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Detroit Lions' Matt Patricia had rough season, ex-player preaches patience

CBS Sports analyst and former NFL MVP Boomer Esiason speaks to the media on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019, ahead of Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta. Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press

ATLANTA — Matt Patricia’s first season as Detroit Lions coach was a struggle, with a locker room that was slow to buy into his ways and an on-field product that didn’t approach anyone’s definition of success.

But just because Year 1 was a failure, former NFL players and coaches said Tuesday that doesn’t mean the Lions are doomed for a repeat performance in 2019.