear directly from the fans who live every snap. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBL6E5p4akI 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, #LionsSteelers, #FordField, #NFLWeek16, #JaredGoff, #AidanHutchinson, #DetroitVsEverybody Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Detroit Lions head into Steelers week with a sharper injury picture and a clearer offensive to-do list. Thursday brought both concern and relief. It also underscored where this NFL team must win situationally, and how the Detroit Lions Podcast sees the fixes lining up. Injury Ledger and Depth Moves Graham Glasgow did not practice with a knee after being listed as a full participant in Wednesday’s walkthrough. That is a setback. He has stabilized the interior and played better since the 10-day break. Taylor Decker returned on his standard rest plan. Thomas Harper stacked a second full practice and should clear concussion protocol, putting him on track to start at safety. Sione Vaki moved to full. That helps special teams and sub packages. Giovanni Manu was officially activated. The knee injury was a hyperextension, not surgical. Practice reps are the priority. He needs every snap he can get, even as a scout team tackle or emergency sixth lineman. The planet theory applies here. Athletes that big who move like that are rare. The realistic goal is tackle three next year. Getting him back in the building now accelerates that plan. Morton’s Offense After Rams Coordinator John Morton loosened up in front of the mics and still drilled the core point. Detroit must get off the ball better in the run game. The Rams teed off when the Lions showed two backs. Safeties crashed the A gap and squeezed the edges. Tight end blocking did not hold up. That shrank lanes for Jahmyr Gibbs and wasted early downs. The Detroit Lions still scored 34, but the tape says there is meat left on the bone. The fix is personnel. Stop leaning on 12 when you do not have two NFL-caliber tight ends available. Lean into the wideouts. Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Isaac TeSlaa and Kalif Raymond give Detroit burst, leverage, and spacing. More 11 and spread looks stress rules without telegraphing the run fit. It also creates cleaner access throws that let Gibbs and Amon-Ra work after the catch. Morton even joked about foot speed with Williams and Gibbs. The speed is real. Use it. Special Teams and Steelers Prep Dave Fipp backed Jake Bates after a rough outing. The kicker had a bad day. It happens. Confidence from the coordinator matters in December. Hidden yards and calm operations matter even more. The Steelers are up. That front punishes hesitation. Detroit’s path is simple to say and hard to do. Win first contact in the run game. Keep protection firm if Glasgow cannot go. Feature tempo and spacing. Rotate receivers and challenge leverage. Trust Bates when points are on offer. The Detroit Lions Podcast view is consistent. Health is trending up, the offensive identity is clear, and the details now decide games. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afM4bK-Jj3s #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #dailydlp #grahamglasgow #thomasharper #concussionprotocol #taylordecker #sionevaki #giovannimanu #johnmorton #tightendblocking #jahmyrgibbs #jamesonwilliams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Week 16 Home Finale: Steelers Visit Ford Field Week 16 lands in Detroit with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming to town for the Detroit Lions’ last home game of the season. The Lions enter off a loss to the Rams, and the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on health and depth as the NFL stretch run tightens. The matchup features an Aaron Rodgers led Steelers offense that does not push the ball deep often, paired with what has been one of the slowest wide receiver groups in the league. That combination makes timing, tackling, and nickel execution pivotal for Detroit’s defense. Thomas Harper’s return from a concussion changes the look on the back end. He went through a full practice and profiles as the replacement for Brian Branch in the nickel. Against a quarterback who prefers intermediate windows, Harper’s quick trigger and slot discipline are timely. The Lions do not have a clean replacement for Kirby Joseph, and that is the core worry in this game. Secondary in Flux: Hallett Out, Garber In, Joseph Trending Out Roster churn hit the safety room. Eric Hallett is no longer a Detroit Lion, signed off the practice squad by the Tennessee Titans after he logged notable snaps against the Rams. He flashed position flexibility, and his exit trims depth right where the Lions could use it most. To backfill, Detroit added Keenan Garber, an undrafted rookie from Kansas State who began his college career at wide receiver before moving to the secondary. He has bounced through the Vikings and Colts practice squads. This is a developmental add, an evaluation