NFL Power Rankings: 49ers snatch top seed, Patriots lose footing entering playoffs
By Dan Parzych
32. Detroit Lions (31)
Finishing the year on a positive note by defeating the Green Bay Packers would have been an amazing feeling for the Detroit Lions, but also with the way Matt Patricia’s team blew a comfortable lead, this sums up 2019 in a nutshell.
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Back at the beginning of October, the Lions seemed like they were going to be a surprise contender in the NFC before it all went downhill.
Not only did Detroit end the year by losing nine games in a row, but watching the Lions only win once over their last 13 contests shows the kind of disappointing season this team put together.
Sadly, Matthew Stafford‘s back injury can’t even be used as an excuse since some of the struggles were already taking place before the Lions quarterback got hurt.
Looking ahead at the offseason, Detroit will have plenty of areas to focus on in both free agency and the draft to avoid another letdown in 2020 like this past season.
As for Patricia, with the way the previous two seasons have gone, it’s safe to say the Lions head coach will start off next year on the hot seat.
Part of the reason Patricia was hired in 2018 to begin with was due to the Lions appearing to be a playoff-caliber team, and he simply can’t afford to have another letdown next year, or it could lead to him being out of a job.