Experts blast Lions after Packers loss: “Not the same offense”
The Green Bay Packers beat the Detroit Lions on Sunday, exposing several offensive weaknesses and critics are calling out the new playcalling in Detroit.
The Detroit Lions’ Week 1 loss to the Green Bay Packers (27-13) has raised alarm bells among NFL analysts. ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Dan Orlovsky, and Rex Ryan all criticized the Lions’ offense under new coordinator John Morton.
Packers expose Lions’ new offense and analysts see big red flags
On ESPN’s “Get Up” podcast, Schefter pointed out that there is an absence of creativity and explosiveness on the Lions’ offense which was once provided by former playcaller Ben Johnson, now head coach of the Chicago Bears. Orlovsky agreed, saying they’re “not even close” to the same offense this year.
"They pushed Detroit around yesterday in a way that I haven't seen in a long time..."
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) September 8, 2025
Kay reacts to the Packers HUGE win over the Lions@heykayadams | #GoPackGo #OnePride pic.twitter.com/hmKmplIzwk
Jahmyr Gibbs’ 10-catch, 31-yard performance highlighted the lack of downfield threats, while the offensive line struggled without Frank Ragnow.
“How is the interior of that offensive line gonna play without Frank Ragnow? Well yesterday is any indicator, they’re in trouble,” Ryan said. “The play-calling was drastically different. Where was the hard play-action? Where’s the vertical passing game, the deep crossers, all those types of things. No trick plays, no nothing. To me, it looked very vanilla. They were getting whipped on the interior and they became a checkdown-Charlie offense, almost unwatchable. You went from the very best offense in the league, damn near in the history of the league, to what I saw yesterday, that’s a bad sign.”
Ouch.
With a brutal schedule ahead and Johnson returning to Detroit next week with the Bears, questions are mounting about whether the Lions’ offense can rebound.
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