Detroit Lions’ offense sinks to a new low in lopsided loss to Cincinnati Bengals

Free Press sports writer Carlos Monarrez answers three questions from the Detroit Lions’ 34-11 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at Ford Field.

How bad was the Lions’ offense?

First, let’s not forget there’s an opponent on the other side of the field. And that opponent was pretty good on defense. The Bengals entered the game tied for the seventh-best scoring defense at 20 points allowed a game, 12th overall in yards and 10th against the run. That being said, the Lions’ offense had its worst performance and was never really in the game.

Everything just seemed off. The blocking, the run game, the passing game, Jared Goff’s decision-making, the play-calling, the dumb penalties. But how can you really blame guys like Matt Nelson, Kalif Raymond and KhaDarel Hodge? By the time the Lions finally scored — a field goal midway through the fourth quarter — it marked their first trip inside the red zone. It looks like the Lions’ offense is simply out of enough good, healthy players to make a dent in solid defenses.

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How bad was the Lions’ defense?

Even though the final score was lopsided and made it look like the defense was dragged around by its hair, that was hardly the case — especially early in the game. This undermanned, outgunned defense has no business hanging with even a mediocre, but healthy, offense like the Bengals’. But the Lions’ defense did just that, holding Cincinnati to 10 points in the first half. They played with effort and made plays.

Amani Oruwariye got his third interception. Jerry Jacobs forced a fumble on Joe Mixon. And Austin Bryant’s effort sack in the fourth quarter proved the drive was there all game, even if the talent wasn’t. It looked like the defense just got tired out. The Lions’ offense has done a good job all season of winning the time of possession, but in this game, the Bengals decisively won that battle, 35:52 to 24:08, which meant the Lions’ outmanned, overachieving defense spent way too much time on the field.

What did you think of the Lions kicking the late field goal?

I hated it. When the Lions opted for Austin Seibert’s 35-yard field goal with 8:36 left in the game, what was left of the sparse Ford Field crowd booed, and rightfully so. That cut the Bengals’ lead to 27-3. Even if the Lions had recovered the ensuing onside kick, it would have taken them around three minutes, at best, to score a touchdown. They were simply out of time to be kicking field goals at that point.

Coach Dan Campbell’s decision was clearly an attempt to avoid being shut out. I hope Campbell listens to me when I tell him he’s playing with house money this season, which means he needs to go for broke late in games when he’s out of options. Putting some lipstick on the pig might help soothe a few fragile egos in the locker room, but it isn’t going to give the Lions their best chance to win the game.

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Contact Carlos Monarrez at cmonarrez@freepress.com and follow him on Twitter @cmonarrez.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions’ offense sinks to a new low in lopsided defeat