It's been a difficult season for the Detroit Lions as they've lost seven straight and 10 of their last 11 games. A 3-10-1 mark isn't where anyone in Allen Park expected this team to be back in September.
Lions head coach Matt Patricia spoke to the media Monday as the Lions put Tampa Bay in the rearview mirror and move on to the Broncos for the last road game of the season Sunday in Denver.
What does Patricia like about this Lions team, despite the record?
"I think we just look at, 'OK, what are we building? What have we started and where is our foundation right now?' I think having a foundation of a team that is tough, a foundation of a team that is competitive, from a standpoint that they're going to come to work every day and try to get better, and then show up on Sunday and really try to do everything they can to compete.
"I think that's where you need to start, and I would say that's where we're at right now."
Patricia made it clear that pieces still need to be added, and he hopes the team can stay much healthier moving forward, but they're starting to build the right culture built on toughness.
"I think those things will build on top of each other form there," he said. "But certainly, from a standpoint of trying to put a good foundation, a solid foundation down of being about something from a team. I would say that we've shown at least a foundation of being a tough team, being a competitive team, being a team that won't quit. (We're) a team that's going to go out and compete, and really care about each. I think that's the start."
How did the Lions come out of Sunday's game injury wise?
It's been a rough week for Detroit on the injury front, and Sunday was no exception.
After placing wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr., linebacker Jarrad Davis, defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand and guard Joe Dahl on IR during the week, defensive tackle Mike Daniels and guard Kenny Wiggins suffered injuries in the Tampa Bay game Sunday and were placed on IR Monday.
Daniels, who was a free-agent signing this offseason, ended up playing in just nine games due to arm and foot injuries, and finished with just 10 tackles and one sack.
Wiggins played in every game this season as a reliable rotational and backup player inside.
Detroit's been decimated by injuries this season. They're currently on their third starting quarterback and sixth starting running back.
What has been the most frustrating part about the current seven-game losing streak for Patricia?
"I think there are frustrating parts each week, I guess (that) would be the biggest part of that," he said. "I think the guys feel the same way. I think it's something different every week."
The offense, defense and even special teams have played a role in Detroit's 10 losses. The frustrating part for this coaching staff and this team has to be a lack of overall consistency in every phase of the game for most of the season.
Does the team need to see backup quarterback Kyle Sloter in one of these last two games?
Sloter was signed off the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad after the team placed quarterback Jeff Driskel on IR.
David Blough is 0-3 as a starter the last three weeks. Will the Lions work Sloter into the mix at all in Denver or in the Week 17 season finale against Green Bay at Ford Field?
"I think right now, certainly that's a fair question," Patricia said. "I think for us right now, we're trying to get as many guys ready to go, and he's certainly one of those guys that's ready to go every single week. I think learning our system and getting familiar with everything that we're doing – obviously, David (Blough) has been here for a longer period of time, so some of the operation, some of the things that we're doing, he has a little bit of a head start from that standpoint.
"We'll evaluate everybody every day, and put everybody in a position where we think, if they have to go play, they can play at a high level. But for us, we're going to put everybody out there that we think gives us a chance to win that week, no matter who it is."
