The Detroit Lions had a memorable Thanksgiving, with both on-field and off-field drama.
They secured a thrilling 23-20 victory over the Chicago Bears,
a result that ultimately led to the dismissal of Bears’ head coach Matt Eberflus. However, amidst the victory, star running back Jahmyr Gibbs made a significant error.
Gibbs shared a video on social media that inadvertently revealed a whiteboard from a Lions’ meeting room in the background.
The whiteboard displayed several of the team’s offensive code words and protection rules, which could potentially create issues if exposed to their opponents.
Initially, head coach Dan Campbell expressed surprise at Gibbs’ mistake, but he quickly brushed it off with confidence.
Campbell made it clear that such a slip-up wouldn’t derail the team’s season. “I don’t really give a crap,” Campbell said, according to Will Burchfield of 97.1 The Ticket.
“If we’re gonna lose because of code words, then we’re not good enough anyway.
I think we’ll just post the whole freaking playbook and every code word we’ve got. It doesn’t matter. It’s not gonna hurt us.”
Looking ahead, the Lions are gearing up for a crucial Thursday night showdown with the Green Bay Packers.
A Packers’ victory would leave the NFC North title wide open in the final stretch of the season. However, a win for Detroit would significantly bolster their chances of claiming the division crown.
Despite numerous injuries decimating their defense, the Lions continue to assert themselves as one of the top teams in the NFC.
Heading into the game against Green Bay, Detroit boasts an impressive 11-1 record. However, the team has had to adjust after some major setbacks on the defensive side of the ball.
One of the biggest blows came earlier this season when defensive star Aidan Hutchinson suffered a season-ending injury against the Cowboys.
The Lions brought in Za’Darius Smith to help fill the void, but Hutchinson’s absence has been a major loss for the defense.
Now, Detroit faces more challenges as linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez tore his ACL on Thanksgiving and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Additionally, rookie defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo sustained a knee injury in the game against the Bears and will also be out for the year.
On top of these injuries, the Lions have had to manage the absence of both starting cornerbacks, Terrion Arnold and Carlton Davis.
Arnold played in the Bears game but was not a starter, while Davis missed the game due to a series of injuries. Both players could return for the Packers game, though their availability is uncertain.
Despite these ongoing challenges, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has done a remarkable job keeping the defense competitive.
While the Bears were able to make some headway against the defense in the second half, given the number of key players missing, the Lions’ defense continues to perform admirably.
With the offense playing at a high level, the defense has managed to do enough to keep Detroit winning games and on track for a strong playoff push.