Throughout the offseason, Detroit Lions fans were uneasy about whether John Morton was the right person to replace Ben Johnson as offensive coordinator. While coaching turnover is nothing new in the NFL, Johnson was a major architect behind Detroit’s recent offensive success — and the contrast between him and Morton has quickly become hard to ignore.

That concern only deepened on Sunday following a disappointing 27–24 defeat to the Minnesota Vikings. Morton’s play-calling once again left supporters shaking their heads, as the Lions managed to convert only 5 of 17 third downs (29.4%) and finished with a meager 277 total yards on 11 possessions. With each passing week, it’s looking more like Morton is holding the offense back rather than helping it.

Detroit’s roster is overflowing with offensive talent, yet Morton continues to waste those weapons. With stars such as Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta, there’s no justification for an offense this stacked to put up fewer than 10 points per quarter — especially against a Minnesota team that had surrendered 65 points across its previous two games. The showing was not just underwhelming; it was embarrassing.

His handling of wide receiver Jameson Williams was another sticking point. Williams ultimately posted four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown on six targets, but his 37-yard score came in garbage time with under two minutes remaining. Without that late play, it would have been another quiet outing for the 24-year-old, who failed to record a catch in Week 7 versus Tampa Bay.

Adding to the frustration is the fact that Morton had nearly two weeks to prepare following Detroit’s bye week. After 12 full days off, the Lions still came out looking sluggish and uninspired — an outcome that’s tough to excuse.

The loss also marked Morton’s second flop against a division rival this season. In Week 1, the Lions were limited to just 13 points and 246 total yards by the Green Bay Packers. If that trend continues, their hopes of topping the NFC North for a third consecutive year could quickly fade.

At this point, it’s fair to ask whether Morton will even finish the season as Detroit’s offensive coordinator. The Lions can’t afford to head into the final stretch of the schedule still unsure of their offensive identity. Head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes may soon have to decide if a change is necessary to get the team back on track.

Next week’s matchup against the Washington Commanders offers an opportunity to rebound, especially since Washington’s offense has been decimated by injuries. But if Detroit couldn’t capitalize on a struggling Vikings defense, there’s no guarantee things will suddenly improve.

The Lions’ staff needs to take a hard look at what went wrong in Minneapolis. Detroit’s Super Bowl aspirations depend on unlocking the full potential of its offense — and that won’t happen unless the team confronts the growing concerns surrounding John Morton’s leadership.