Detroit’s 16–9 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles was ugly enough on its own, but the fallout afterward has sparked an even bigger discussion: leadership inside the Lions’ locker room. Instead of debating fourth-down calls or missed tackles, attention has shifted toward accountability — and Amon-Ra St. Brown suddenly finds himself in the middle of it.
The criticism didn’t come from fans or analysts, but from someone much closer to home: his older brother, Equanimeous St. Brown. Speaking on the St. Brown Podcast, Equanimeous openly wondered whether Detroit has the right voices stepping up internally.
“You need somebody in that building who actually pulls guys aside and says, ‘You can’t do that,’” he said on the show.
He argued that several Lions players don’t seem to fully understand which actions can draw fines or flags — something he believes leaders should be reinforcing.
“Everything he does ends up being flagged or fined,” Equanimeous continued, suggesting that the Lions’ leadership group, including Amon-Ra, needs to take charge of accountability.
He pointed out that this isn’t an isolated issue. Even quarterback Jared Goff was hit with a costly penalty earlier this season against the Chiefs — a mistake Lions reporter Mike Payton says should be avoidable.
Payton questioned why Detroit’s players don’t know the exact positioning rules for quarterbacks before a snap. He noted that Green Bay employs a specialist just to handle those nuances, while Detroit does not — a small detail that can swing tight games.
As Payton explained, these errors can change the math late in a game: a missed PAT can turn a three-point situation into a four-point chase, forcing a team to need a touchdown instead of a field goal.
The broader point from Payton and Equanimeous was clear — Detroit needs stronger internal communication, and Amon-Ra, as one of the team’s cornerstone players, may need to be more assertive in keeping teammates locked in.
The conversation gained steam after the Lions’ offense wasted an early advantage and eventually fell to 6–4, tightening the NFC playoff race and increasing the pressure inside the building.
What exactly did Jameson Williams do?
Midway through the second quarter, Jameson Williams broke free for a long catch-and-run. As he approached the goal line, he slowed down, glanced back at a defender, and made a profane gesture before stepping into the end zone.
Officials immediately threw a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The touchdown counted, but the Lions were hit with a 15-yard penalty on the PAT attempt — forcing a longer kick and eliminating their chance at a stress-free seven points.
The NFL later reviewed the play and fined Williams $25,325 for taunting. The penalty killed Detroit’s momentum and put more strain on an offense that had already been struggling to finish drives.
In a punch-for-punch defensive game, the mistake became even more meaningful. Detroit never reached the end zone again.
The incident ignited broader conversations about discipline, maturity, and whether the Lions can balance swagger with smart situational football as they push for a postseason berth.
