BB.BREAKING NEWS: The Detroit Lions aren’t broken in spirit—they’re broken in playcalling, and that’s the real problem

Following a tough stretch that has seen the Detroit Lions fall to 7-5, a narrative is emerging that the team’s signature “Grit” culture is the source of their problems. The aggressive, go-for-broke mentality that defined their rise is now being blamed for their slide. But this analysis misses the real issue. The culture Dan Campbell has built isn’t the problem; the playcalling is.

Detroit Lions: Dan Campbell’s Culture

The Lions’ identity is built on fearless, aggressive football. Campbell is the architect of that culture, a leader who gets his players to run through walls for him. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is the creative mind who made that aggression so effective. When Ben Johnson was the offensive coordinator, his innovative play designs and situational creativity turned Campbell’s fourth-down gambles into game-winning moments. The aggression was calculated because the plays were designed to succeed.

The Missing Ingredient: Offensive Creativity

This season tells a different story. The departure of Johnson left a massive void. The initial attempt to fill it with John Morton proved ineffective, so much so that Campbell himself took over playcalling duties. While Campbell’s leadership is undeniable, his strength has never been X’s and O’s schematic design. As a result, the Lions’ aggressive philosophy now looks reckless.

The failed fourth-down attempts that have cost the team dearly aren’t a sign of a flawed culture; they are a symptom of predictable and uninspired playcalling. Under Johnson, a fourth-and-short might have been a clever misdirection or a unique formation. Now, those same situations often result in straightforward plays that opposing defenses easily diagnose and stop. The team is still rolling the dice, but they’re doing it with a less-than-optimal strategy, which has turned high-reward gambles into costly turnovers.

Let Campbell Be Campbell

Dan Campbell is an elite motivator and a culture-setter, perhaps one of the best in the NFL. He has transformed the Lions from a perennial afterthought into a team with a genuine identity and a winning mindset. The solution isn’t for him to abandon the philosophy that got the Lions here. Instead, he needs to empower a playcaller who can execute that vision with the same level of creativity that Ben Johnson once did.

Campbell’s value is in leading the men, managing the game, and being the face of the franchise’s tough-nosed identity. He shouldn’t be burdened with designing and calling plays on top of that. The front office’s top priority this offseason must be to find an offensive coordinator who can restore the innovative spark to the offense.

Final Thoughts

The Lions don’t need a culture overhaul. They have a winning culture that is the envy of many teams. What they need is to put the right people in the right roles. Let Dan Campbell be the head coach and culture-driver. Find a brilliant offensive mind to call the plays. That is the path back to making Detroit’s aggressive style a weapon, not a weakness.

Fans Crushed After Lions’ Latest Loss: ‘Feels Like Season Is Over’

The Detroit Lions’ playoff hopes took another big hit on Thanksgiving.

With a win, the Lions could’ve put themselves in a position to get into first-place. However, they fell 31-24 at the hands of the Green Bay Packers to drop to 7-5 on the season. Detroit’s hopes of victory were inhibited by struggles on fourth-downs and a lack of flow on both sides of the ball.

The Packers jumped out to a 10-0 lead on Thursday, thanks in part to a touchdown pass from Jordan Love to Dontayvion Wicks. The touchdown was upheld upon review, despite some questions about whether or not Wicks got two feet down in bounds with control of the ball.

Detroit was able to get back into the game on the ensuing drive, as David Montgomery scored from three yards out to cut into the lead. Green Bay answered, though, as Love hit Romeo Doubs on a fourth-and-goal to extend the lead back to 10 points.

The Lions were able to pull back within three prior to the halftime break, as Jameson Williams broke a tackle on a screen pass and dashed 22 yards to the end zone. With Amon-Ra St. Brown exiting the game in the first quarter and not returning, Williams stepped up big time with seven grabs for 144 yards.

Detroit got the ball to start the third quarter, but the offense was stuffed on fourth-down on its opening possession. Green Bay capitalized, as a 51-yard touchdown from Love to Christian Watson pushed the advantage back to 10 points.

The Lions would once again answer, this time with a touchdown from Jared Goff to Isaac TeSlaa. Love and Wicks would connect late in the third quarter to make it a 10-point game once again.

Detroit would get two drives in the fourth quarter, with the first ending in a turnover on downs when Goff threw behind Williams who dropped the ball. After getting a stop, the Lions took over six minutes off the clock for a drive that ended in a field goal with 2:59 remaining.

The Lions put the pressure on their defense to make a stop by consuming that much of the clock, and the Packers were able to finish the game on offense. Facing a fourth-and-3, the Packers elected to go for it and Love hit Wicks.

Having lost four of their last seven games, the Lions are now facing a real chance of missing the postseason. Chicago was able to hold on to defeat the Eagles, greatly diminishing Detroit’s chance of winning the division in 2025.

Here is a sample of the online reaction to the Lions’ 31-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving.