Gentle Lion’s fans,

Good game to watch but histrionically based Lion’s finish. Thanks to the defense for making the game closer than the score indicated. However, giving up 400 yards of offence is not dominance by any definition. Prater’s four field goals attest to an inability to ‘cash in’ on opportunities. Third down conversion efficiency slumped back to unacceptable. Definitely a fatal flaw in your rushing game when your franchise quarterback is 27% of your rushing yards.

Maybe I missed something but the short passing game seem to be succeeding early by design or Atlanta’s disdain to defend was abandoned after some measure of success. Oh yes, least we forget, ‘brick hands’ Ebron returned to true form. Still to many penalties even though they were almost even up with Atlanta.

And yes the final play review may have been questionable but the rules on clock management were implemented as written. One could question whether the ball crossed the front plane edge of the goal line maker vs the back plane line marker before his kneed touched the ground. Setting that aside, offensive execution on other scoring opportunities would have made the last play a mute point.

Bottom line is this season should be way better than last year but probably not good enough to cause jubilation.

Gentle Lion’s fan,

This is what it looks like when you put all the pieces together and in sync. Admittedly, the Giants are somewhat ‘crippled’ but that does not detract from the Lion’s performance. First I would like to offer congratulations to E. Ebron who appears to be on the road to shedding ownership of my designated name “bickhands’. Ezekiel Ansah was significant in not allowing Manning time to set-up and complete passes. Abdullah made some nice moves for good gains. Just when the Giants thought they had Stafford stifled, he responded with smart runs. Additional upgrades were time of possession, less stupid penalties and improved 3rd down conversion efficiency.

Let’s all savor the win and be realistic looking at the future schedule starting with Atlanta. And, I cannot let mention of Prater’s ricochet field goal pass by. Kind of icing on the cake so to speak. When thing go right the world is a vibrant Honolulu blue as opposed to black and blue ash cloth.

Welcome back to our 59th year of rebuilding Detroit Lion’s style. Sunday’s game, December 10th, was a perfect example of the schizoid personality of the Lions. The first half of the game made me want to watch the Weather Channel covering hurricane Irma for a sanity check. Ever stupid penalty ever committed was revisited 2017 style. And yes, dropped passes remained a stalwart part of their offence. The potent running game was left inscribed on the chalk board for the next team meeting. For sheer creativity special teams were not to be outdone. Kick returns and punting both crashed and burned. However, in spite of offensive ineptness the defense managed to keep the game alive.

Whatever transpired during half time should be brewed and bottled for future use for the rest of the season. Execution miraculously became a functioning element of the game. In summary, donating 100 yards of penalties combined with 300 yards of opponents’ offense is not an overwhelming display of dominance. But with the Lions, take a win when you can get it no manner how it is earned.

Stand ready for next week to see who shows up; Jekyll or Hyde. Keep your Tums and ‘adult beverages’ handy for medicinal purposes.

Gentle Lion’s fans,

This was a ‘stinker’ from the get go. Bile started gurgling up when Tate and ‘brick hands’ Ebron early on dropped sure passes. From there the down hill express to defeat left the station. No need to worry about containing Wilson’s running. Rawls shredded the Lion’s defense for ‘only’ 161 yards. Contrast this with Zenner’s combined output, run and receptions, exceeding 5 out of 6 Lion’s pass receivers. Notwithstanding, this had to be Stafford’s most miserable outing.

The only demonstration of Lion’s “excellence” was in the ‘stupid’ penalty category. Words cannot capture or describe the senselessness on parade. But as usual they were made to maximize negative impact at the most critical of times.

Lions, let’s stop with the ‘whining’ about the refs. You lost the last four games when destiny was in your hands. Maybe coach Caldwell might rethink his additional tenure of another year of Detroit Lion’s style of football.

Hang on Lion’s fans, the gentle breeze of hope wafts delicately in the air as we launch our 59th year of rebuilding. Until next season, this is marvinudy signing off and hoping we all survive long enough to watch a Lion’s championship team in action

Gentle Lion’s fans,

The wooden stake or silver bullet, take your pick, materialized when M. Prater missed the seemingly routine field goal. As an added bonus A. Rodgers ran for yardage when it counted. Green Bay doubled Detroit’s running effort and had 50% more time of possession.

It seemed that Stafford was just slightly off due to the ‘finger thing’ or the receivers were well blanketed by Green Bay’s pass defense. Lion’s pass defenders consistently were ‘chasing’ Packer’s receivers not aware of the thrown ball’s position.

Coach, please discourage the practice of trying to ‘arm tackle’ big running backs moving with a full head of steam. Also tackle the pass receiver before the first down marker instead of ‘riding’ them down after the marker.

