Detroit Lions fire offensive coordinator, OL coaches amid terrible season

“We were just inept for a stretch”, Caldwell said. “We knew what we were doing, and we had fun”.

Zimmer took over prior to last season but the Vikings hadn’t won an NFC North road game since they defeated Detroit in 2012. But Caldwell said he was not concerned with Cooter’s lack of experience.

Russell is the top-rated passer in the Bowl Subdivision, throwing for 2,104 yards with 29 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Stafford said he plans to spend a significant amount of time with Cooter over the next few days to figure out how the Lions offense will change over the next nine games.

Why do I say this?

HEALTHY ENOUGH: Adrian Peterson looked fine after his status for the game was in doubt because of an illness. No, it wasn’t because he swallowed his chewing tobacco during a rough landing on the flight into Detroit, as Myers reported. But after the win, Peterson said it was eating shrimp that made him sick.

Rookie receiver Stefon Diggs followed up his sensational game against the Chiefs with another 100-yard performance (108) that included the first touchdown in a career that now spans only three games. He hasn’t produced with the Lions, after promising to improve Matthew Stafford as a quarterback.

Jeremiah Washburn was considered a hot young assistant coach two years ago, when Jim Caldwell retained him as one of a handful of holdovers from Jim Schwartz’s Detroit Lions staff.

“We’re all playing as one”.

Adrian Peterson has always been an explosive running back with the potential to break off a big run every time he touches the ball. The Chicago Bears ground game is averaging 112 yards per contest, and Matt Forte leads the way with 507 yards and two touchdowns.

The X-rays on Matthew Staffords left, non-throwing hand were negative according to Caldwell.

“Anytime guys are let go it’s a tough situation”, Stafford said.

“Since I’ve been here, the one thing that I’ve been impressed with these guys, throughout the whole football team, but especially defensively is we have been able to move along at a little faster pace because of the intelligence that we have with our guys on defense”. The Vikings trumped an early deficit against the Lions with a commanding finish, again displaying the type of calm confidence in their ability and their strategy that can portend a trip to the playoffs. After turning down multiple chances to take points on the drive, the Lions certainly had to kick the field goal now in order to survive, right?

Walsh’s 35-yard field goal midway through the quarter and his 22-yarder during the opening minute of the fourth made it 28-17. General manager Phil Emery fired Smith that year, despite a 10-6 record, and hired Trestman, who Peterson would subsequently torture the following season. Their only points after halftime came when the Vikings intentionally took a safety late in the game. The Lions had two timeouts and the ability to challenge, but did not. Ebron caught five passes for a team-high 89 yards.

Tight end Kyle Rudolph scored on a 1-yard pass from Bridgewater for Minnesota’s only touchdown in the half.

NOTES: TE Brandon Pettigrew (knee), CB Josh Wilson (concussion) and LB DeAndre Levy (hip) were among the inactives for Detroit. Kansas City leads the all-time series, 7-5-0.