play for future contracts, not an immediate fix. Kirby Joseph did not practice Wednesday and Dan Campbell’s tone suggests he is unlikely to go this week. That leaves Avonte Maddox as a hybrid answer and increases the burden on communication. Taylor Decker received veteran rest. The walkthrough produced estimated listings with Tristan Colon limited by a wrist, Giovanni Manu limited with a knee, and Sione Vaki limited with a thumb. The Lions will need special teams reliability from Vaki after a rough outing last week. Guard Play Under the Microscope The interior line became a talking point after the Rams loss. Colon opened well at left guard, especially in pass protection, but his play tailed off as the game wore on. Christian Mahogany logged a full practice, and while the staff remains cautiously optimistic, his return would stabilize the spot if he is cleared to dress. If not, clarity on the rotation is needed. Fans keep asking why Miles Frazier, who looked solid in his debut versus the Cowboys, did not see work against the Rams. That remains an open question as Week 16 approaches. The path is straightforward. Clean up guard play, leverage Harper in the slot, and survive at safety without Joseph. Do that, and the Detroit Lions can close their home slate with control against a methodical Steelers offense. The margin is thin, but the plan fits the opponent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M-kUqDDo5A #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #week16homefinale #pittsburghsteelers #fordfield #aaronrodgersledsteelersoffense #slowestwidereceivergroup #nickelexecution #thomasharper #brianbranch #kirbyjoseph #avontemaddox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Halftime Hope, Second-Half Slide The Detroit Lions lost control of Week 15 and lost the game, 41-34 to the Rams. They led at halftime. They looked ready for a shootout. Then the offense stalled, the defense bent, and the window shut. Two punts in the third quarter, another to open the fourth, and the game was effectively gone. It felt winnable. It also felt like a hard reality check about where this team stands in the NFL. The Detroit Lions Podcast framed it simply. The Rams were better across the board. That is not fatalism. It is the tape. The Rams’ offense moved with rhythm. Their line created space. Their run game dictated terms. Detroit had no sustained answer after the break. At 8-6, the Lions remain talented and dangerous, but hot-and-cold. The inconsistency showed up again when the margin tightened. Where the Match-ups Tilted Los Angeles hit Detroit with heavy football and smart formation choices. The Rams leaned into 13 personnel and forced the Lions out of their comfort plan. Detroit’s counter is often to go heavy with an extra linebacker and win with size. The Rams removed that edge. Puka Nacua sat at times, and the tradeoff still favored the visitors because the fronts and fits worked. The Lions saw fewer light boxes and more bodies clogging space. On the other side, the Rams’ defensive line was ferocious. Their linebackers flowed clean. Their safeties tackled in space. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery were hemmed in, snap after snap. Detroit needed explosives to keep pace, and they tried. After a three-and-out to start the third quarter, Jared Goff took the shot everyone has been asking for, a vertical to Jameson Williams. The ball nearly hit. The process was right. The result set up another bad down-and-distance, another punt, and more clock for Matthew Stafford to grind down the defense. Flags, Contact, and Thin Margins The frustration bubbled because contact shaped those swing plays. Goff took a helmet-to-helmet shot on the deep ball. Williams was tripped as he stretched for it and later took contact in the back of the end zone. No flags. Around the league, it often cuts the other way for quarterbacks and vertical routes. On this day, it did not. That is not a conspiracy. It is a reminder that Detroit’s margin shrinks when officiating gray areas go against them and the opponent keeps stacking efficient snaps. Strip away the noise and the picture is clear. The Rams executed at a higher level and dictated personnel. Detroit’s offense blinked at the wrong time. The defense could not tilt the field. The Lions still have the traits to beat good teams, but Week 15 underscored the gap between “can” and “do.” If they want a different ending, the next three weeks must be cleaner, faster, and more forceful at the line of scrimmage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjWN45pnJv0 #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #week15loss #41-34 #ramsheavyfootball #13personnel #extralinebacker #lightboxes #linecreatedspace #rungamedictatedterms #thirdquarterpunts #jaredgoffdeepball Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit Lions Have No Room For Error The Detroit Lions arrive at this point of the season with zero margin left. Sunday’s match-up