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Lions’ critical, untimely errors costly in opening loss to Green Bay Packers

A breakdown of 5 main reasons for the disappointing opener

Carrying big expectations and back-to-back NFC North titles, the Detroit Lions opened the season with a thud, a big one.

Detroit snapped a 3-game win streak at Lambeau Field with a 27-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

“We didn’t play good enough, we didn’t coach good enough, including me, and we didn’t play good enough,’’ coach Dan Campbell said.

The coach told the team it’s tough to go in and certainly not play close to your best game.

“You hate starting the season out with a loss and as bad as that is, it’s not what it appears to be,’’ Campbell said. “So like I told them, let’s clean up the tape. We made some critical errors at the worst times possible. You don’t do those, you take those out of the equation; it looks different . you feel like it’s going to be a totally different scenario but we did make those critical errors at the worst time.’’

The offense, which didn’t score a touchdown until the waning minutes, could not get in gear.

“We never really got in a rhythm. We did for a couple of drives where we got it down there, then we didn’t finish. We weren’t able to finish with 7. We had to settle for 3, then we had an interception,’’ Campbell said. “Other than that we never got into a rhythm.”

The coach said he thought they would play cleaner but the mistakes are all correctable.

“Our players are accountable, they’re ready. Nobody takes it worse than they do,’’ Campbell said. “That’s the good news, we’ve got the right dudes.’’

FIVE REASONS FOR THE LOSS:

ONE: The new-look offensive line did not get the job done. Not only is the standard high for this unit, but they faced newest Packer Micah Parsons who moved along the line when he was in the game. As expected, he was a huge presence. It was a lot to handle for rookie right guard Tate Ratledge and left guard Christian Mahogany. Center Graham Glasgow was adjusting to taking over at center too. The line’s play was a big reason the run game could not get in a rhythm, averaging just 2.1 yards per rush. “When your run game is not quite clicking the way you want it to, that affects your play pass and then your’re down two scores then those guys are going to pin their ears back and that’s hard on any offensive line,’’ Campbell said.

TWO: On the other side, the Lions defensive pass rush was not effective and the secondary gave up too many big plays. Aidan Hutchinson was in the mix at times but did not record a sack or tackle. In his defense, he is always double-teamed but last season he had 7.5 sacks in five games. Linebacker Derrick Barnes’ pick-six was negated by a holding penalty.

THREE: Jared Goff has had better games, but he’s used to having better protection and more time to throw. He was sacked four times — including a late one by Parsons — and pressured early and often. Goff actually passed for more yards (31-38 for 225 yards) than Jordan Love (16-22 for 188) but Love threw a pair of TD passes. Goff had a late TD pass, but also a critical interception.

FOUR: The offense did move the ball at times and ate up the clock, but couldn’t finish when they got to the Red Zone. New coordinator John Morton can certainly take part of the blame but the players need to look in the mirror.. They were just 1-of-4 in the Red Zone which is not good enough and, worse yet, they were 5-of-15 on third downs. “I thought they had a good plan but that doesn’t take away from us doing what we needed to do,’’ Campbell said.

FIVE: Before the game, Campbell said mistakes were key to the outcome. Six penalties were costly. Mistakes made on both sides of the ball. More was expected. He mentioned “critical errors” several times in his post-game presser but was confident they are correctable.

BONUS: Lions rookie WR Isaac TeSlaa made an amazing touchdown catch late in the game. It was the offensive highlight and a sign of things to come from the Pride of Hudsonville. If you haven’t seen the video, check it out.

UP NEXT: Chicago Bears at Lions, 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14 at Ford Field. The Bears face the Vikings on Monday Night Football in their season opener.

Lions at Packers: Five things to watch in the season opener; plus prediction

For so long the Lions could not find a way to beat the Packers at Lambeau Field.

In fact, that streak stretched for 23 seasons from 1992 to 2014. However, coach Dan Campbell is 3-1 at Green Bay’s shrine to football, winning there for three straight seasons.

The two teams kick off the season there at 4:25 p.m. today. Campbell can’t wait.

“We love Lambeau, it’s awesome. It’s one of those places on the eighth day the good Lord made Lambeau,’’ Campbell said.. “… If you love football you love going to play there so our guys look forward to it.”

The Lions’ last loss there, 35-17, was on Sept. 20, 2021. They finished 3-13-1 that season. Since then the Lions have won 24-14 (2024), 34-20 (2023) and 20-16 (2022).

As NFC North champs for the past two years, facing a key division opponent to open the season is crucial.

“Man, you want to win the first one, right. It just – you feel like you get off on the right foot and you get that first win under your belt. I just think that’s big for anybody. For us – you love it,’’ Campbell said. “I mean this is, I bring it up, the problem is not getting too excited too early right now. Division opponent at Lambeau, nationally televised game. I mean this is – we love this stuff, we live for this, so this is good, this is exciting. Listen, any win sets you up for the season, helps you. And that’s really what it’s about.”

