Gentle Lion’s fans,

Again social commitments prevented me from watching all but the last 7 minutes of the game. Undoubtedly, the best ever. Note to the Vikings: When you think your kill-shot is fatal, check for a pulse. Nothing as dangerous as a wounded Lion. I watched after the Vikings took the lead 16-13 of a sideline conversation between apparently A. Peterson in civvies and a linebacker(#59?) confabbing as if the game was in the bag. Hubris can be a wicked ‘bitch’ when flaunted.

Big time kudos to M. Stafford for getting in position for the tying field goad. Someone please buy Prater an adult beverage in appreciation for his 58 yard “chip shot”. Stafford’s overtime drive was methodical and worthy of deserved praise. Execution by a team in this situation wipes away a lot of recent sins.

Savor the taste of victory and keep faith the we may not have to suffer a 59th of rebuilding.

Gentle Lion’s fans,

Well, now it’s all out in the open for all to see. The Lion’s defense is found lacking both against the run and the passing attack. This weeks’ game highlighted the futility of Detroit’s run defense and offensive running ability. Just look at the running ‘stats’ on both sides of the ball. Third down conversion efficiency “stunk”. B. Osweiler’s limited skills in passing were offset by multiple tight end completions in the first half. E. Ebron, take note of how they consistently caught the ball.

If ‘passing’ is your only effective weapon, why try run wide sweeps or three times up the middle? To answer the question, Stafford needs time for downfield patterns to develop or has to rely on short ‘dunk’ passes assuming of course receivers can hang onto the ball. Only scoring a field goal in either games’ half against an average opponents defense is not going to make for a winning season.

Now to the “adult beverage” moment. No, not the ‘red flag’ judgement call, but the infamous on-side kick-off attempt. Maybe you wanted to avoid the “slow” version of’throwing the defense under the bus’ or just wanted to get to the “hell out of dodge” and take the express route by bypassing a chance of defensive redemption, Mission accomplished coach.

A quick glance at the remaining schedule offers no reasons for optimism. Yes, Stafford my provide some moments of heroics but our destiny is in our 59th year of rebuilding and another coach into Detroit’s graveyard of coaches.

Gentle Lion’s fans,

Not trusting my memory, I took three pages of notes during the game. Yes, the men in Honolulu blue won but how they got there is up for debate. The brightest spot was Stafford. Others had their moments such as Jones and Tate. A 3-3 tie at the half can be easily misconstrued as a classic defensive battle when it reality it was just the result of the usual dropped passes by each team and Washington’s fumble at the goal line. Do you remember the last time you saw a ricochet off the top of the goal post on a field goal try?

Detroit’s running statistics without Stafford’s scramble, are still bad. Giving your opponent 7 more first downs than you make is troublesome. K.Cousins managed to pass for 300 yards. A lot of Washington’s successful passes were into the center of the Lion’s defensive secondary.

Our beloved Detroit Lion’s need to put all the pieces together, with or without injuries, for the rest of the season and be consistent for both halves of the game if they expect to compete for a playoff position. Consistency includes catching well thrown passes, finding an effective running game, designing a secondary defense that can throttle a passing quarterback, commit minimal ‘stupid’ stupid penalties and prevent physical destruction of an excellent quarterback.

As my brother-in-law has said on numerous occasions, “Watching a Lion’s game is always easier when consumption of alcohol is involved”. Just remember, “beer googles” do not change the games’ outcome.

Gentle Lion’s fans,

It wasn’t pretty but it was a win and we’ll take it as such. Still some ‘dropped passes’, frustrating but no impact on games’ outcome. Penalties still on the high side. The big ‘albatross’ is allowing an opposing team’s QB to pass for over 300 yards. The Lion’s ‘running game’ barely sufficed. The bright spot was Zenner’s performance once he cleared the line of scrimmage on a run or pass play. Detroit still needs a ‘smash mouth’ north/south running back.

Long term, trading points is not going to lead to the playoffs. As long as Stafford remains healthy and mobile the rest of the season has a promise of being entertaining to say the least.

Gentle Lion’s fans,

Game recap: score big points in the first half, then do practically nothing on offence until the Eagles give you a gift allowing you to win the game. Second half produced three possession with three and out. Just for novelty sake, let’s try to put two half’s of a game with the same result. But that would eliminate all the suspense of the ‘heroic’ comeback try or agony of a ‘failed’ defensive stop. Sounds like an issue coaching could effect.

Did you notice the Eagles suffered from the same ‘penalty disease’ and ‘gifted’ the Lion’s an extra net ‘offence’ of 92 yards? Take away Stafford’s run for life stats and Detroit’s rushing yards was a meager 64 yards. New offensive formations were a welcome deviation.

