Detroit Lions mailbag: Final thoughts on Lions' 2-point plays, Goff's contract and more

We're starting off 2024 with a new edition of the Detroit Lions mailbag. No small talk, just onto your questions:

Looking back why did the lions make checking in as eligible so complicated. I believe that what caused the issue. — @1975MMan

I got a handful of questions about the 2-point play from last week's loss to Dallas, so let's address that right off the top.

Dan Campbell explained Monday why the Lions had three linemen approach referee Brad Allen as Taylor Decker went to report as eligible: To make it difficult for the Cowboys to identify the eligible receiver.

As Ben Johnson has explained in the past, a lot of what good offenses do is make different plays look the same and the same plays look different, and by sending Decker (No. 68), Penei Sewell (No. 58) and Dan Skipper (who typically reports as eligible) towards Allen, the Lions hoped to confuse any Cowboys defenders not locked in on the details of the play.

Was it 58 or 68 he announced as eligible? Or was it Skipper? He's usually the sixth lineman. (Beyond just the reporting, the Lions used Skipper at right tackle and split Sewell wide when they lined up before motioning Sewell back in an inline position, adding another element of disguise to the play.)

As we know, Allen announced Skipper as eligible and not Decker, as the Lions intended. Allen insists Skipper reported as eligible, and while it seems obvious the Lions' subterfuge backfired and contributed to Allen misidentifying who was checking in as eligible, I can't blame the Lions for Allen's mistake.

There's no excuse for an NFL referee to get tricked by gamesmanship if the Lions were clear in telling him who would be the eligible receiver. If Skipper didn't wipe his jersey (to indicate he's eligible) and Sewell didn't declare himself eligible, it's not their fault Allen got it wrong. Yes, they could have made it easier, but Allen has a job to do regardless.

Do you think Dan was frustrated…… naw just kidding. Do you think the Lions will have a D set with Iffy, CJGJ and Kirby on the field at the same time ? If so how will that look? — @paulnsydney

Figured I should address the first part of Paul's question, since I got more texts, emails and tweets than I could count about this after Saturday's game.

For those who didn't hear Campbell's postgame news conference, which was cut uncharacteristically short after less than 3½ minutes, there were two reporters who asked questions, myself and John Niyo of the Detroit News. Campbell was as frustrated as I've seen him after the way the game ended and in the final exchange of his news conference I asked him to articulate why.

"Would you be frustrated right now?" he said.

When I asked whether his frustration was about the call, the execution at the end of the game or something else, he said: "I don’t like losing, Dave, and that’s what happened. We lost. And that bothers me. It bothers me. I don’t like having an L. So that’s the frustration. I’m sorry, I don’t mean it at you."

I've had plenty of coaches angry with me in this profession, it comes with the job, but Saturday's exchange doesn't come close to registering as one of those moments. Campbell was emotional about the outcome of the game, he didn't want to publicly criticize the officials and my question was his avenue to vent. He didn't need to apologize — there was nothing to apologize for — but the fact he did showed his human side at a time I'm sure he didn't want to be standing in front of reporters fulfilling his media obligations.

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Part of what makes Dan great at his job is his passion, and part of this job is being in the line of fire sometimes. There's really nothing more to it.

You can view the interaction in the link below:

As for the second part of Paul's question, I do think there will be a role of Ifeatu Melifonwu, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch once Gardner-Johnson returns to the lineup this weekend. Gardner-Johnson could play some slot cornerback, the Lions could go with a big dime package (with Melifonwu as a coverage linebacker of sorts) and early on they may just rotate series to make sure everyone plays.

In your opinion, which has been the biggest ongoing story for the past 4-5 months — Lions, Pistons or University of Michigan? — @MrEd315

What a great time for sports in this state. Michigan will play for the national championship next week, the Lions are about to host their first playoff game in 30 years and the Pistons made history with a 28-game losing streak (OK, so that's not so great).

As impressive as Michigan's run has been — and as newsy as Jim Harbaugh and Connor Stalions made it this fall — and as historically awful as the Pistons are, the only answer to this question is the Lions.

First, the NFL is king, and second, the Lions have been captivating imaginations since beating the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1. While Michigan kind of ho-humly went about its business until the Ohio State game, with everyone expecting the Wolverines to make the playoffs while playing no one of consequence early in the year, the Lions have been a show at home and on the road, and fans' emotions have followed the arc of their on-field play.

They've had a great season, and they've been a great story to follow.

Which storyline do you find more interesting: Lions vs Rams or Lions vs Packers in the Wild Card Round? — @bpm_ATC

The old adage in this business is that we root for stories, and there wouldn't be a better one in the first round of the playoffs than for the Lions and Rams to square off at Ford Field.

Matthew Stafford playing against his old team, trying to win a playoff game at Ford Field, something he never could do in Detroit. Jared Goff going against the coach and team that gave up on him. Dan Campbell. Sean McVay. Brad Holmes. Les Snead. Aaron Donald. Amon-Ra St. Brown. Puka Nacua. Jahmyr Gibbs.

So many story lines, so many emotions, so much on the line. Inject that into my veins for the week.

Dave, what's your take on Cam Sutton's year? Do you think the Lions miscalculated how much he could handle as their top cornerback? - @FriedrichsJk

Cam Sutton has had an OK year as one of the Lions' top free-agent additions of the spring. He's had some good games — against Courtland Sutton and the Denver Broncos — and been the Lions' most consistent cover man, but his advanced numbers (a 116.2 passer rating against, according to Pro Football Reference) aren't pretty and the Lions still have a huge need at cornerback entering the offseason.

I don't think the Lions misjudged Sutton as a signing, though. They gave him a three-year, $33 million deal, which is well below top cornerback money ($20 million per season), and they also signed Emmanuel Moseley in free agency. The hope at the time was that Sutton and Moseley would upgrade the secondary in tandem, but Moseley tore his ACL on his second snap of the season and the Lions have gotten below-average play from their cornerback crop as a whole.

I think Sutton returns in the same role in 2024, and this time the Lions will do more to make sure he has help.

If you were the GM would you resign Goff for the contract Daniel Jones signed (4 years $160m)? — @crowlick

If I were the Lions, I'd consider that a gift and run to sign it as soon as possible. If I were Goff, after leading the Lions to their first division title in 30 years (and maybe some playoff success), there's no chance I'd sign that deal.

Jones' contract essentially pays him $74 million over two seasons, and gives the Giants an out after next year.

Goff won't crack $54 million on his extension like Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes, but I'd wager he'll be closer to that than he will Jones money.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

Next up: Vikings

Matchup: Lions (11-5) vs. Minnesota (8-8), regular-season finale.

Kickoff: 1:p.m. Sunday; Ford Field, Detroit.

TV/radio: Fox; WXYT-FM (97.1).

Line: Lions by 3.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions mailbag: Final thoughts on Lions' 2-point plays