Why Darrell Bevell Is a Much Better Option for Lions than Marvin Lewis
The Detroit Lions must not fall too much in love with the idea of hiring former Cincinnati Bengals head man Marvin Lewis.
The veteran head coach has not run a team in the National Football League since the conclusion of the 2018 regular season.
His hiring would certainly be welcomed with a plethora of skepticism and frustration from a fanbase looking for a much-needed injection of hope and enthusiasm.
Could the 62-year-old Lewis summon the experience necessary to resurrect a dormant Lions franchise?
Most certainly, Lewis could get the team back into the postseason at some point.
In his 16 years with the Bengals, he reached the postseason on seven occasions, posting an 0-7 record.
That level of futility in the postseason will raise eyebrows for those looking to find anything to disparage decisions made by the Lions.
On the other hand, retaining interim head coach Darrell Bevell would provide an easier transition into the future.
Bevell, a widely respected NFL offensive coordinator, took over for Matt Patricia, after his disastrous two-and-a-half-year tenure.
In a short period of time, the veteran offensive signal-caller rallied the roster, and displayed what makes him a commodity as a coach.
Detroit's offense remained highly productive, and the team was at least semi-competitive, despite its depleted state.
No coach in the history of the league could have overcome Detroit's disastrous defense in 2020, which set franchise marks for futility by allowing the most yards and points in a single season.
Retaining Matthew Stafford would be easier
It became all too clear that members of the Lions' roster were worn down by Patricia's methods.
The lackluster performance on Thanksgiving all but sealed Patricia's fate, along with his friend and colleague Bob Quinn's.
With the dark cloud of the "Quinntricia" era lifted, it was evident the players on Detroit's roster were willing to go to battle for Bevell.
The Lions fought, and battled back to earn a road victory over their divisional rivals in the Chicago Bears in Week 13.
Matthew Stafford explained that the environment Bevell created allowed the team to relax and play fast.
"I think his energy is infectious and guys feed off it, and I really appreciate him as a person and just happy that he helped us get the win today," Stafford said following the victory over the Bears. "Guys went out there and played fast and free, and it wasn't perfect, you know. There's plays we want back. But, never quit, never really looked at the scoreboard. Just keep playing, and let it all kind of figure itself out. And it did."
Retaining Bevell would go a long way toward keeping the Lions' longtime franchise passer in Motown for at least the next couple of seasons.
A decision to bring in an outsider could be the final nail in Stafford's tenure with the sole organization he has played for since he entered the league.
More from SI All Lions:
Report: Lions' Interview with Robert Saleh Went 'Great'
Eric Bieniemy 'In the Mix' to Become Falcons Head Coach
Lions Request Interview with Bucs DC Todd Bowles
Lions Impressed with Marvin Lewis, 'In Play' for Head Coach Position
How to Redeem Free Beer Matt Prater Won for Detroit
NFL Rumors: Could Lions Trade for Deshaun Watson?
Get the latest Detroit Lions news by joining our community. Click "Follow" at the top right of our SI All Lions page. Mobile users click the notification bell. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @DetroitPodcast.
