(Editor’s note: This post, which originally published on Nov. 26, was last updated on Jan. 16.)



On Monday, approximately 24 hours after the Lions wrapped their 2018 season with a win in Green Bay, Matt Patricia said he would “allow the emotion of the season to come down” before making the call on any changes to his coaching staff. A day later, the Lions announced they would not be renewing the contract of offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter.



It felt like an inevitable conclusion after the Lions’ offense — one plagued by injuries to key players — slipped from 7th in scoring last season to 25th this year. With Golden Tate in Philadelphia and Kerryon Johnson, Marvin Jones and T.J. Lang injured, Detroit reverted into an ultra-conservative play calling shell over the season’s second half, with the Week 17 finale standing as the lone exception.



Matthew Stafford finished the year with 3,777 yards passing, marking the...