at Ford Field against the Pittsburgh Steelers is not just another game on the NFL calendar. It is a referendum on where this team is headed and whether the lessons of the last two months have actually been absorbed. In the latest episode titled Detroit Lions Have No Room For Error, the conversation is honest, uneasy, and rooted in the reality that Detroit must start stacking convincing wins immediately or watch the playoff door close. Officiating Noise, Rams Fallout, and a Team Searching for Its Edge The episode opens by revisiting the Rams loss, not to re-litigate the result, but to confront the lingering frustration around officiating. The hosts make it clear this was not why Detroit lost, yet the blown calls and New York involvement remain impossible to ignore. Across the league, trust in the officiating process is eroding, and the Lions have found themselves on the wrong end of too many moments that change momentum if not outcomes. That frustration feeds into a larger issue. The Lions have not been the same team since early October. Injuries in the secondary, rotating offensive line combinations, and a defense that sometimes looks outmatched have stripped away the identity that fueled last season’s run. Against the Rams, Detroit looked like the less talented roster for the first time in years. That realization hit hard. The episode frames it as a wake-up call, not just for players, but for the entire organization. Steelers Preview and the Playoff Math Nobody Wants The reality is brutal. Detroit needs wins now, not moral victories. The Pittsburgh Steelers come in fighting for their own playoff lives, and that matters. This is not a team Detroit can sleepwalk past. The Steelers offensive line is physical and stable, their tight ends stress the middle of the field, and they are comfortable turning games into grind-it-out affairs. That is exactly where Detroit has struggled when execution slips. Defensively, the Lions need pressure packages similar to what worked against Baltimore earlier in the season. The Steelers can be beaten if their quarterback cannot sit and survey. That means coordinated rush lanes, disguised looks, and better tackling in space than Detroit has shown recently. This is where pride has to take over. The playoff math is uncomfortable but unavoidable. Detroit can still get in, but it requires winning games like this one and doing it decisively. The episode emphasizes that belief inside the locker room matters as much as standings. This is a team that has to prove to itself it can dominate again, not just survive. Sunday is not about style points. It is about control. The Detroit Lions still have the talent to make noise in January, but only if they treat this Steelers game as the beginning of a three-week sprint where nothing is taken for granted. The room knows it. The fans feel it. There is no room for error now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bp19_fngA0 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, #NoRoomForError #MustWinDetroit #LionsPlayoffMath #ProtectGoff #FixTheExecution #FordFieldPressure #NFLRefWatch #SteelersTest #DecemberFootball #LionsAtTheCrossroads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trenches Decide It: Rams Exposed, Steelers Loom Tuesday morning brings cold air and sharper truths for the Detroit Lions. After getting pushed around by the Rams, the next opponent is the Pittsburgh Steelers, who just handled the Dolphins on Monday Night Football. Pittsburgh led 28-3 before late window dressing. They did it up front. That mirrors how Los Angeles beat the Lions. On the Detroit Lions Podcast, the focus is clear: fix the line play or watch the same script repeat. Pittsburgh’s offensive line is built to run. A good young center. Functional guards. Not as talented as the Rams, but plenty capable of moving bodies. Jalen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell can churn out the same six to eight yards on first down that burned Detroit. The Steelers lean into 12 and 22 personnel about half the time, so extra tight ends will be on the field. That naturally slows Aidan Hutchinson with chips and doubles. It puts the onus on the other edge. Al-Quadin Muhammad and Marcus Davenport must win and finish. Run Fits and Interior Muscle Must Tighten The Rams loss turned on run fits and interior control. Linebackers got stuck inside. The Blake Corum touchdown was a clinic in what not to do, with all three backers diving into the same gap. Jack Campbell’s 14 tackles were real, but too many came after gains. That’s a defensive line problem. This is where the fix begins. Alim McNeill needs to put stats on the sheet. Tylik Williams has to dent the line and shift a gap. DJ Reader must anchor and refuse displacement. Hold ground. Create stalemates on first down. When the Steelers get behind the sticks, their structure frays. The Lions had chances against the Rams with two errant snaps. They failed to cash those in. That