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.

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.