Perhaps the league should consider ‘gift wins’ to replace the ‘tie’ category. Detroit: 1W-3L-1GW. But this would not have the same effect as always remembering the ‘one that got away’. Guaranteed, more ugly but standardized Detroit Lion’s manic outcomes to arrive on cue in future games.

Wow, where to start. First, condolence to all of you who watched the entire game. One can assume three pathetic routine plays have cemented themselves into the Lion’s playbook. First we have the ‘don’t get called on a stupid penalty unless it materially effects the games’ outcome’. Second, drop all passes that can potentially create gains for a new set of down. Third, all receivers may optionally disregard the designed pass pattern as defined by the play called by the quarterback.

Eric Ebron should have his agent update his resume because his time has come and gone. What a ‘bonehead’ demonstration by giving up on a play before the referee whistles the play dead. Was he wandering off to offer contrition to the coaching staff?

Discipline and spine are going to be the differences between a seasonal outcome of 8/8 vs 6/10. The time for platitudes and excuses has expired even if it is only four games into the season. It’s one thing to be defeated but significantly better that aiding in your own defeat. With apologies to the ‘bard’, “a loss by any other name is still a loss”.

Gentle Lion’s fans,
First a disclaimer. Due to a social committment, I was only able to watch the game’s first half. The outcome was never in doubt as I turned off the TV. As usual, our boys put on a performance not suited for those with a weak heat or stomach. How can you have a significant edge in time of possession and more than 167 passing yard vs the opponent and still lose the game? Check the ‘run’ stats vs GreenBay or can someone say ‘secondary defense’? Something is wrong when the ‘bright spot’ is that only four penalties were called but blunted by a 66 yard beauty for pass interference.

The Detroit Lions have two game plans: A- Score lots of points in the first half and allow the other team to dominate the second half and secure a win in a ‘thriller’, B- Score no or limited points in the first half and score lots of points in the second half to still produce a loss in a ‘heart-breaker’ effort.

For the sake of the fan’s well being, can we please have a game plan the combines the best of A and B in spite of the opposing team’s adjustments? It’s way to early to conjure up that ugly 59th year of the ‘rebuilding’ Zombie but with the Detroit Lions you can take nothing for granted. A few more of these spastic performances will create a splendid opportunity for a ‘half off’ sale on Detroit Lion’s paraphernalia at Sam’s Club.

Gentle Lion’s fans,

If you sat through this entire game you encountered a sense of deja vous when the Lion’s had the ball on Titan’s 1 yard line and settled for a field goal after consecutive penalties eliminated a possible touchdown. You knew dead certain the outcome. Perhaps the offense misplaced Jim-Bob’s play book and used a Lion’s oldie but goodie offensive scheme that includes: stupid penalties, dropped passes and other assorted mental brain farts. You just cannot give away 138 yards of offense to penalties. Stafford still had to ‘scramble/run’ to many times. Great way to shorten a QB’s career. Unfortunate injuries are going to further insure a dismal seasonal outcome.

The worst is yet to come as the season progresses. A season of 8-8 may be a stretch. J. Caldwell,can you hear the ghost of B.Ross saying “this is not the way I coach a football team”? An opening exists in Detroit Lion’s graveyard of coaches but you will be in good company.

Ever inventive, the Lions used a blown PAT to create an opening for a loss. For reasons yet to be divined, the Lions seem to ‘back off’ every time they build a substantial lead. It drives me crazy. Yes, some credit must be given to the opponents for adjustments in tactics. A look at the Colt’s passing and running stats provide a glaring view into the Lion’s defensive issues. Yes, they shut down Gore but will face other teams with a significantly more potent running game. The glaring issue is allowing Luck to throw for 385 yards. Also, Luck had plenty of time to throw. Any opponent with a decent running attack will exacerbate the Lion’s weakness in the passing secondary. And, stupid penalties are still with us.

On the positive side, Stafford was not pounded into the dirt and made good choices on pass management. He could use a little more time to set up passing opportunities. Riddick proved his dual purpose as runner and receiver and is to be respected. Abdullah can be an asset if he remains healthy.

The game was way more exciting than it had to be. And a win is a win but don’t allow your expectations for the season to be contaminated by one game. The ‘ghost of seasons past’ still has a firm seat on the Lion’s bench.

Folks,

Here we are on the eve of the 2016 season and injuries have already altered the resurrection process. Calvin Johnson’s retirement and Stafford’s future as good/bad/mediocre QB linger in the air like stale beer. Preseason play is a babbling flourish of could’a, should’a, and would’a that fill space on the sports pages.

However, hope springs eternal as a Detroit Lion’s fan. Maybe the 58th year of rebuilding is just below the horizon. Sit back and enjoy the sunrise before reality arrives to rear its ugly head as has happened the past 57 years.

Calvin, we will always remember you and your spectacular catches as we gird our loins for another football season in Detroit.