margin disappears against a run-first team that stays on schedule. Rush Plan, Personnel Groupings, and a Quiet Worry on Offense The pass rush approach needs urgency. “Crush the can” works when the quarterback stays inside the tackles. It did last night against Aaron Rodgers, who manipulates within the pocket. But it has to arrive faster. On second watch, Hutchinson’s down-to-down work held up better than it seemed live, interception aside. He still needs help. Rams 13 personnel buried edges with three tight ends. Pittsburgh doesn’t major in 13, but their 12 and 22 looks will still stress contain and set edges. The Lions must convert pressures into negative plays, not just squeeze the pocket. The quiet concern is Detroit’s offense versus the Steelers front. Pittsburgh bullied Miami even without T.J. Watt, whose status bears watching after a reported collapsed lung. Regardless, that front won with power and timing. If Detroit’s protection and run game resemble the Rams outing, drives will stall. The remedy is familiar: win first down, keep the playbook open, and make Pittsburgh defend width and speed. Do that, and the NFL week ahead shifts back to Detroit’s terms. Fail at the line of scrimmage again, and the result will look too much like Sunday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC40xwBEd2Q #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #runfits #interiorcontrol #12personnel #22personnel #chipsanddoubles #crushthecan #behindthesticks #winfirstdown #pressuresintonegativeplays #t.j.wattstatus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Third-Quarter Meltdown at SoFi The Detroit Lions had a halftime lead at SoFi and left with a lesson. The NFL punishes teams that nap after the break, and the third quarter did the damage. Three straight three-and-outs. Short fields for Los Angeles. The defense buckled. The Rams took whatever they wanted. A slip in the postgame summed it up, calling it a three-quarter game before catching it. That is how it played. The game swung in 15 minutes, and the Lions could not claw back. This was not a one-off blip. It mirrored the recent pattern. Since early October the Lions have whipsawed win to loss to win again. The common thread is the third quarter and the struggle to steady the wheel when the script flips. Against the Rams, the reset out of the locker room never came. The Lions waited until the fourth to find rhythm. Too late. Identity Crisis on Offense The Detroit Lions offense lacks a reliable backbone. In the first half, they found it. David Montgomery churned tough yards. Six carries. Thirty-one yards. Early-down success. Manageable thirds. That is how you protect your quarterback against a strong Rams front and a top scoring defense. Then halftime hit, and the plan dissolved. Early-down chuck and duck. Long thirds. Montgomery vanished. Jahmyr Gibbs struggled to dent the wall. The approach drifted from what worked to what played into Los Angeles’ hands. The play-caller change was supposed to clarify things. The overall numbers still look fine on paper, especially scoring. But how the Lions get there shifts week to week and quarter to quarter. That is why the roller coaster persists. This team needs a repeatable core idea. Run to set terms. Stay on schedule. Use play action off that. Until the Lions lock into that, the variance will keep biting good game plans in half. Trenches in Trouble Grey underscores the most urgent problem - the offensive line. Tristan Colon is not the answer at left guard. The film and the result say it. If Christian Mahogany is not ready, Miles Frasier has to be the next man up. Graham Glasgow is gutting it out. Taylor Decker is playing through a shoulder. Penei Sewell gets his ankle wrapped every week while carrying the load. The unit is battered, and it shows when the rotation hits the bottom of the depth chart. The offseason priority is clear, but December is here. Protection and the run game are the lifelines for the identity this offense keeps misplacing. Get Montgomery back in early. Make life simpler for everyone across the front. Pass Rush Plan and Secondary Strain The defensive line plan needs a reset. Time to pressure is among the league’s worst, and it played out in Los Angeles. Aidan Hutchinson leads in pressures, but they arrive late. That invites disaster for a man-coverage secondary. Puka Nacua and the Rams feasted while Matthew Stafford sat clean and patient. You cannot ask corners to shadow NFL separators for that long and expect a win rate. Fix it with design, not just effort. Heat early. Change launch points. Win on first down to unlock the rush. If the front speeds up the clock, the coverage can breathe. If not, the Lions will keep chasing games they should control. