ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) 鈥� After soaring to the NFC鈥檚 top playoff seed last season, the Detroit Lions this year, and they could end up at the bottom of the NFC North.
This was not the expected outcome for a team that won 15 games last season and started the year as a Super Bowl favorite.
The Lions (8-8) were bounced from playoff contention Thursday with at Minnesota. Detroit has lost three straight games for the first time since 2022.
Coach Dan Campbell’s team 鈥� which lost both coordinators from last year’s 15-2 squad 鈥� is struggling on both sides of the ball. Detroit has failed to rush for at least 100 yards in three straight games and the defense has given up an average of nearly 32 points over the last six.
鈥淚t sucks,鈥� quarterback Jared Goff said of missing the playoffs. 鈥淲e鈥檒l reflect on the whole season after next week, but yeah, it sucks.鈥�
With the season ending earlier than anyone in Detroit wanted, Campbell suggested that major changes are possible.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to be looking at a lot,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to be looking at a lot of things, because I do not like being home for the playoffs, and I know our guys don鈥檛, either. Whenever you lose, man, it鈥檚 takes a village. Everyone is involved, including myself. I鈥檓 always going to look at myself first.鈥�
Campbell intends to set a high bar as the Lions prepare for their season finale at division-leading Chicago.
鈥淲e got one game to go,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 expect everybody to be ready to go when we get back in a couple of days, be locked in and be ready when we get on a plane to go to Chicago. You know, to be locked in one more time. That鈥檚 what I expect and then we鈥檒l go from there.鈥�
What鈥檚 working
The Lions have 48 sacks on the season, their most since producing 50 in 1999. Detroit totaled seven sacks against Minnesota, its most since having eight against the Vikings in 2014. Aidan Hutchinson had two sacks to reach a career-high 13 1/2 on the year.
What needs help
The Lions’ offensive line, once the catalyst of their rise to the NFL’s elite, has become a liability. The line’s decline due to injuries, illness and lack of depth was on full display as Minnesota’s pressure overwhelmed a patchwork front that surrendered five sacks, eight tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits.
Stock up
Wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa continues his impressive rookie season. He caught his sixth touchdown pass of the year, a high-point grab in the back of the end zone. TeSlaa set a franchise record for the most games (six) with a touchdown catch by a rookie wide receiver.
Stock down
Goff had one of his worst games with the Lions. He accounted for five of Detroit鈥檚 six turnovers, throwing back-to-back interceptions in the third quarter and losing three fumbles. The Lions had only eight giveaways on the season entering the game.
Injuries
Linebacker Alex Anzalone and safety Thomas Harper left Thursday’s game with concussions. Defensive tackle Alim McNeil aggravated an abdominal injury. Pro Bowl offensive tackle Penei Sewell briefly exited with an injury but returned.
Key number
3 鈥� Minnesota finished with 3 net passing yards 鈥� the second鈥慺ewest by a victorious team in the past 42 seasons. The Houston Texans beat the Oakland Raiders 23-14 with minus-5 passing yards on Dec. 3, 2006.
Next steps
To avoid going from first to worst in the NFC North, the Lions need to beat the Bears and coach Ben Johnson, their former offensive coordinator.
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