Well, well, well, hell can freeze over and the Detroit Lions can play football. Who could have guessed. For beleaguered Lion’s fans this performance shaped up to be an all to familiar scenario. Then the haunting legacy ‘Demons’ were seemingly, at least temporarily, put out to pasture and our Lions defeated last year’s Super Bowel champions, the Kansas City Chief’s Andy Reid’s juggernaut on prime time television. Kinda like an alternate universe.

First off, you play with the hand you are dealt. The win-lost column, despite talking heads imaginations, are not complete with asterisks or footnotes of what coulda, shoulda, woulda, maybe happen. Get over it! The Lions played a complete game with an air of “trying to win” and “not trying to lose” as we’ve seen off and on over the last 65 years.

No denying the absence of key KC players effected both teams play strategy. However, KC should acknowledge their lack of depth is a genuine long term weakness. Relying on Hahomes as rushing leader is clarion warning sign. Notable thanks should be extended to the ‘brick hands’ of KC receiving corps.

Overall, the Lions previewed realistic expectations for the season ahead. One may have seen a glimmer that old style “smash mouth” football is back in vogue in Detroit. Mongo would be proud. Watch ‘Blazing Saddles’ again if this one slipped by you.