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb1cCPeMh-U #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #third-quartermeltdown #threestraightthree-and-outs #shortfieldsforlosangeles #ramsfront #topscoringdefense #offensivelinedepth #tristancolon #davidmontgomery #jahmyrgibbs #aidanhutchinson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First-Half Firepower, Then Silence Monday in Detroit arrived without the noise. The Detroit Lions fell to the Rams on Sunday, and the tape split in two. The first half looked like the team that bullied the NFL last year. Jared Goff was sharp. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams found space. The blocking held up. Aidan Hutchinson stole a possession with an interception. Even with dodgy officiating, the Lions pushed to a 24-14 lead. A late Rams field goal trimmed it before the break, but the Detroit Lions still felt in control. That control vanished after halftime. Three possessions. Nine plays. Three three-and-outs. With a penalty factored in, the Lions finished the third quarter at minus-four yards on those drives. The Rams defense surged. The run game stalled. Jameer Gibbs never found daylight and bounced runs into trouble. Tristan Colon struggled at left guard. The call is clear: the line needs Christian Mahogany back. When you cannot protect Goff or run with any reliability, good NFL teams bury you. The Rams did. Edges Exposed, Back End Missing Matthew Stafford ignited in the second half. Los Angeles attacked the Lions where they are weakest right now, at cornerback and safety. The Blake Corum touchdown came when Rock Ya-Sin crashed too hard inside, surrendering the edge. That was emblematic. Missed assignments piled up. Beyond Hutchinson’s takeaway, the pass rush did not change the math. The Rams looked like the number one seed, because they played like it. The absences hurt. The defense is built for back-end playmakers to close windows and erase mistakes. Kirby Joseph and Brian Branch were not out there. Eric Hallett was thrust into his first meaningful NFL minutes and battled, but he is not an All-Pro. The result was a secondary asked to survive on an island. It did not. Dan Campbell’s Reality Check Dan Campbell captured the mood postgame. The Lions saw the top of the NFC and are not there right now. That tracks with this season’s pattern. At times, Detroit looks like a contender. Last week against Dallas, the ceiling flashed. At other times, like the third quarter Sunday, the floor drops out. Consistency has not arrived, and the margin for error has vanished. Three Games Left, Narrow Path There are three games left. Win all three and the Detroit Lions should reach the postseason. They can do it. Pittsburgh is on the slate and should be beatable, but nothing is guaranteed with this form. The blueprint is simple. Stabilize left guard. Get healthier on the back end. Let Goff, St. Brown, and J Mo dictate tempo early and often. Let Hutchinson’s playmaking spark the rush. The Detroit Lions Podcast Daily framed it well: macro truths first, details to follow. The truth is blunt. The Rams were better. Detroit must turn flashes into four quarters, or January will slip away. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKFSx_eFA0E #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #aidanhutchinson #jaredgoff #amon-rast.brown #jamesonwilliams #jameergibbs #tristancolon #christianmahogany #rockya-sin #matthewstafford #blakecorumtouchdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit Lions vs Los Angeles Rams Post Game Show: Late Season Spotlight at SoFi A Familiar Storyline in a Crucial NFL Match-up The Detroit Lions traveled west in December to face the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, and the setting alone ensured this would be one of the most discussed games of the late NFL season. On our post game show, the focus turns not just to what happened on the field, but what it means for Detroit as the calendar moves closer to January. Any Lions versus Rams match-up immediately brings the quarterback conversation to the forefront. Jared Goff returning to face his former team and Matthew Stafford lining up against the franchise where he built his legacy creates a narrative that never fully goes away. This game provided another chapter in that story, and our show will unpack how each quarterback handled the moment, the pressure, and the game plan built around them. Beyond the quarterbacks, this contest tested Detroit’s ability to execute in a challenging road environment. SoFi Stadium can be unforgiving, and the Rams defense has a way of speeding up decisions with pressure and disguise. We will examine how the Lions managed protection, whether the run game found traction, and how Detroit adjusted when momentum shifted. What We Will Break Down on the Post Game Show Tonight’s Detroit Lions post game show will dive deep into the Detroit Lions vs Los Angeles Rams match-up with a focus on several key areas from this Game 14 stretch of the season: Quarterback play under pressure: How did Goff handle the Rams pass rush and coverage looks? How did Stafford respond when Detroit’s defense forced him off schedule? Offensive balance