On an extremely basic level, a team’s level of execution can be measured by its ability to avoid penalties. If you’re executing well, you won’t have resort to bending the rules—whether it means grabbing a defensive end who raced by you or slapping the arms of a receiver before the ball comes.
The Detroit Lions haven’t executed well this season. That much is clear both from their overall record and head coach Matt Patricia’s comments in nearly every post-game press conference.
But to drive the point home further, the Lions are also one of the most penalized teams in the entire NFL.