The Detroit Lions hired Matt Patricia in 2018 believing he would take this team to the next level, he could soon be out of a job if the team loses in Week 6.
Patricia, who avoided being canned during the bye week, enters Sunday with a miserable 10-25-1 record as Detroit’s head coach. As the Lions rack up the losses, it seems Patricia has lost more than just the locker room.
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NFL hot seat: Will the Lions fire head coach Matt Patricia?
When general manager Bob Quinn hired Patricia, who he knew from their time with the New England Patriots, he made it clear the standard in Detroit needed to be higher. The organization wanted to become a perennial contender and following consecutive 9-7 seasons under Jim Caldwell, the Lions believed Patricia was the answer.
Hiring from the Bill Belichick tree hasn’t exactly worked out for Detroit. Despite hiring a defensive-minded coach, the Lions rank 28th in total yards and 29th in points allowed this season. It’s a step backward from 2019, when the team finished 3-12-1, all while ranking 26th in points allowed.
According to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, changes could be coming if the Lions lose to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Some within the organization wanted Patricia gone this offseason, but he stuck around. With the team still struggling, a loss in Week 6 might be the final straw that leads to Patricia being.
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Quinn’s tenure in Detroit might not last much longer, either. However, per CBS Sports, many within the organization don’t expect Detroit would make the move to fire both the head coach and general manager in the same week. While that has been the trend this season, with the Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons serving as the examples, the Lions would handle things a bit differently.
With new ownership in charge, change always felt inevitable. However, the criticism against Patricia isn’t just coming from the ownership level. He has received strong criticism from several ex-Lions’ defensive players, especially after he blamed the team’s struggles on the coaching staff that came before him.
Give Caldwell went 36-28 in Detroit across four seasons, with two playoff appearances and three years better than a .500 record, those claims fall well short. Ultimately, Patricia has been this team’s biggest problem. The Lions have taken a massive step back since hiring him and nothing will change until he is fired.