and execution: Did the Lions establish rhythm through the ground game, or did they lean on timing routes and quick throws to move the chains? Defensive discipline: The Rams thrive on misdirection and play action. We will analyze how Detroit’s linebackers and secondary handled those challenges. Coaching decisions: Late season games often hinge on situational calls. We will discuss fourth down choices, red zone strategy, and clock management. Physicality and depth: December football exposes roster depth. Which Lions stepped up when the game demanded it? These are the conversations that define the post game show, going beyond the box score to understand the flow and feel of the game. Listener Calls and Detroit Lions Reaction As always, the heart of the post game show comes from the fans. We will open the phone lines and take listener calls to capture the full Detroit Lions reaction to this match-up. Whether it was satisfaction with how Detroit handled a familiar opponent or frustration with missed opportunities, the fan perspective brings the conversation to life. This game against the Rams is more than a reunion story. It is a measuring point for a Lions team navigating the final stretch of the season with postseason goals firmly in view. How Detroit performed at SoFi Stadium offers insight into its readiness for what lies ahead. Join us for the Detroit Lions vs Los Angeles Rams Post Game Show as we break down the performances, the decisions, and the reactions that shape another pivotal moment in the NFL season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug0WAKvAGF4 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, #LionsWin, #LionsRams, #Goff, #Stafford, #NFLWeek15, #SoFiStadium, #LionsFootball Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Statement win sets up a pivotal Week 15 The Detroit Lions are back in the win column. A Thursday night win over the Cowboys steadied the season and kept the heat off. The offense looked like itself again. The defense forced turnovers, hit Dak Prescott, and finished plays with sacks. That combination travels in the NFL, and it mattered here. An in-game twist changed the shape of Dallas’ attack. CeeDee Lamb exited, and the Cowboys struggled to land counters without their top weapon. Detroit seized control with pressure and opportunism. The front won early downs. Short fields and extra possessions followed. The result pushed the Lions forward and put a dent in Dallas’ postseason hopes. The Detroit Lions Podcast framed it like a play-in vibe. Not literally, with four games left, but close. A crisis averted. A win that reset the pulse and moved focus to Week 15 versus the Rams. Secondary in flux after Branch’s Achilles The price was heavy. Branch suffered an Achilles injury. It’s brutal, not only for his talent but his versatility. He can trigger downhill, play single high, rotate as a split safety, and man up in the slot. That toolbox is hard to replace on the back end. Safety remains unsettled. There is doubt about a Kirby Joseph return. The room has seen looks at veterans such as Jalen Mills and Damontae Kazee. Avonte Maddox appears first in line for more work. He flashed against Dallas. He closed space, nearly stole a pick, and read routes with confidence. One chest-high deflection could have been six the other way. Another break on a tight end route forced a modest gain instead of a chunk. Depth took more hits. Thomas Harper is in concussion protocol after a scary moment. That leaves Detroit balancing personnel with structure. There is a path here. Earlier this season, a shorthanded group versus Washington leaned into more zone concepts. It wasn’t simple, but it fit the lineup and looked sharp. With DJ Reed and Terrion Arnold back, the defense leaned heavily on man coverage again. That works if quick pressure arrives. Without it, the risk spikes. The question now: blend? Dial up zone on early downs, sprinkle man on money downs, and let the rush dictate. With Branch out, the call sheet must protect leverage and angles while keeping the pass rush connected to coverage. What travels to Rams week Week 15 brings the Rams and a fresh stress test. Detroit’s pass rush just changed a game. It needs to do it again. Turnovers fueled the win over Dallas. They must show up on the road. The coverage plan is the hinge. Maddox’s snaps matter. Reed and Arnold’s technique and eye discipline matter. So does tackling after the catch. The formula is clear. Start fast. Hit the quarterback. Win takeaways. Keep the secondary out of isolation for long stretches. Do that, and the Detroit Lions keep stacking wins in December. