How Can the Lions Bounce Back After a Divisional Loss to the Vikings?
After a divisional loss to the Vikings in Week Nine, the Lions look to bounce back this week against the Commanders. Detroit will travel to Washington and try to beat an already broken-down Commanders team. In the third quarter of their game against the Seahawks, Jayden Daniels went down with a gruesome elbow injury. Veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota stepped in for Daniels the rest of the game. Washington went on to lose to Seattle in that game, 38-14. Is Daniel the key to the success of this Commander's team?
The Lions need to shake off the disappointing loss to the Vikings and flip the heads to this week's game. They need to mentally reset and prepare for a Commanders team with a new identity. Dan Campbell has emphasized resilience all season; this will be yet another test of that mindset. The leaders of the locker room will also help Campbell get his word across.
Jared Goff and the offense must clean up mistakes, especially on third downs and in the red zone. Whether it's not converting on fourth down or settling for field goals, those mistakes are what change the course of the game. Goff’s favorite target, Amon-Ra St. Brown, needs to get involved early. Expect short, quick passes over the middle to get him into space. This should not be a game that the Lions should worry too much about. With an injured Commanders team, this game should be over by halftime if Detroit plays it right.
The defense struggled with coverage and tackling against Minnesota; granted, they were covering Justin Jefferson while having to keep an eye out for Minnesota’s other weapons. Look out for Aidan Hutchinson and the front line to pressure Mariota. Keeping him inside the pocket will help limit broken-play and scrambling opportunities. Limiting explosive plays will be critical; the Lions cannot afford to give up another 30+ points in the game and expect to come out on top.
A bounce-back win keeps the Lions in the NFC North race and shows they can respond to adversity. A loss might push them back down the slope that makes it hard to come back from. It is less about perfection in this game and more about proving consistency, something playoff teams must prove in the regular season. If the Lions want a chance to play in January, they need to start showing more consistency.
