DETROIT – The world is not ending.
This is how the regular season starts for the Detroit Lions though, not with a bang but a whimper in week 1.
The Packers sent the first message in the NFC North with a 27-13 win and it’s clear the back-to-back division champs have work to do before christening homefield next Sunday against the Bears.
Here are four takeaways from the opener at Lambeau Field.
You can’t win if you don’t score (or move the ball)
The Lions struggles come back to offensive inefficiency, particularly inside the 20-yard line.
According to NextGen Stats, Jared Goff averaged just 3.3 yards per completion, his fifth lowest mark since joining the Lions in 2021. Ball carriers were hit behind the line of scrimmage on 16 of 22 carries, the most allowed during the Dan Campbell era. Opportunities existed to score, but converting just one of four redzone possessions for a touchdown won’t cut it against any opponent.
“That’s not even close to good enough,” Goff said after going 31-of-39 with 225 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. “Not even remotely close. I thought we moved the ball decently, it’s just once we got to the redzone we couldn’t punch it in.”
“We’ve got to get points. That’s the main thing,” newly extended wide receiver Jameson Williams concurred. “We’re going to correct it though. We’ll get back in the lab tomorrow, tonight, watch the film, do whatever we have to do.”
Packing a Punch
A significant portion of pregame hype centered on defense, especially the return of Lions’ edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson from injury and the Packers’ trade for elite lineman Micah Parsons.
Detroit’s line failed to bring serious pressure and never sacked Green Bay quarterback Jordon Love. As NextGen Stats notes, Parsons and the Packers D blitzed Goff on just five of his 43 drop backs, still managing four sacks while thwarting downfield plays all afternoon. Only eight passes were even attempted over 10 yards and just one play broke free for a gain of more than 20 yards.
“Sometimes it’s a little tough to see [what exactly went wrong],” wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown said. “We got down there quite a few times and didn’t get seven points. That’s the goal. If we get seven, the game changes for us. They did a great job of keeping us out of the end zone. I know the coaches will be on it. We’ll be on it. We’ll be better.”
Life Goes on Win or Lose, With or Without You
Neither offensive coordinator John Morton nor defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard presided over stalwart units in their debuts. Outgoing OC Ben Johnson makes his return to Detroit next Sunday as head coach of the Chicago Bears, a matchup surely circled for fans and teams alike.
After a paltry showing with 200 yards passing and 46 yards rushing, Dan Campbell couldn’t help but recall Johnson’s rocky transition to the gig in Detroit.
“In 2022, we started 1-6. I think people were asking me to fire Ben,” Campbell said. “It took us a while to get our feet, to get our bearing. But you learn every time you go through these and you work together, and you find the right flow.”
“It’s not the end of the road,” linebacker Derrick Barnes assured after a six-tackle outing. “It’s the first game of the season. We’ve got a long way to go. We don’t hang our heads. We know what we’re about. We know what we do and the type of people we have.”
Welcome to the NFL, Isaac TeSlaa
Playing for the Detroit Lions is already a dream come true for Hudsonville native and third round draft pick Isaac TeSlaa. His first career catch—an acrobatic, one-handed 13-yard touchdown earning praise as a frontrunner for catch of the year—is proof the Arkansas alum’s preseason prowess is the real deal.
“It was great to score a touchdown, but it would have been great if it was in a different situation,” the rookie wideout admitted. “I guarantee you it’s just small things. It wasn’t anything major that was really giving us trouble. It’s about going back, watching tape and cleaning things up going forward to next week.”