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5_BozdF7ac #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #dakprescott #ceedeelamb #week15atrams #brianbranchachilles #kirbyjoseph #jalenmills #damontaekazee #avontemaddox #djreed #terrionarnold Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rams Week Arrives With a Thin Secondary The Detroit Lions turn from a satisfying win over Dallas to a brutal test. The Los Angeles Rams bring Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams, and Puka Nakua. That is elite NFL firepower. Detroit’s secondary is shredded. Terrion Arnold is on IR. Brian Branch is out for the season after Achilles surgery. The Detroit Lions will miss his burst and instincts. Eight to twelve months is the window. Explosiveness is the concern. Kirby Joseph has not played since Cincinnati. A knee has stalled him for two months. It is extremely unlikely he plays this week. Even if he suits up, rust would be real. That leaves a patchwork back end. DJ Reed is back and looked spryer against Dallas. Amik Robertson has been targeted and tested. Some of that is opponent selection. Some of that is the lack of reliable safety help. Rakusin can fight through contact. He can body up bigger wideouts like Nakua. He has seen Adams before. There is a path to competence on the outside if leverage and help are right. Depth could matter. Names like Dorsey and Whiteside linger as emergency snaps. Thomas Harper has played decent ball and may need to stabilize the middle. Stafford, Nakua, Adams vs What’s Left The Detroit Lions Podcast focused on a simple truth. Stafford punishes hesitation. The Rams offensive line is steady. Alrick Jackson is playing fantastic at tackle. That buys time for layered concepts. It also stresses communication for new safety pairings. With Branch and Joseph out, spacing must be clean. Angles must be precise. Miss a tackle and a chunk play follows. Context matters. The Rams play on Thursday night against Seattle. Short week. Division pressure. That can influence game flow. If the Detroit Lions jump early, Los Angeles might conserve for the NFC West fight ahead. No one is suggesting they look past Detroit. But the clock and next week exist. Start fast and force a choice. How Detroit Can Steer This Game The Cowboys arrived hot. They could not keep up with the Lions. That is the template. Score first. Make the Rams one dimensional. Then protect the corners with smart safety landmarks. Keep Nakua in front. Make Adams win with contested catches. Rally and tackle. Reed must stack another clean game. Robertson needs better bracket timing. Rakusin has to turn physicality into reroutes, not flags. Harper’s consistency matters on third down. Communication is the currency. One bust against Stafford can flip the script. This is not pretty. It is resilient. The Detroit Lions can live with completions if they choke off yards after catch and finish red zone snaps. A couple of early stops, one takeaway, and the offense can tilt the field. December football is about surviving matchups. The path is narrow, but it is there for Detroit Lions fans to believe in this week against the Rams. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEgkNrvNoEU #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #matthewstafford #pukanakua #davanteadams #alrickjackson #ramsoffensiveline #shortweekvsseattle #brianbranchachillessurgery #terrionarnoldir #kirbyjosephknee #djreed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dallas Lessons, December Stakes December football sets the stage. The Detroit Lions enter the final four-week stretch back on a Sunday rhythm with the Los Angeles Rams looming. The Dallas tape offered a clear tell. The NFL’s number one scoring offense looked like itself again. The run game gave the passing game teeth. David Montgomery logged six carries for 60 yards. Ten yards a pop signals clean creases and a line winning at the snap. Jameer Gibbs wrecked space as a receiver. Amon-Ra St. Brown hovered near 100 yards. Jared Goff settled in after a shaky start and finished 25 of 34 for 309. The offensive line needed a beat to sort the rush, then found a groove. Myles Frasier debuted at tackle and delivered a mixed bag that leaned encouraging. The lesson is simple. When the Lions run game finds daylight, everything else breathes. The Montgomery-Goff Efficiency Link Numbers over narrative, and the numbers are blunt. When Montgomery runs efficiently, Goff follows with precision. That pairing has defined this Detroit Lions offense all year. Examples stack easily. Dallas: Montgomery 6 for 60. Goff 25 of 34 for 309. Chicago early: Montgomery 11 for 57. Goff 23 of 28 for 334. Cincinnati: Montgomery 18 for 65. Goff 19 of 23 for 258. Washington: Montgomery 15 for 71. Goff 25 of 32 for 320. Baltimore: Montgomery 12 for 151, including a 72-yarder. Goff 20 of 28 for 202. Volume is not the point. Efficiency is. Montgomery does not need a highway. He needs a crease. When he gets it, play action sharpens, early downs stay on schedule, and Goff’s outcomes tilt to quick decisions and high-percentage throws. The rotation with Gibbs keeps the offense balanced and prevents predictable sequences that put the unit behind the sticks. Rams Week: The Tell to Watch The Rams conversation often centers on Matthew Stafford and