The Detroit Lions‘ 16-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was frustrating for sure. But this defeat has turned the conversation towards the leadership inside the locker room. While the Lions played against former Super Bowl champions, the aftermath of it was more focused on accountability than the scoreboard. And at the center of it was Amon-Ra St. Brown.

The criticism came directly from his brother, Equanimeous St. Brown. On the St.Brown Podcast, he questioned the leadership inside the Lions locker room.

“You need someone in your building to talk to you about penalties, which you can’t do,” Equanimeous said on the St. Brown Podcast.

He argued that the players aren’t really aware of what penalties they might face because of their actions. Equanimeous’s comments pointed squarely at a leadership void, one that Amon-Ra should be filling, perhaps.

“Everything he does either gets fined or penalized,” he added.

And it’s not limited to St. Brown only: another big example is Jared Goff’s penalty against the Chiefs.

As Mike Payton, Lions beat reporter, writes, ”How is it not known ahead of time exactly what placement the quarterback has to be in for that not to get called?”

Well, it was a clear case of miscommunication. He also notes that Green Bay has a specialist who oversees this concern solely, and as far as the Lions are concerned, they do not have a specialist there. Payton argued that one point can be used to your disadvantage.

“Not only can you lose by a point, but also if you’re down by, if you don’t get that PAT, you might be down by four points later on when you really would be down three in the field goal range. But now you need a touchdown and you don’t get the touchdown,” Payton summed up.

His message looked very clear. Amon-Ra needs to be more vocal about this and address his players.

This all took place when the Lions’ offense failed to use their advantage after leading the game. With the playoff race getting more intense, they now fall to 6-4, forcing them to make a strong comeback.

What exactly did Jameson Williams do?

In the second quarter, after breaking loose on a long catch-and-run, Jameson Williams slowed down near the 1-yard line and turned back toward a trailing defender, making an obscene gesture as he crossed into the end zone.

Officials immediately flagged the play for unsportsmanlike conduct. Though the touchdown stood, the Lions were moved back 15 yards on the PAT, forcing a longer kick that eliminated their chance at a full seven points.

The league later reviewed the play and fined him $25,325, categorizing the gesture as taunting and improper conduct. For Detroit, the moment not only wiped away momentum but placed unnecessary pressure on an offense already struggling to finish drives.

In a game dominated by defense and field position, the penalty became even more vital. Detroit never scored another touchdown. The celebration sparked more than just fines and conversation; it showed the fine line the Lions must walk as they try to mature into a disciplined contender.

Now with playoff implications ahead and pressure intensifying inside the building, Detroit has to balance big-play swagger with smart football to ensure instances like this don’t repeat and cost them winnable games.