The Detroit Lions took control of the NFC North in Week 10 and have since seen a steep fall from the top. The team now sits a game back in the division, fighting for space in the postseason. Since sweeping the Chicago Bears, quarterback Matthew Stafford has tossed 10 interceptions as the team has gone 1-4. After a loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the season and jobs are up in the air.
Everything about the Lions' offense on Monday night was awful. They failed to get anything moving after they put together a touchdown drive on their first possession of the game. They had one more late score, but otherwise Stafford threw three interceptions. He failed to anticipate the rush and overthrew receivers more times than not. While most of the blame for this game can certainly be placed on the quarterback, receiver Calvin Johnson is saying it is a total team effort.
"You can't lay all the blame on him." Johnson said, via the Detroit Free Press. "It's all us, it's everybody. Balls get tips and Stafford had a bunch of crazy stuff like that happen, whether it be receivers falling or a defensive end tips the ball or something like that. Matt's playing good. None of this was on Matt. It's on us as a team."
Stafford's regression over the last five weeks is certainly alarming. His mechanics have suffered. His awareness has suffered and now the Lions' season is suffering as a result. The downfall of Detroit could result in some offseason changes for the team. While the front office endorses Stafford for the future, head coach Jim Schwartz might not be as lucky.
NFL Insider Ian Rapoport is reporting that if the Lions fail to make the postseason, Schwartz will get fired at the end of the year. If would be the fourth time in five seasons Detroit will have failed to reach the playoffs. The belief is that the Lions have the talent on the roster to be a contending team, but the players can only go as far as the coaching staff takes them. Blame then falls on Schwartz.
"There are negative voices all over this business," Schwartz said, via NFL Media columnist Michael Silver. "Those same voices told me I was committing career suicide when I took the Lions job, that it was unfixable and the worst in the NFL. There's too much for me to be positive about to buy into the negativity," he added. "I have three games for an NFC North title. I'm going to try to win them."
Schwartz might not be focusing on the rumors, but the truth is he needs two more wins and some outside help to keep his job. After several off-the-field issues paired with no playoffs, the head coach is on a very hot seat.