Puka Nakua. Their passing game draws headlines. The defense deserves equal attention. That unit is tough and better than the chatter suggests. This week comes down to the Detroit Lions offensive line. If the interior moves bodies early and tackles handle speed, Montgomery’s first few touches will show it. Four yards here, seven there. Cutbacks available. If those creases appear, expect Goff to operate on time, Gibbs to stress matchups in space, and Amon-Ra to gash zones on option routes. Watch the first three Lions runs. If they gain efficient yards, the script opens. Play action bites. Screens and counters puncture the rush. Special teams or a short field can tilt the math. If the run game stalls, the Rams defense can dictate rhythm. Reinforcements might be on the way. The core truth remains. In this matchup, Montgomery’s efficiency is the early tell. The Detroit Lions Podcast will have more as expansion rolls on, but the equation is already on tape. Create creases. Keep Goff clean. Let the offense breathe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R--tDXoHBxc #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #offensiveline #davidmontgomery #jaredgoff #jameergibbs #amon-rast.brown #mylesfrasier #losangelesrams #matthewstafford #pukanakua #ramsdefense Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit Lions Make A Statement When They Had To The Detroit Lions did not just beat the Dallas Cowboys. They answered a question the rest of the NFL was starting to whisper: could this team still reach the gear it showed last year when everything mattered. A 44–30 win over Dallas at Ford Field in a must win spot is not perfection, but it is proof of concept. This is what the Lions offense is supposed to look like when it breathes, and what this defense looks like when it steals possessions instead of just surviving. Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs and an Offensive Line That Finally Settled This felt like a reset game for Jared Goff. After weeks of interior chaos and happy feet, he played like a quarterback who trusted what was in front of him, finishing with a 121 passer rating and command of the entire field. He did not just lock onto Amon Ra St. Brown. He spread it around. St. Brown went 6 for 92 on one good ankle. Jameson Williams added 7 for 96 in what might be his most complete game as a pro. The star, though, continues to be Jahmyr Gibbs. He is no longer just a fun wrinkle in the playbook. He is the problem defenses cannot solve. Seventy seven receiving yards, a series of ankle erasers in space, and the constant threat that any touch might become a house call. This is the first Lions player since Barry Sanders who genuinely makes you lean forward every time he has the ball. Quietly, the big shift up front was Miles Frazier. Once the rookie stepped in at left guard for Tristan Colon, the protection and run fits stopped looking like a fire drill. Frazier buried people on duo and inside zone, climbed to the second level with bad intentions, and gave both Goff and David Montgomery room to operate. Monty responded with 60 hard rushing yards and looked far closer to the back we saw last season than the guy fighting for air against Philadelphia. If this is who the offensive line can be with Frazier settling in and the tackles relatively healthy, Detroit’s playbook opens back up. Shot plays to Williams, option routes for St. Brown, and Gibbs isolated on linebackers is how the Lions offense stresses an entire defense. Defense, Special Teams and the NFC Playoff Picture The Lions defense did not dominate Dallas statistically, but it did what great units do in big games. It turned the ball over. Fourteen points came directly off Cowboys mistakes. Jack Campbell flew around again, DJ Reed battled with CeeDee Lamb until the concussion, and the front made Dak Prescott uncomfortable enough to force high risk throws. Special teams finally flipped a field too. Tom Kennedy looked like he had been waiting five years for those returns, hitting seams at full speed and giving the offense short grass it has been missing all season. That is how complementary football is supposed to look in a real playoff race. In the NFC playoff picture, the win keeps the Detroit Lions alive for more than just a wild card berth. It keeps pressure on Green Bay and Chicago, and it turns next week’s trip to play the Los Angeles Rams into a leverage game instead of a funeral. Run the ball the way Carolina just did against the Rams, protect Goff the way they did against Dallas, and Detroit can turn this one statement into the start of a December run. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvYN107viHw 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, #LionsWin, #LionsMakeAStatement #GoffLockedIn #GibbsElectric #FrazierBreakout #LionsPlayoffPush #JamoStepsUp #StBrownBattles #CowboysFallInDetroit #ComplementaryFootball #FordFieldEnergy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices