Let’s be honest: when Ben Johnson left the Detroit Lions to become head coach of the Chicago Bears after the 2024 season, everyone expected some kind of drop-off. You don’t lose one of the league’s brightest offensive minds without feeling it. But eight games into the John Morton era, something feels… off.
Sure, the Lions still rank No. 2 in the NFL in scoringat 29.9 points per game. On paper, that looks great. But anyone watching this offense knows what Amon-Ra St. Brown summed up perfectly in one word: flow.
“For us as an offense, the word that sticks out to me is flow,” St. Brown told 97.1 The Ticket.“I feel like we haven’t been in a flow all year… rhythm, execution, as a whole.”
A Step Back — and Everyone Feels It
Under Ben Johnson in 2024, the Lions averaged 415.7 total yards per game, second-best in the entire NFL. In 2025, under Morton? That number’s down to 350.8 yards per game, ranking 11th.
The passing game looks inconsistent. The run game, which is supposed to be Detroit’s calling card, has dropped from 149.4 rushing yards per game to 125.1. That’s not catastrophic, but it’s telling. What was once a relentless, downhill attack now feels… sluggish.
There are flashes, sure. The Ravens game. The Bears game. But even then, the Lions never quite feel like they’re dictating tempo the way they used to. You can tell Jared Goff isn’t as comfortable, and even Dan Campbell’s body language on the sideline says it all, frustration simmering under that headset.
Campbell’s History Says It All
Here’s what gives this story teeth: Dan Campbell’s already been here before.
Remember 2021? When the Lions’ offense couldn’t find its identity under Anthony Lynn? Campbell didn’t wait until the offseason. He took over play-calling duties mid-year and later parted ways with Lynn entirely.
At the time, Campbell said something that now feels eerily relevant:
“It just wasn’t a fit. We never found our groove or our rhythm.”
Sound familiar? St. Brown’s talking about flow. Campbell talked about rhythm. Both mean the same thing: the offense isn’t clicking, and it’s not a player problem, it’s an identity problem. Flow. Rhythm. Groove. Whatever you want to call it, the Lions just don’t have it right now.
The Washington Test
That’s why Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders might be John Morton’s make-or-break moment.
The Commanders’ defense ranks 28th in the NFL in yards allowed, giving up a whopping 377.8 yards per game. If the Lions can’t move the ball and find that missing rhythm against this defense, when will they?
Because after Washington, things get real.
Week 11: at Philadelphia Eagles — one of the league’s most physical defenses.
Thanksgiving Day: vs. Green Bay Packers — an NFC North showdown with division implications.
If Morton’s offense stumbles through Washington, Campbell might not wait for another midseason swoon. He’s not afraid to shake things up when he thinks it’ll wake up the locker room, and he’s shown before that he’ll take the reins himself if that’s what it takes.
The Bottom Line
The Lions’ offense doesn’t need a complete overhaul. It just needs to find itself again, to rediscover the rhythm that made Detroit the most dangerous offense in football a year ago.
But time’s running out for John Morton to make that happen. With Campbell’s patience wearing thin and an underperforming unit looking for answers, Sunday in Washington might be his last shot to prove he can lead this offense back to dominance.
Because if Detroit’s offense doesn’t find that “flow” Amon-Ra St. Brown keeps talking about soon… someone else will be calling the plays.
Drafted with AI assistance, edited and fact-checked by DSN staff.
Oh yeah, who they going to get to replace him? This AI assisted shlock and nonsense you print is a joke. Losers.
Danny o can come right in and do a good oc coach think about it okay.
There were some troubling takeaways from the last game and they all revolved around scheme. Gibbs being called upon to block someone nearly twice his size. We drafted a wide receiver, and he stands on the sideline. We gave an $83 million dollar contract to a wide receiver, and he stands on the sideline. I could go on. But nah.
Morton needs to be down in the field with his team. Not up in the box. He needs to be with his team and collaborate with them in person. You see Sheppard on the field, and defense is doing better. Campbell is all about team, and they all need to be together working on their common goal.
That the whole year him being up in that box is just idiotic to me he claims he can see better up there what’s he looking at another screen pass that guy you can just see him on the podium during pressers he’s a he’s at a complete loss he doesn’t know how to scheme the talent that we have he’s been handed a Ferrari and he’s treating it like a f****** Volkswagen
Don Drysdale
I am a fan of all Detroit sports and LOVE to write about them!
5 Responses
Oh yeah, who they going to get to replace him? This AI assisted shlock and nonsense you print is a joke. Losers.
Danny o can come right in and do a good oc coach think about it okay.
There were some troubling takeaways from the last game and they all revolved around scheme. Gibbs being called upon to block someone nearly twice his size. We drafted a wide receiver, and he stands on the sideline. We gave an $83 million dollar contract to a wide receiver, and he stands on the sideline. I could go on. But nah.
Morton needs to be down in the field with his team. Not up in the box. He needs to be with his team and collaborate with them in person. You see Sheppard on the field, and defense is doing better. Campbell is all about team, and they all need to be together working on their common goal.
That the whole year him being up in that box is just idiotic to me he claims he can see better up there what’s he looking at another screen pass that guy you can just see him on the podium during pressers he’s a he’s at a complete loss he doesn’t know how to scheme the talent that we have he’s been handed a Ferrari and he’s treating it like a f****** Volkswagen