Lions Better At Firing Than Winning

The Detroit Lions have more fired employees than victories the past two months.

CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 30: Cincinnati Bengals assistant special teams coach Brayden Coombs watches a play during the preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts and the Cincinnati Bengals on August 30th 2018, at Paul Brown in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Detroit dismissed special teams coordinator Brayden Coombs on Monday, three-plus weeks after parting ways with general manager Bob Quinn and coach Matt Patricia.

The Lions announced their latest move a day after falling to 1-2 under interim coach Darrell Bevell, 2-6 since the start of November, and 5-9 overall this season.

Patricia hired Coombs in January after he worked with the Cincinnati Bengals for 10 seasons. And even though special teams has been a relative strength for a struggling team this season, the 34-year-old assistant lost his job because Bevell said Coombs called for a trick play after being told to punt.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 06: Head coach Darrell Bevell of the Detroit Lions looks on against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Soldier Field on December 06, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

“There’s got to be repercussions,” Bevell said.

The Lions were losing by two touchdowns at Tennessee early in the fourth quarter, facing a fourth-and-4 at their 31, when they came up short on a fake punt that Bevell said he didn’t authorize. Detroit’s C.J. Moore took the direct snap and was stopped a yard shy of the first down in the 46-25 loss to the Titans.

Bevell said if he wanted to go for it, he would’ve left banged-up quarterback Matthew Stafford on the field even though he had been hit on plays preceding the fourth down.

“I thought it would be best to flip the field,” said Bevell, explaining why he wanted to punt in that situation.

DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 8: Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell looks over the play book during the third quarter of the preseason game against the New England Patriots at Ford Field on August 8, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. New England defeated Detroit 31-3. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Bevell said it was his idea to fire Coombs, he talked to team president Rod Wood about it and the topic was discussed by the team’s interim management team.

“Clearly, it was an organizational decision,” Bevell said. “It’s not one I made on my own, but I did have input.”

Detroit’s players had the day off on Monday and Bevell said he was only able to inform some of them of Coomb’s departure before a team meeting on Tuesday.

The decision was questioned by return specialist Jamal Agnew on Twitter.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 20: Wide receiver Jamal Agnew #39 of the Detroit Lions carries the football against the defense of the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter of the game Nissan Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

“What we doin man, c’mon,” Agnew posted shortly after the move was announced Monday morning.

WHAT’S WORKING

Marvin Jones is making the most of his opportunity to be the team’s top target with Kenny Golladay out. He is also increasing his value on the free-agent market in the last season of his five-year contract.

Jones, who matched a career-high with 10 receptions at Tennessee, had 100-plus yards receiving and a touchdown for the second time in three weeks. The 30-year-old receiver has 65 catches, equaling his career-high with Cincinnati five years ago, 779 yards receiving, and seven touchdowns.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 20: Wide receiver Marvin Jones #11 of the Detroit Lions makes the touchdown reception over free safety Kevin Byard #31 of the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter of the game at Nissan Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

WHAT NEEDS HELP

Detroit’s defense. The banged-up unit has given up an average of five-plus touchdowns over the past four games as it struggles to stop the run or the pass.

STOCK UP

Defensive end Romeo Okwara has been a bright spot on a bad defense. He had a safety against the Titans, giving him eight sacks and 10 tackles for losses.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 20: Defensive end Romeo Okwara #95 of the Detroit Lions celebrates with teammates after sacking Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Tennessee Titans (not pictured) in the end zone for a safety during the second quarter of the game at Nissan Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

STOCK DOWN

Running back Adrian Peterson had just 23 yards rushing on six carries and didn’t score for a second straight week.

INJURED

Stafford was able to play with banged-up ribs and was only taken out against the Titans because a comeback became out of reach. Offensive tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai had a game-ending concussion at Tennessee that might also end his underwhelming season. Cornerback Mike Ford also had a foot injury against the Titans.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 20: Quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions delivers a pass over defensive end Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter of the game at Nissan Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

KEY NUMBER

20 — For the first time in team history, the Lions have scored 20-plus points in 13 of 14 games.

NEXT STEPS

Detroit hosts Tampa Bay (9-5) on Saturday and Minnesota (6-8) in Week 17 to close the season.

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