Detroit Lions Show Same Faults in Week 1 That Haunted Team in 2014

The Detroit Lions' 33-28 season-opening loss to the San Diego Chargers will only count as one defeat in the standings. It did, however, signal a continuation of the same problems that plagued this team last year.

No season is the same, but they can be similar. The Lions need to learn a few lessons from this game that obviously didn't set in this offseason. Otherwise, that one loss will snowball into something much more unforgiving if they don't address these issues.

New-Look Offensive Line Looks the Same

To be fair, the offensive line was missing the entire right side. Larry Warford had been ruled out, and despite participating in practice for the last two weeks, right tackle LaAdrian Waddle wasn't ready to go either.

"

Cornelius Lucas starting for LaAdrian Waddle, as expected. Waddle is inactive for the Lions today

— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) September 13, 2015"

Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press knew this possibility was more probable than not. Presumably, so did the Lions and their coaching staff, although the on-field product didn't show it.

The line failed to open wide enough rushing lanes or protect Matthew Stafford enough after the first 18 minutes. The result was hurried passes and enough stalled drives to turn a playoff team into the 2014 Chicago Bears.

"

Kyle Emanuel with the pressure on Matthew Stafford's latest interception. #DETvsSD #ProBison

— Christopher Carley (@ChrisCarleyShow) September 13, 2015"

Waddle and Warford—who is one of the best guards in the league—can dramatically improve the line's performance. But if they're not on the field, it doesn't matter.

The Lions Have the Opposite of a Lead Foot

Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi caught a lot of heat throughout the 2014 season and most of this preseason. We gave him a pass, though. He was learning.

Supposedly.

Detroit arguably has the best one-two punch at wide receiver in the league. You'd be hard-pressed to make that argument Sunday, as neither Calvin Johnson nor Golden Tate had much of an impact.

"

It appears that Calvin Johnson wasn't inactive after all.

— Alex Reno (@alex_reno) September 13, 2015"

There wasn't a single shot downfield despite Johnson's five-inch advantage over both cornerbacks. And Tate sightings in the mid-range game, where he's so deadly, were even more rare.

Once the Lions went up 21-3, the team collectively clenched its keyster in an attempt to not let this game slip away. It had the opposite effect. Instead of letting dangerous weapons do damage in space, the Lions seemed content to waste field position and time.

Lombardi can't be given any more slack when it comes to passive play-calling. However, the problem may reside higher up on the totem pole:

"

Caldwell said he didn't consider going for 4th & 1 in 3Q too seriously: "We had a lead. Sometimes you gamble on it, sometimes you don't."

— Josh Katzenstein (@jkatzenstein) September 14, 2015"

Granted, the play happened on approximately their own 40, but it was indicative of the Lions' laissez-faire attitude all day. If you don't take the game, expect someone else to grab it and run.

The Levy Broke

Detroit can get by without Ndamukong Suh. It cannot do so without its current best defensive player.

DeAndre Levy hasn't practiced in the better part of a month, according to Birkett. It wasn't surprising he didn't suit up against the Chargers, although San Diego seemed to forget about it for the entire first half.

It realized its mistake at halftime.

San Diego started killing the Lions with slants, flairs and crosses on its first drive of the third quarter. It paved the path to 30 consecutive points and a season-opening win.

"

Man, Keenan Allen played like he had Keenan Allen in a PPR league. Can't get over how easily and often he got open.

— Justin Rogers (@Justin_Rogers) September 13, 2015"

The Chargers used an array of weapons to pick apart the linebackers and secondary, but the bigger issue was the complete breakdown in tackling. This group prided itself last season on wrapping up. Now it was as effective as a red-velvet rope at the running of the bulls.

"

The 3rd & 19 conversion kills me. No way he should have been that alone. Then the missed tackles. Ugh.

— Jeff Risdon (@JeffRisdon) September 13, 2015"

Of course, this point doesn't fit as well into the overarching theme as the other two. It's practically novel in comparison. Yet the margin for error is extremely small for the schedule this team faces. It bears mentioning that this team cannot survive without DeAndre Levy.

We are far from worried about the standings or the playoff picture. But much like people, the biggest sign of growth for a football team is avoiding the same mistakes that have plagued it during its previous losses.

The hope was Detroit had a handle on its issues and was working toward solutions. Through one week, it's a case of the "same old Lions," just in a different light than we're used to.