One pertinent key indicator of a championship team is consistent performance. Four quarters of play executed with minimal errors and an absence of charity awarded to opponents is a winner’s standard. Sunday’s display was an antithesis by definition. How do you produce a ‘cliffhanger’ from what should be a ‘no mas’ ending? Play like the Detroit Lions before a national audience.

No sane fan expects four quarters of razzle dazzle but surely when reversion to ‘up the middle, up the middle, incomplete pass and punt becomes the ‘creme de la creme’ of coaching it is nauseous.

Yes, there were moments of self induced drama by passes almost caught, blocks missed and tackles blown offset by needle threaded passes, text book pass routes and QB pressure but these are not the hallmarks of a team destined to travel to the Super Bowel promise land.

The remaining Lion’s schedule will be a dichotomy of fulfillment or entree into year 67 of rebuilding.