If any one deserves pity it is the faithful Detroit Lion’s fans. Recent games against the Vikings and Bucs were sordid examples of futility on display. With every season of rebuilding we’re subjected to another attempt to fit a ‘square peg’ of talent into a new/improved ’round hole’ scheme of thinking. Having watched other franchises rise from the ashes of dismal periods of performance into contenders seems to support the conclusion that top down overlay approach to 62 years of rebuilding does not work. Maybe a talented ‘generalist’ approach is warranted. And yes it would take a few more years to anchor key player positions.

The next hurdle on the Lion’s horizon is a successor quarterback to Stafford unless he is a clone of P. Manning or G. Blanda, which in today’s pro football is highly unlikely.

Seasons’ end is nearly here and we already know that our 63rd year of rebuilding will have the same ‘gurus’ in charge. May God grant us beleaguered Detroit Lion’s fans the fortitude to endure another season.

If you were not expecting much, the game with the Bears did not disappoint. Blough showed big improvements over the prior game. As evidenced by the Bears 400+ yards of offense, not so much the Lion’s defense. And the ‘ole reliable’ penalties at the most inopportune time remained entrenched as part of the game plan.

As expected, the Bears made adjustments in the games’s second half with no adaptation by the Lions. Surprise, surprise. And, the habitual, obvious flaw of settling for a field goal in the ‘red zone’ is still an Achilles’s heel.

Grizzled, die hardened fans will recognize, without exception, the oncoming blather of ‘peat and repeat’ about the future of the franchise based on our 63rd year of rebuilding is at hand. At least we have a few extra days to reconstitute our mental armor for the next outing of Lion’s style football.

It was a struggle but the Detroit Lion’s came through with flying colors. Look at the game stats and you could conclude the Lions won the game. However, kicking field goals vs scoring touchdowns, shabby special teams play, usual stupid penalties and of course an inexperienced QB made it all really innovative losing to a team sporting a 1-9 W/L record.

Oh, but hang on, we’re still fighting says the coach. Blah, blah, blah. Excuse the cynicism but this is not the fans first dance with disappointment. Prior ‘brain trusts’ were excoriated for mediocre .500 W/L records and now we’re supposed to ‘chill out’ and find comfort as cellar dwellers.

Detroit has wasted great performers at many positions and is on the verge of wasting M. Stafford. We all buy that this sport, by and large, is played by professionals who disdain consistent losing.

Maybe in preparation for our 63rd year of rebuilding, we look in the mirror and accept bold face truths that we require a functional defensive secondary, competent blocking offensive line, a strong running back and a no nonsense coaching staff.

Painful but predictable is watching the Lions flail away trying to pretend they are contenders. Kudos to Driskel who showed improvement over his previous game. Beyond that comment nothing much is left to say. The statistics speak for them selves. Your defense giving up over 500 yards of offense is a ‘death wish’ in the NFL.

Playing Stafford later in the season can make remaining games more entertaining but to what end? If the defense is impotent, risk taking on offense is optionally better than putting more lipstick on the old offensive pig. Offensively we’ve reached Einstein’s definition of insanity. Playing the same way and expecting a different result.

Time for accountability is at hand. Considering previous exercises of mutation, maybe we have not gone far enough in terms of breadth and scope of organizational change.

However, based on past performances, expect nothing more than superlatives, cliches, bromides of intent and salvation somewhere in our 63rd year of rebuilding.

Here we are at the ‘exit’ door of another season. No emergency sign above the door, just a portal into the ally way of NFL wanna bees. No surprise that Stafford finally succumbed to a critical injury considering the ‘beating’ he has had to endure. This scenario is, with apologies to L. Carroll’s Christmas Story, a Detroit Lion’s version. Except Lion’s past, present and future are always the same.

For us that managed to stomach the entire Bear’s game, this exemplifies what the rest of the season beholds. Adult beverage bar analogy alert. Even with ‘beer googles’ on, this game was two substandard teams struggling to the 2:00 am closing time.

J. Driskel probably will ‘settle down’ and have accuracy improve as ‘reps’ ramp up and some level of comfort develops. Against the Bears his ‘high’ throws on occasion were obvious but ‘drops’ by the receivers were not helpful. Even though the Lions ran more plays, generated more 1st downs and more total yardage they managed to lose. And, the ole penalties at critical moments were still alive and well.

Get ready for the ‘pie in the sky’ forecasts around our 64 year of rebuilding.

