Matt Horn: No talk of sitting quarterback with draft in mind as Detroit heads to Green Bay
Detroit has no business winning seven of its last nine games.
The young inexperienced Lions, still lacking teeth in the form of overall talent, haven't played like they don't deserve to feast. Very rarely have they looked like an imposter, since starting the season with one win in seven games.
In late October, Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp was compelled to offer a vote of confidence for coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes. She said she had the right people in charge for a difficult process.
Detroit wasn't projected to win many games this season. So, fair or not, the Lions had to show people outside the organization they were ahead of schedule.
Patience isn't a virtue demonstrated in the NFL. The Lions responded for their emotional, passionate and occasionally endearingly-secure-in-his-goofiness coach.
They generate points while avoiding turnovers, and they've developed a penchant for creating turnovers on defense. They're still young and lack experience, but they're getting better even faster than could be expected.
Campbell, who was a tight end for the Lions, is also new to his status as a head coach. He makes bad calls sometimes, like the foregone conclusion of a missed field goal in the first meeting with Minnesota leading to bad things in the loss.
Who cares? It's about the culture and mindset he's fostering.
He'll get better at the other stuff. Most coaches can't do what he can to inspire and earning trust, in a way that enforces bonds.
That's what leads to execution. You love your coach and you play for each other.
Campbell is a good coach. How could that not be true?
Detroit lost to Philadelphia and Seattle by three, and Miami by four during the skid. Touchdown machine Jamaal Williams (15) fumbled at the goal line, changing the complexion of a loss to Dallas.
Rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe led New England to what could have been a demoralizing loss for the Lions. Asking a young team to compartmentalize football with the emotions that swirl with former Detroit coach Matt Patricia across the field as offensive coordinator.
It had to be similar to how Cleveland players felt when LeBron James returned with Miami. You want something so badly, but you're not quite equipped yet to do it.
The Lions defense struggled mightily and players could have given up. They do in similar situations across the NFL every year.
In fact, welcome to Detroit. Campbell's Lions are different, which is how they rebounded from a thrashing in Carolina.
The same old Lions phrase has had quite a shelf life. History has nothing to do with this team's ability to succeed.
That means Detroit heads to Green Bay, possibly with a chance to earn a playoff berth for the first time since 2016 with a win.
The last several years, talk of losing, or not trying to win, dominated discussions of Lions football for many fans at this point in the season.
The Rams visit Seattle, before Detroit plays in the prime time slot Sunday. If the Seahawks win, the Lions are eliminated from the postseason and Seattle would need Detroit to win to advance.
Resurgent in its own right Green Bay, which hasn't been hospitable to the Lions in an historical context, needs only for seasoned Aaron Rodgers to lead it to victory in order to get in. The Lions have the Rams pick in the draft because of the Matthew Stafford trade.
If you thought Los Angeles was Detroit west before, Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield has a chance to become a franchise hero.
Like when Andy Dalton helped Cincinnati beat Baltimore in Week 18, clearing a path for Buffalo to the postseason.
There are obvious pieces, particularly along both lines, but the Lions still lack talent overall, meaning the extra pick is essential for the build. Quarterback Jared Goff established himself as a leader and doesn't throw interceptions this season, but he had a chance to beat Buffalo with a throw that has to be better and he doesn't have the arm to make Jameson Williams, the first pick from the Stafford deal, the downfield weapon they traded up for.
That can wait. Nobody in Detroit is talking about losing or draft picks.
The Lions have a shot at the playoffs.
mhorn@gannett.com
419-307-4892
Twitter: @MatthewHornNH
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Coach Dan Campbell helps Detroit rebound from difficult start
