Taylor Decker Calls Out Detroit Lions’ Fourth-Down Failure
When Taylor Decker talks, people listen, because the big man doesn’t sugarcoat anything. And after the Detroit Lions’ 16–9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, he stepped up to the podium sounding every bit like a veteran who’s seen enough football to call it exactly how it is.
Detroit’s offensive line took one on the chin Sunday night. The trench war was ugly, the rhythm never came, and the familiar fourth-down swagger… simply wasn’t there.
Decker summed it up bluntly:
“Yeah, that’s not the brand of ball that we play. I mean, we go for those all the time because we have the personnel and we should be able to execute and get those, and we didn’t.”
Zero-for-five on fourth down. For a Dan Campbell team? That’s basically a solar eclipse.
“We Were Just Kind of Trudging Through Everything”
The Lions entered this game believing they matched up well with Philly’s front. Decker didn’t dance around the disappointment:
“Yeah, we expected to play much better. We thought we matched up really well with them.”
Instead of imposing their will, Detroit found itself stuck in the mud most of the night.
“Truthfully… it just felt like we were just kind of trudging through everything. It was very difficult. So credit to them.”
Decker made sure to note something important: Philly didn’t beat the Lions with exotic blitzes or trickery. They just lined up and won.
“They’re not necessarily an overly complicated defense, but they have really good players and they can roll them through too… one-deep, two-deep, they’re all good players.”
Translation: the Eagles kept fresh monsters on the field, and they leaned on Detroit’s offensive front until cracks finally showed.
Couldn’t Stay Ahead of the Chains
The Lions wanted to run the ball, hit play-action, and take their shots. That’s been the formula all year.
But that plan never had a chance.
Decker said it clearly:
“We just weren’t getting the yards we needed to stay ahead of the chains.”
Without early-down success, every drive turned into a climb uphill. And when the Lions
That’s where Decker’s frustration came through again, not in anger, but in accountability.
“We put our defense in a lot of tough positions… they played a hell of a game. And we need to do a lot more on offense to help them out.”
A Veteran Who Still Believes
Even in frustration, Decker didn’t sound broken. He sounded… determined.
He knows this offense is better than what it showed. He knows the Eagles are the measuring stick. And he knows Detroit let a winnable game slip away.
But he also knows what’s next:
Watch the film. Fix the fundamentals. Bounce back at home.
If you’re looking for a pulse check on the locker room, Decker gave it without hesitation.
The Lions didn’t lose confidence, they just lost the game.
And they know the difference.
Dez Bryant sends contract advice to George Pickens, calls for Cowboys to move on from Matt Eberflus
Dez Bryant shared some interesting thoughts on George Pickens and Matt Eberflus while watching the Dallas Cowboys take on the Las Vegas Raiders. On X/Twitter, Bryant gave contract advice to Pickens, and he also said the team should move on from Eberflus, who was brought in to be the team’s defensive coordinator this season.
“George Pickens, I want you to understand that whenever it’s time to negotiate your new contract,” Dez Bryant wrote. “Your legacy will be worth more than being the highest paid wide receiver if you stayed with Cowboys. There’s a lot more to the thought process, but think about it.”
Bryant continued, “If I were Jerry [Jones], I would respectfully go in a different direction than DC Eberflus, not because he’s a bad coach. I would offer Al Harris the DC job and let him find his defensive support. You have to be the best at what’s current. I’ve watched great teams and been a part of great teams the Cowboys have had over the years. Also, you have to keep the roster young and hungry. I played with guys who were past their due date and didn’t love the game, respectfully.”
More on George Pickens and Matt Eberflus
George Pickens joined the Cowboys this season via trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he’s in the final year of his rookie contract. It’s not clear if the former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver will re-sign with Dallas, but he’s having a memorable season and will likely get a big contract offer from multiple teams.
In the Cowboys’ 33-16 victory over the Raiders, Pickens led all receivers with nine receptions for 144 yards and one touchdown. Through 10 games this year, Pickens has recorded 58 receptions for 908 yards and seven TDs.
Matt Eberflus came into the 2025 season without the Cowboys’ best defensive player. The team traded Micah Parsons before the season began, and that has been one of the reasons the defense has struggled all year.
But for what it’s worth, the Cowboys’ defense had a strong showing on Monday night, allowing just 16 points and 236 total yards. Before the trade deadline, the Cowboys acquired defensive lineman Quinnen Williams and linebacker Logan Wilson. On Monday night, Williams recorded four tackles, 1.5 sacks, and five quarterback hits. Wilson notched two tackles in the victory.
