The Detroit Lions hired a new head coach, Matt Patricia, who has opened the season with a 3-4 record. Patricia was the Defensive Coordinator for the New England Patriots before coming to Detroit over the summer. While in New England he helped secure three Super Bowl titles. However, fans feel this experience hasn’t transferred between teams.

Patricia led the Lions past his former team, the Miami Dolphins, and the Green Bay Packers, who are playoff caliber teams, but dropped games against the Jets, 49ers, Seahawks, and Cowboys. The 49ers have only won one game this season, it being against the Lions.

Although this inconsistency has instilled doubts in some fans, others are still hopeful for what’s to come.
“I think he is taking the team in the right direction,” sophomore Chris Baxter said. “I think it will just take a little bit for the team to get comfortable with the new coach and play style.”

The Lions have finished 13 of the last 17 seasons with a losing record and have not come in first in the division since 1993. Analysts at ESPN project the Lions to go 9-7 on the season, however, fans have set a lower bar than the analysts, with Henderson putting forth a 6-10 projection. That doesn’t mean they have put aside all hope.

“I think they will end the season on a low note, but next season will be better,” Baxter said.