Detroit Lions: Will Matt Patricia be gone before the season is over?

The Lions have enough talent to be competitive

There are some pundits who believe that the 2020 Detroit Lions are ready to win the NFC North and perhaps even gather only their second playoff victory since they won the NFL title game back in 1957. The majority of prognosticators, however, believe that the Lions are destined to once again succumb to their history of underachieving and continue to dwell in the cellar.

When general manager Bob Quinn dismissed former head coach Jim Caldwell on New Years’ day 2018 and replaced him with his long-time friend and fellow former Patriot, Matt Patricia, the mandate was that 9-7 wasn’t good enough.

Yet no one was notified that the hiring of Matt Patricia also meant a complete re-build as well. In the two years that Patricia has run this team, they have a combined record of 9-22-1. It seems reasonable to believe that if nine wins in one season aren’t good enough, then nine total wins in two seasons certainly isn’t acceptable.

After last year’s debacle, Martha Firestone Ford made the mandate that the 2020 Detroit Lions had to show results on the field and at least play ‘meaningful games in December’. In other words, they are expected to be competitive and in the playoff race.

Given the state of the current roster and barring the injury bug or Covid-19 wrecking havoc to the lineup, that’s a reasonable mandate. This Lions team does need to be deeper, but it is talented enough that if they execute their game plans, they will be competitive and win games.

If they do not execute, as has been the problem especially on defense over Matt Patricia’s tenure, then there is a good reason for Patricia to be concerned about his job.

This past week, cbssports.com made three bold predictions about the Lions for the coming season. Two of them were quite positive making one believe that they must think Detroit’s offense will be fairly formidable.

The other bold prediction was that Sheila Ford Hamp will do some roaring of her own and fire Matt Patricia before the season is over. The question is; would she really make an in-season move like that?