Detroit Lions: Will Matt Patricia be gone before the season is over?
By Robert Jones
It’s the playoff race or bust for the Detroit Lions. Will those expectations to contend bust Matt Patricia before the season is over?
The Detroit Lions operate differently than normal NFL franchises. When there seems to be a clear cut answer to a question, other teams make a decision and move on. However, that is not always the case in Motown.
Over the last 60 plus years, the Lions haven’t gotten every decision wrong, but almost all of the big ones have been. That’s how this franchise has written the most futile history in the NFL over that time period.
They have also traditionally taken their time to make decisions. This of course applies to the entire tenure of the Ford family’s ownership.
William Clay Ford was famous for his loyalty to employees. General managers, when the team has employed them, and head coaches have traditionally been given a long leash. The opportunity to sink to depths beyond imagination seemed to be the right of passage for this organization.
Just consider how many times the fans and media have voiced their opinion about the need to move on from a player, coach, or general manager. The sheer volume of public opinion about the Detroit Lions alone would break the back of Atlas. Yet the Ford family always moves at their own pace no matter what.
Now despite how often the Lions have made mistakes, the fans and media certainly haven’t always been right either. The Honolulu Blue and Silver faithful are passionate but very low on patience.
And who can blame a fan base for being impatient when every three or five-year plan has failed. Who can blame a fan base who always holds out hope for ‘next year’, but next year never comes?
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while. For the Lions that nut was a playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys on January 5th, 1992. One week later that nut was shattered in Washington by a final score of 41-10. That lone playoff win represents the solitary high point over the last 63 years for this franchise.
The question heading into the 2020 NFL season is; are the Lions finally ready to match that high point? If not outright top it?