OT: How many wins in the next three games does Jim Schwartz need to keep his job?

Submitted by rob f on

With all due respect to gobluehtown for his recent diary regarding Brady Hoke and the # of wins needed to keep coaching at Michigan, I obviously borrowed in creating my OP title here.

To be completely serious, though, my point is that, barring 3 wins to finish the season, the Lions are in grave danger of being on the outside looking in come the NFL Playoffs.  There's also no chance of a wildcard spot for Detroit, either---it's absolutely win all 3 or lose all control of their own destiny for the Lions, I believe.

Even if they somehow win out and don't continue being those "same old Lions" that we've cussed out year-after-year seemingly forever, methinks they need to then advance to at least the 2nd round of the playoffs (and probably more) for Schwartz to keep his job. 

With the remaining schedule being tonight at home vs. the Ravens, next weekend at home vs. the struggling Giants, and finishing on the road in Minnesota, how many of you have any confidence the Lions (and especially Schwartz) won't screw it all up once again?  Lose tonight, and they're looking up at both the Bears and Packers in the standings.  The Bears have games remaining at Philly and home vs. the Pack; GB hosts the Steelers and finishes at Chicago.

 

 

boliver46

December 16th, 2013 at 3:05 PM ^

this division was gift-wrapped for the Lions this year...they should have run away with it.

I think they will suck us all in like always...crush Baltimore tonight at home on MNF...beat the hapless G-Men at home next week...then shit the bed on the road at the Vikings.  Fitting end to the season and probably Schwartz's time in the D.

OldGnarlyBlue

December 17th, 2013 at 9:37 AM ^

Agreed. He has to make the playoffs. That being said, with the division being handed to him on a silver platter this year, I think making the playoffs still might not be enough. With the talent this team has, they should be able to win a home playoff game as well. I would be feeling very dissapointed if we limp into the playoffs and play poorly and lose in the first round. 

 

westwardwolverine

December 16th, 2013 at 2:45 PM ^

They have to win the division. Losing the division in a year where both Cutler and Rodgers missed significant time and you'd opened up two game lead is a mini meltdown and you're looking at 4 seasons of underachievement in five years for Schwartz. I can't see him back if the Lions don't make the playoffs. 

Maison Bleue

December 16th, 2013 at 2:54 PM ^

If the Lions miss the playoffs, he should get the axe. They lost too many games this year when they had a fourth quarter lead.

EDIT: In 5 of their 6 losses the Lions had a lead in the 4th quarter and 2(!) were at Ford Field. Can I change my answer to "Just fire him now."?

mGrowOld

December 16th, 2013 at 2:47 PM ^

He needs to win the division and probably one playoff game.  If he does that, regardless of how many games they actually win, he'll keep his job IMO.  If they miss the playoffs he's prolly gone and if they squeek in on the basis of tie-breakers with a 9-7 record but then get promptly bounced he's prolly gone too.

They gave away SO many games this year (Phoenix, Tampa Bay, Philladelphia, Cinci) it's sad we even have to discuss this.  With the team they've assembled and the schedule they recieved they should be fighting Seattle for the #1 seed, not scraping by to make the playoffs.

TheThief

December 16th, 2013 at 4:20 PM ^

My two worries would be that he is a little burned out at this point. He has either been coaching deep in the playoffs or having a tumultuous season every year. I would think both have to wear on a coach, especially in the fishbowl that is NY. He may need a year off just to unwind from it all.

Also, with someone who is as big on organization and discipline as he is (I realize he has mellowed over the years), I would envision a really tough transition. It could get worse before it gets better.

I also, heard that no head coach who has won a Super Bowl with one team, has gone on to win it with the next team he coached. The closest was Bill Parcells. Since winning it all should be our goal, it seems like another thing we would have to overcome. I get sick of hearing all the talk of...the Lions haven't won in Philadelphia since (insert year)...or the Lions haven't won a playoff game on the road in (insert year)...and all the other ridiculous things this team is supposed to overcome like most of these guys were on those teams.

And to answer the original question, if we don't win the division this year, there is no way we should come back with the same coaching staff, the roster is good enough at this point to win a weak, injury riddled division. Let's start the Jon Gruden to Detroit rumors, because they are coming if we don't make the playoffs.

Tuebor

December 16th, 2013 at 3:15 PM ^

Whatever it takes to win the division. 

 

But I gave up on this team after they decided not to tackle anyone in the second half of that snow bowl.

Rico616

December 16th, 2013 at 4:06 PM ^

I think Lions go 3-0, 2-1 at worst. They'll obviously be favored all 3 games but tonight should be the one with the biggest question mark. Good thing it's at home on mnf.

I think bears lose @Philly and gb is a toss up based on Rodgers availability. Even though I blame the losses mostly on their horrible stretch of turnovers instead of the coaching, the coach always gets the ax.

JTrain

December 16th, 2013 at 2:58 PM ^

He needs to win them all. I'm done with Schwartz regardless. Our team has tons of talent...yet continues to underachieve. Find us someone to take us to the next level...before it's too late.

mgobaran

December 16th, 2013 at 3:01 PM ^

4.