What you saw is what you’ll get for the rest of the season. Stafford’s arm can not compensate for a lousy defense. Over 900 yards total games’ offense tells the entire story. Lion’s defensive effort made Radier’s D. Carr look better than average. Add in Radier’s rushing advantage and presto another valiant Lion’s effort added to the loss column.

Some of Stafford’s success was due to his receivers theatrics. But in the end even that could not save the game. Penalties were down but true to form occurred only when they could do the most damage.

Somewhere in the game aggressive play calling shifted. Most obvious was on the 4th down goal effort near games’ end.

This season’s die is cast so sit back and enjoy the ‘bonus’ wins when least expected and grit your teeth for the ones that will get away. Our 64th year of rebuilding is just beyond seasons sunset.

The Giant’s game could be a splendid example of ‘playing down’ to the competition. Or was it a match of even talent teams? Starting to look like the ole repeat of the latter. Stats show performances very similar with a few exceptions. Giant’s kickoff returns were high. Was ‘short’ kicks by the Lions a tactic? And our old friends ‘penalties’ are still with us.

If a ‘run game’ tactic sets up passing opportunities, why does a ‘passing tactic’ not set up running opportunities? Answer: you have no running game period. Is it lack of personnel or offensive schematics or both? The ‘merry-go-round’ is set to run until next years rebuilding starts anew.

Parents beware. Halloween ‘trick & or tr-eaters’ may find Lion’s game tickets in there collection pumpkins.

Yep, we’re on our way. The Viking’s game clearly exposed all you needed for affirmation of fears that ‘ghosts of years past’ are still alive and well in Detroit. The patented ‘Silver Sieve’ defense ONLY gave up 500+ yards of offense by the Vikings.

On the ‘almost’ positive side of hope, the Lion’s generated 81 yards of rushing offence. News flash! Cancel that optimism. A crucial injury negates all of the aforementioned hope.

Fast forward or backward, your choice, the ‘rebuilding’ for the 64th season has already begun. Peering into the looking glass we see acquisition and resurrection attempts of expired running backs combined with promises of future glories that will arise from the ‘hall of mirrors’ of draft choices and wizards of coaching changes. Such is the preordained destiny of the Detroit Lion’s. fans.

Lastly, emerging from all the lethargic murk is Stafford’s outstanding passing accomplishments. Really a ‘crying shame’ in perspective as he is bound to the Lions. As a comparative aside, take a peek and see where ‘stars’ from another Detroit sports team have managed to excel outside the Motor City.

Such as it is, we accept our burden as Lion’s fans to persevere and steel our selves for another cyclic saga of rebuilding toward the promise land of championships.

Ah here we go again. Do not be aggrieved by suspect officiating. Agreed, somehow the Lions accrue more than their fair share of bogus penalty calls. Now on to reality. Yes, Green Bay has a decent offense but the Lions allowed about 450+ yards of offensive production. Not exactly a demonstration of the Lion’s defensive prowess.

Let’s hope the coaching staff accepts reality that consistent winning does not involve faith is kicking 5 field goal. As a reminder, touchdowns produce over twice as many points. And without fanfare, the Lions do not have a ‘run game’. What is conjured up in the mind does not translate into rushing yards statistics. Let’s try a ‘wide open’ Stafford passing attack from start to finish. Yeah, there will be ugly ‘drops’, blown routes and errant throws but running up the middle on third downs is getting old.

Before closing, congratulations are in order for keeping possession of the ‘stupid penalty’ at ‘crucial times’ award intact. Yes, I’m talking about 12 men lined up on a critical Green Bay third down resulting in a penalty extending their touchdown drive.

Baring divine intervention, what we have seen thus far is revelation of future results.

Last Sunday’s game with Kansas City elicited an eerie feeling of ghosts of seasons past. Several ‘Ray Charles’ non penalty calls were extraordinary and all went against the Lions. Someone needs to point out where Golladay did not have control of the ball when he broke the ‘plane’ of the end zone. Is this another version of the ‘Calvin Johnson’ rule?

In the end, the Lion’s ‘prevent’ defense allowed the Chiefs to march down the field to win the game. This series and the games earlier failure to stop the Chiefs on the 4th down situation tell you the Lion’s defense still is ‘lacking’. Do the stats really show that ‘rushing’ three linemen against a ‘good’ QB is a successful strategy?

Yes this is ‘second guessing’ but history from 62 years of rebuilding buttress fans’s disillusionment. It’s going to be a yo-yo season so keep your blood pressure medication prescriptions activated.