Notes: Matt Patricia searching for answers amongst team’s frustrations

With playoff hopes long, long in the rearview mirror and a brutal losing record on the board, it’s likely hard to put on those pads and head out onto the field come Sunday.

Asked about the state of the team’s frustrations at this point in the season, Matt Patricia said it boils down to one question: Why?

“I don’t think you ever want to put frustration into words because it never comes out right,” he said during his post-game presser after the Lions’ 38-17 loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday. “I would say for us, you know, we understand, we just look at it from a standpoint like, okay, why? What are we doing and how do we improve it?”

That’s a great question. Sunday’s game marked the team’s seventh loss in a row, bringing the record to an abysmal 3-10-1. Fed up fans are calling for new ownership.

Patricia said not having the ability to start fast has contributed to some of that frustration.

“In the NFL, when you don’t start fast, you’re going to be behind it from the start and that’s going to be a play here or there, where if it doesn’t go your way or you don’t make a play happen, then you’re right back into that tough situation, so we could help ourselves that way,” he said.

And while it’s late in the season and guys are expected to be a bit banged up, injuries have taken down 21 players. That’s frustrating too.

“Injuries are going to occur. Sometimes you get a lot more than not. It just seems like we’ve had a lot,” Patricia said.

While asking “why” is probably on the right track to figuring out what’s going on with this team, the answer to that is a bit trickier.

You can watch the whole presser here:

And onto the rest of your notes:

• After a heckuva game Sunday, Wes Hills explains the moment he be starting for the Lions. More for MLive’s Benjamin Raven.

• There’s a chance that no Lions will head to the Pro Bowl this year. Dave Birkett with the Freep explains.

• Some positive stuff:

• “The numbers are dwindling now. In the stands. On the sidelines. Everywhere but in the loss column.” John Niyo with The Detroit News elaborates on how fan apathy is setting in.

• Always love a good “Goin Nuts with T.J.” episode, this one featuring Lions legendary kicker Jason Hanson.

• Each week, Dave Birkett asks players a random question so we can learn more about them. This week: if you could have a superpower, what would it be?