Monday open thread: Do you feel better, worse, or the same after the Lions’ loss to the Vikings?

The Lions came into Sunday’s game against the Vikings with a bend-but-don’t-break defense.

Their defense finally broke.

Despite giving up some massive yardage totals in their previous games, the Lions defense was able to keep the games competitive. They were able to force turnovers and field goals in order to minimize the damage. However, the Minnesota Vikings had no issue finding pay dirt, and it cost the Lions, falling 42-30.

The Lions aerial attack was quite proficient, with Marvin Jones Jr. totaling four touchdowns and Matthew Stafford playing turnover-free before a garbage time Hail Mary interception. Even though Stafford was not his sharpest self, they were still able to sustain drives.

The biggest question mark on offense coming into the game was their rushing attack, and the Lions exited the game with greater concern. Kerryon Johnson left the game with a knee injury, another blow to what has been a slow start to the season for him. In his stead were Ty Johnson and J.D. McKissic, and neither were able to produce on the ground. The Lions have some easier match-ups ahead, but there is plenty to be worried about.

The biggest failure of this game was the defense, and with it came some critical injuries. Darius Slay, Damon Harrison, and Jarrad Davis both missed some time with injuries, with Slay being ruled out for the game. The defensive line and linebackers in particular have struggled, with tackling and pass rush being reoccurring problems.

Even more troubling has been their run defense. A strength last season, it has been a significant issue this year, with Dalvin Cook running for 142 yards and two touchdowns. The secondary has played decently at times, but without a pass rush, opposing quarterbacks have ages in the pockets. Kirk Cousins threw for four touchdowns, and he rarely felt any pressure.

Today’s Question of the Day is:

Do you feel better, worse, or the same after the Lions’ loss to the Vikings?

I feel a lot worse about the Lions.

The passing game is a positive, although Jones’ big game came at the expense of Kenny Golladay. Stafford continues to elevate this team into competitors, and he is the best player on this team.

Almost every other facet is struggling, however. The defense could not make a stop to save their lives. The Lions put up 30 points and lost. That is unacceptable. It looked like the Vikings were playing Madden on Rookie difficulty. The linebackers especially trouble me because there are no positives. Christian Jones, Jarrad Davis, and Jahlani Tavai all struggled with coverage. Davis has the speed to cover running backs, but his awareness costs him nearly every play.

On a bigger scale, the Lions playoff dreams took a serious blow, and we are reaching the point where our focus might shift to draft coverage. A record of 2-3-1 is not that bad on paper, but the Green Bay Packers are running away with the division. Meanwhile, the Vikings are going through a resurgence. Even with the Bears’ middling offense, they still boast a stout defense. I do not believe that the Lions can compete with them this season.

Even on the off-chance they get a winning record, they will likely be looking at a Wild Card spot. Look at the rest of the NFC. The Cowboys, Eagles, Saints, Panthers, 49ers, Seahawks, and Rams are all teams competing for playoff births. The Lions are at a serious disadvantage right now, and with the state of their defense, I am not confident they can surpass these teams.

I really hope I am wrong.

Your turn.