6 reasons why the Lions will make the playoffs in 2020

Bob Quinn, Matt Patricia are on the Hot Seat

Nothing motivates like believing your job may be on the line. And while it appears to be business as usual for general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia, the onus to make their team a playoff contender in Year Three looms large.

Quinn and Patricia knew it would take time to change the culture in Detroit. But I doubt either thought the team’s record would spiral downward the way it has. And neither may have the answer of how to recover from the tailspin.

So, the duo simply kept executing the plan they set forth two years ago, getting rid of players who don’t fit their culture regardless of talent and bringing in those who do. That has resulted in several ex-Patriots calling Detroit home.

This could be the season the plan finally clicks. But you have to believe both Quinn and Patricia will do anything they can this year to appease Lions’ ownership and earn themselves another season in Motown.

For Quinn, that could mean making some more risky roster moves if the Lions don’t appear to be going in the right direction early. For Patricia, the rigid, headstrong disciple of Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick could finally decide to cater to the talents of his players rather than trying to force them into his system. And that forced flexibility could result in a playoff berth.