Sunday open thread: Can the Lions’ offense get something going against the 49ers?

With a new coaching staff, a new quarterback and a weak wide receiver room, all signs are pointing to some early struggles for the Detroit Lions’ offense this year. On top of that, Taylor Decker, the Lions’ starting left tackle is out for a while, which is a huge blow to the offensive line—a group that is supposed to be a strength of the offense.

The 49ers struggled out of the gate last year due to injuries but are relatively healthy heading into the 2021 season. As a result, their defense is expected to be back near the top of the league, which could cause for a nightmare start for the Lions’ offense to open the year.

Today’s Question of the Day is...

Can the Lions’ offense get something going against the 49ers?

My answer: Don’t count on it.

If you were hoping the Lions would start the year on a positive note offensively, this might be one of the worst matchups you could have asked for. Without Taylor Decker, rookie Penei Sewell and whoever they decide will start opposite him are going to have a tough time protecting Goff against the likes of Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead and friends.

With Javon Kinlaw likely unable to play today, that could be a boost for the Lions’ hopes, but they’re going to need a lot more help than that. All we can hope for is we get that “next man up” energy from someone like Matt Nelson, and the offensive line is able to create enough time for Goff to have a solid performance, while the run game manages to be as good as advertised.

What do you think?