If we don't win out, we won't make the playoffs. But really, if we barely squeak by this weakened division and lose our playoff game on top of that, I believe he should go.

LSAClassOf2000

December 16th, 2013 at 3:02 PM ^

It's so hard to know what the actual standards are for Lions' management sometimes. If you believe the numbers, the next three are quite winnable on paper - indeed, by Massey, we're favored tonight and next week and Minnesota shapes up to be a good each way bet. I have to believe that, by now, Schwartz is at least can see hot seat territory from where he is, but that is a relative measurement with each team. Realistically, they could go 2-1 and find a way into the playoffs somehow and - win or lose there (preferrably win) - that might be sufficient for now perhaps. Again, without knowing what the Fords, Mayhew and others are really thinking, it's difficult to be certain - it is actually sort of hard to judge the Lions like you might other teams, I think, due some of the base cultural issues with this team. 

HipsterCat

December 16th, 2013 at 3:24 PM ^

bill barnwell over on grant land broke down the playoff scenarios for the nfc north 

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/10145592/bill-barnwell-week-15-nfl

""The wins by Green Bay and Chicago ramp up the pressure on Detroit, which now basically has to win this game against Baltimore to not be at an enormous disadvantage. If it does, it'll move back into the divisional lead and hold the fourth spot in the conference, with Philadelphia (which holds a tiebreaker on each of the three NFC North competitors at the moment) in third. If Detroit loses, it'll be a game behind Chicago and Green Bay. Detroit holds the tiebreaker over Chicago and Green Bay if/when their records are equal.

Detroit remains in control of its own playoff destiny: If it wins out, Detroit will win the NFC North. If the Lions slip up against the Ravens, Giants, or Vikings, though, the Bears and Packers will sneak ahead. Chicago still plays Green Bay in Week 17 in a game that will either be incredibly meaningful or just about meaningless. Let's work backward here. If the Lions lose Monday night, whichever team wins the Bears-Packers game in Week 17 will win the division if it also won its game in Week 16. If the team that wins the Week 17 matchup lost in Week 16, meaning that the Bears and Packers each finish 1-1, the Lions would win the division by winning their final two games of the season. If all three teams finish 1-1, the winner of the Bears-Packers game wins the division. My head hurts, too.

One more permutation: If Detroit wins Monday night but loses in Week 16 or Week 17, it would lose the division to the winner of the Bears-Packers game if that team also won in Week 16. If that's not true and everybody finishes 1-1 over the final weeks, the Lions still win. If Detroit wins and then goes 0-2, just give Seattle a bye to the Super Bowl. This will be a lot clearer, I promise, after Monday night.

""

lunchboxthegoat

December 16th, 2013 at 3:05 PM ^

If it were my call anything less than a 2nd round playoff appearance is shitcan time. He's no control over his players and they blew a prime opportunity to coast to a division title. They should be 3 games up right now with 3 to go. This team is seriously underachieving. 

I bet barrinng an 0fer hes back. same ole lions afterall...

HipsterCat

December 16th, 2013 at 3:21 PM ^

if we dont make the playoffs he should be gone i'd assume. probably dont need to win anything in the playoffs as the 5th an 6th seed will most likely be the 49ers and the saints or panthers depending on how the nfc south shakes out, those teams are all better than the lions this season.

 

Tater

December 16th, 2013 at 3:37 PM ^

My guess is that the playoffs will be the determining factor.   The Lions have enough talent to win against elite teams, but nobody to teach them how to actually do it.  The Lions are in danger of wasting an era in which they have an elite QB and an elite WR with a very good RB.  Schwartz changed the culture in the locker room, but he may not be the right guy to take them to the next level.

Rico616

December 16th, 2013 at 4:10 PM ^

Stafford is not elite. I like him but he's a fuck up like Romo, Cutler, etc.

The Lions have the talent of a playoff team but let's be realistic, they're not talented enough to be conference champions with that secondary and wr's not named Calvin Johnson.

Anything short of making the playoffs is underachieving though.

JHendo

December 16th, 2013 at 3:43 PM ^

No Cutler in Chicago for a few games, no Rodgers in GB for a few games, and no quarterback who actually knows how to play football in Minnesota all season.  That is the Lions competetion to win the division this year.  So, there is no specific number of how many games the Lions have to win for Schwartz to keep his job; They just need to make the playoffs by any means necessary.  Failure to do so this year above all others would be quite telling of Schwartz' head coaching abilities.

thevictors51

December 16th, 2013 at 3:43 PM ^

I think Jim Schwartz has been good for the lions with regards to getting things on track to a point.  There seems to be more discipline in the team as well. The thing is I don’t think he is the coach to take us to the next level i.e. super bowl or even an NFC championship

Rico616

December 16th, 2013 at 4:12 PM ^

I agree but I also don't think this team has super bowl talent. There are very talented, better than the record shows. They've shown increased discipline this year but Stafford and Co. have been turnover fuck ups.