Follow us:

Is there any hope for them after the bye? The Lions' next two opponents -- the Jaguars and Falcons -- are a combined 1-9. If Detroit drops both those games, it's hard to see a scenario where Matt Patricia survives (although ownership has surprised us before). If they win both those games -- and they should be favored in both -- the Lions will at least be within striking distance of a wild-card berth at 3-3.

They come off the bye with a game at Jacksonville. Matt Stafford hasn't been great, but the Jaguars defense should be the perfect tonic.

Their three losses have come against teams with a combined 11 wins. Their next five opponents have a combined six wins. Giddy-up, fellas.

Biggest weakness: Literally the entire defense

Where to begin. The Lions have given up more rushing yards per game (170.3) than any team in the NFL and have allowed 5.16 yards per rush. Detroit is yielding 405 yards per game in total and 6.16 yards per play. They can't get off the field -- No. 31 in first downs allowed per game (27.3) -- and can't sack the quarterback (five sacks in four games). Even defensive end Trey Flowers, when asked about the team's lack of pass rush, said it hadn't been in enough pass-rush situations because teams are running so well on them. It has led to an inefficient defense and putting more pressure on the offense to have to score on every possession. -- Michael Rothstein

You have to wonder whether Matt Patricia would still be employed right now if the Lions hadn't edged out the Cardinals in Week 3. The Week 5 bye looked ominous for the embattled head coach as far back as August. Up next is a pair of winnable road games at Jacksonville and Atlanta (teams with a combined record of 1-9). Getting back to 3-3 hardly qualifies as an impossible ask ... but what have the Lions shown us in the Patricia era to make us think they'll take advantage of this opportunity to reboot their season? Do-or-die time in Motown.