Seattle should be an interesting game. Two ‘wounded ducks’ just trying to postpone the inevitable.

Gentle Lion’s fans,

Cowboy’s talent overcame Lion’s grit. However, if Green Bay doesn’t bring their top “A” game next week the Lions are NFC central champs.

Based on watching the Packers playing the Bears, I wouldn’t be surprised to see an opening salvo with full out passing schemes by the Lions. Send everybody. Let Stafford choose a few easy ones and then ‘sneak’ in some runs. On defense, ‘blitz’ and more ‘blitz’. This is no time to play ‘not to lose’. Times up!

Note to all the pass receivers, including ‘brick hands’ Ebron, Holding on to the pass is part of the job description. Ball carriers, north-south is the preferred direction. Let’s hope Zenner is over the ‘fumbleites’ virus. Up the middle power runs at the goal line don’t cut it consistently for the Lions.

Get Stafford into a rhythm and the final score will reflect accordingly. Time for all the pieces of the puzzle to coalesce.

Gentle Lion’s fans,

The blog was down last week do to a death in our extended family. My nephew succumbed after a long struggle with a fearsome malady and taken from this earth well before his expected time. Our hearts are heavy with the loss of a Colt’s fan and Lion’s blog reader.

Sundays’ game with the Giants was sealed when Zenner fumbled into the end zone with the Giants getting a touch-back. The Giant’s pass defense made life miserable for Stafford as exhibited by his completion statistics. Stafford’s ‘finger’ issue probably had little to do with the outcome. As seen in previous games the Lion’s run game was miserable to non existent. Sounding like a ‘stuck’ record, field goal victories do not propel you very far into the playoff schedule even if you manage to ‘back in’.

Giant’s punter, B. Wing was exceptionally effective. Twice he ‘stuck’ the Lions to start inside the five yard line. Also, would someone please tell the Lion’s punt returners that north-south is the way to the opponents goal line.

Our final two games have a low probability of favorable outcomes.

Gentle Lion’s fans,

Yes, it’s true the Lions hold their destiny in their very own hands. Sunday’s game with New Orleans was a ‘workman like’ project from start to finish. Not much ‘flash or dash’ but full of ‘slow but sure’ and demonstratively demonstrated by the lopsided time of possession. Almost a ‘throw back’ to football of the ‘old days’.

One final but critical issue that needs correcting is the inability of scoring touchdowns when in a position to do so. Field goals are no substitute for touchdowns in anybodies playbook. Kicking field goals in place of touchdowns will not result in a favorable outcome for the rest of the seasons’ schedule. Also, remember it is unwise to poke a stick into a wounded bear. Bring the “killer instinct” to the forefront of suffer the consequences.

In the meantime, savor the flavor that has been long lost or denied faithful Lion’s fans.

Gentle Lion’s fans,

Yes it’s true. Our beloved Lions are in first place of the NFL-north division and Hell’s climate is flirting with record cold temperatures.

This was not a game to stash away in memories of glory but one that should be excepted as is and a win. Stafford had a less than expected performance. Blitzes by the Vikings made life tough for him. Was it him, the offensive line or the Vikings? The remaining schedule opponents will take note and act accordingly.

Lack of consistency from half to half, start to middle or middle to end are required for a team to move past the first round of a playoff schedule. The Lion’s are not there yet. Adjustments and ‘fixes’ are square on the shoulders of the coaching staff. Either put all the pieces together or watch the rest of the season become rancorous and bitter. We need concrete evidence by way of consistent performance proving that the light at our tunnels’ end is truly daylight.

Gentle Lion’s fans,

Let’s hope a seasons’ luck wasn’t totally consumed on this game. Yes we won but what should have been a no ‘contest’ was turned into a stomach churning episode. Clearly, Jacksonville’s QB providing the Lion’s defense with two interceptions were made to order ‘gifts’. However, a very special thanks is proffered to Mr. Marks(99) for his very timely defensive encroachment penalty which allowed the Lions to continue their drive in a 4th down situation.

Now on to the self inflicted Lion’s wounds. Fourteen net yards of a run game for starters. First half dropped passes were frequent. Lack of defense to contain Jacksonville’s run game. The Lion’s Abysmal 3rd down efficiency. Deficient time of possession.

The six remaining seasons’ games are stocked with teams not known for charity. Detroit must put two halves of competent football together or we’ll all be consuming ‘adult’ beverages to fog over the dreaded coulda, shoulda and woulda syndrome. Stafford is talented but can only compensate for so much mediocre team execution as displayed in this game. The melodic refrain you hear in the background is not “The 59th Street Bridge” song but the Lion’s 59th year of rebuilding melody.