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Detroit Lions: Too many problems to overcome?

By Steven Mullenax

BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 3: Quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions grabs his hand after being tackled in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 3, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 3: Quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions grabs his hand after being tackled in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 3, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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With their postseason dreams all but shattered, the Detroit Lions appear to be a team with simply too many problems to solve going into next year.

Coming off two playoff appearances in their last three seasons, and following their 3-1 start to this year, the Detroit Lions seemed destined to do great things in 2017. And why not?

Having locked up quarterback Matthew Stafford for the foreseeable future with a massive six-year, $135 million deal prior to the start of the season, the Motor City allowed their best player to focus on nothing but football success in Detroit. This was supposed to be the Lions’ season.

But instead of shedding that “Same Old Lions” moniker, if this year has done anything, it further proved this team deserves that label. And at the center of the frustration is head coach Jim Caldwell. Despite winning 33 of his 60 regular season games in Detroit, all fans seem to focus on is his 0-2 record in the playoffs.

Of course, the fact that Caldwell probably has the most bland personality in the NFL doesn’t help. But prior to this season, the 62-year old head coach has posted a winning record four out his first six seasons at the helm of a franchise, with his first head coaching stint lasting three years with the Indianapolis Colts.

But Caldwell and his coaching staff are only a small part of he problem in Detroit. The lack of a running game, key injuries, poor offensive line play, inconsistent wide receiver play, a lack of roster depth and an inability to stop the run on defense are just a few of the issues that come to mind.

With this many problems, it’s no wonder why some fans simply want the Lions to pack it in with four games to go. Even if Detroit is somehow able to find their way to the postseason, no one gives them much hope of actually winning a game in the playoffs. Something they haven’t done since 1991.

Next: Replace Jim Caldwell or is more house cleaning needed?

The Detroit Lions 44-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens was a perfect metaphor for their 2017 regular season. Slow starts, dropped passes, poor O-line play, no running game and giving up 44 points to a team that only averaged 21.4 points per game prior to facing the Lions. It simply appears that all of these problems have just become far too much to overcome with four games left on the schedule.

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