Detroit Lions: Everyone needs to show improvement after 0-4 start

The Lions have to make consistent progress

Now let me be very clear. Dan Campbell has been very aggressive and I don’t have a problem with that. The missed opportunities that could have at least been field goals hurt the Lions and the final fourth down when a field goal would have cut the lead to seven was the final straw.

However, I think we all understand that the Lions aren’t going anywhere this season, and unlike in another year or two when we expect the roster to be much more competitive, this is the time to take chances when Campbell is playing with house money.

There is a certain attitude Campbell is trying to build. Yet sooner or later, the Lions have to win a game or two in order for his team to gain confidence in what he is building.

If the Lions finish with the first pick in the draft, then so be it. But they have to at least be able to make consistent progress. They have to be able to achieve the ultimate measure of success by actually winning a game or two in order to validate what Dan Campbell is building.

That game in Chicago was absolutely a winnable game. Give the Bears their due for performing better than the Lions, but while the performance of Detroit’s Windy City rivals did affect the effectiveness of the Honolulu Blue and Silver, they made plenty of mistakes on their own.

Both on the field and on the sidelines.

While I definitely don’t want to reel in Campbell’s aggressiveness, the Lions have to make improvements and then build on them instead of regressing.

No amount of brilliant moves will make the Lions into winners this season, but if they can make small improvements like they did against the Ravens, then actually back that up with a performance that is incrementally better, both by the players and coaches then that will be progress.

This season is a washout. The Lions aren’t capable of competing for anything beyond the first pick in next April’s draft. More talent next season will help the cause but changing the culture starts now. Because everyone needs a lot of improvement.