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH:

ONE: Changes on Detroit’s offensive line could be a factor but the talent-rich position is expected to remain a strength. Graham Glasgow takes over at center (Frank Ragnow retired) while rookie Tate Ratledge has earned the start at right guard and Christian Mahogany will start at left guard. “Obviously Frank is such a great player and it’s hard to replace him in any capacity. But Graham is a great player in his own right as well and has done a hell of a job stepping into that role, and even last year at times when he needed to step in there,’’quarterback Jared Goff said. “ He’s been great. I mean he really has. He’s taken a lot of the responsibility on his shoulders and I thought today was great by him, and he’s been a lot of fun to work with.”

TWO: Expect the best from the defensive line with the return of Aidan Hutchinson and the addition of rookie Tyliek Williams. Campbell said veteran D.J. Reader had a “kick-ass” camp and that edge rusher Marcus Davenport doesn’t have to show him anything any more. “I tell them, ‘We’re not friends here, we’re family.’ You’re going to go through things together, and we’re still going to be family after. Friends, you kind of separate and it is what it is. We are family here, and that’s what you’re going to see displayed on the field is a family out there fighting together down in and down out,’’ defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said.

THREE: Jared Goff was kept safe and sound on the sidelines during the preseason games, but he excelled during training camp. The passing game, always a strength, gets a boost with a stronger Jameson Williams and rookie Isacc TeSlaa, a third-round pick, who won a roster spot during camp. Amon St. Brown is well, Amon-Ra St. Brown. “I’ve been looking forward to it. Certainly in a division game on the road, I’ve always said these ones feel like they count for two wins and whenever you’re able to go out and get to somebody else’s place and get a W, it’s important and that’s what we want to try to do,’’ Goff said. “These guys are a good team and I think we’re a good team and it’ll be fun.”

FOUR: Don’t expect big changes in the offense with new coordinator John Morton. He’ll add a few new wrinkles but it won’t be a major overhaul. Getting running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery on the field together could be a new twist. Perhaps it will be the biggest adjustment for Goff. “I feel great with him though right now. … He sees the game very similar to the way I do, and really very similarly to the way that I was taught in L.A.,’’ Goff said.

FIVE: Don’t overlook special teams ace Grant Stuard who is in his first season with the Lions. Voted a captain, the veteran linebacker has been a standout through camp and the preseason games. He’s a bulldozer on kick returns, actually on every play he’s on the field. Also expect to see plenty of TeSlaa on special teams. “(TeSlass is) a good body type, he’s got some size and some length, he’s got some speed, so that’s huge. I mean for us on special teams, sometimes there’s just nothing you can do if a guy can just flat run and a guy just can’t run, it’s hard for the guy who can’t run to match the guy who can run,’’ special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said. “And he can run, so that gives him a chance to play some of these positions on the outside, gunner, hold-up guy and some of that stuff.’’

PICK: Lions 27, Packers 23.

UP NEXT: Chicago Bears at Lions, 1 p.m. on Sept. 14. Former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson returns to Ford Field as the Bears head coach.

Lions Aidan Hutchinson so ready to play, proving he’s totally recovered

ALLEN PARK — So the NFL headlines for days have been praising Green Bay’s trade to acquire edge rusher Micah Parsons from Dallas. Nothing wrong with that. He could be a game-changer for the Packers.

However, the Lions have a game-changing edge rusher of their own in Aidan Hutchinson who only played in five games last season when he broke his tibia and fibula to end his season.

So don’t be too quick to tip the scales toward Green Bay when Detroit opens the season there on Sunday just because of the addition of Parsons.

Hutchinson is totally recovered from his broken leg and it seems he’d like to stop talking about it.

“It’s great to be back, and it’s been a long time coming, but we’re here, and I’m just looking forward to this season,” Hutchinson said on Tuesday. “I think when I play this game on Sunday, people will finally — I think it will be in my past from the media perspective and from the fan perspective. People will have moved on, which will be good because I think I’ve moved on a while ago.”

He’s been back at work since the spring. Certainly in training camp he didn’t appear to have lost a step. At all.

“Very excited, can’t wait to watch him go. He’s put in a lot of time, a lot of effort, a lot of hard work to get back to where he’s at right now,’’’ coach Dan Campbell said on Tuesday. “And when you have the game taken away from you for whatever reason it just gives you a little extra motivation to come back. I’m excited to watch him, he’s going to be ready to go.’’

Last season, which was his third with the Lions, Hutchinson was injured at Dallas in the fifth game, a 47-9 Detroit win. He finished his abbreviated season with 7.5 sacks, 19 tackles, 17 quarterback hits and a forced fumble. Even with playing in just five games, Hutchinson was the team sack leader when the season ended.

The Lions defense was crushed by his absence and that of many other key players, but still they finished 15-2. Getting Hutchinson back cannot be overrated.

“I just feel like he’s improved himself even from last year, just his ability to bend, his mechanics with his hands, his hips,’’ Campbell said. “There’s tricks to the trade you learn along the way as you grow and I do feel like from a flexibility standpoint and continuing to hone his own skills you begin to elevate yourself even a little bit more. I feel like he’s done that.’’

In his first two seasons, Hutchinson had 21 sacks combined. He’s always a threat and makes everyone on the line a better player.

“And here’s what you know, he’s going to give you everything he’s got, every play he’s out there — every play,’’ Campbell said. “That’s why I’m excited because I know the guy is going to give us everything he’s got no matter what it is.’’

UP NEXT: Lions at Packers, 4:25 p.m. on Sunday.