NOW WHAT?
The Detroit Lions are considered irrelevant in this division. Everyone is concerned about the legacy of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. They stare in awe at the dominance of Khalil Mack. They believe in the management of the Vikings.
But with the Detroit Lions, the only mention is that they were a mess, are a mess, and will continue to be a mess, until someone gets it right. Next year could very well set them in the right direction, but it is more likely to be another misstep without a huge acquisition of talent.
Did anyone think this team would be out of contention by Thanksgiving? Officially being eliminated from the playoffs this past week is just the hopes of some slim math. When Chicago beat them that second time and dropped their record to 4 and 7, the season had officially ended.
Not because they couldn’t (foolishly) eek out another win or two, but because they had demonstrated they weren’t a playoff caliber team. The offense is a mess. The defense may have shown improvement – but too little, too late. And the injuries were starting to pile up quick.
What result will be able to take this team away from their inconsequential status – a playoff berth? Not sure that will be enough. Can one off-season fix all of the problems on this roster – and finally deliver a division title in Detroit? It is doubtful because of the competition this franchise faces.
But for Quinn, Patricia, and even Stafford, they must find a way to overcome their opponents. Patience has run out, and this team needs to show results. But, in the end, if they don’t, it is the Detroit fans that get stuck with yet another rebuild. And, for now, there is no end in sight to the irrelevance of the Detroit Lions.