Selection of words to describe this game with the Eagles is very short and succinct. Little was left to the imagination because futility was on real time display moment by moment. No reason to beat a ‘dead horse’ when the obvious is staring you up front in your face. This team has no run defense, pass defense and/or offensive capability. Depending on the opponent, the choice of weakness is exploited by their run game, passing game or both.

Presto, this is how you get to and 0-8 record with a genuine shot at a forever owner of 0-17 record to surpass the Lion’s enviable 0-16 season. We may see a spike in attendance as the season progresses as football history is in the making. Proliferation of the most loyal Lion’s fan discontent will result in an explosion of ‘grocery bag’ displays as the farcical second half of the season trudges to a dismal conclusion.

So much for our 64th year of rebuilding. The coaching staff can only do so much and as the old saying goes, “turn a pigs ear into a silk purse”. Not going to happen. A few gems may rise up by way of talent frost-heave in spite of the dearth of mediocrity but be not deceived, this team in a ‘clunker’.

Gentle Lion’s fans,

We saw some affirmations, both positive and negative, of preconceived notions. Foremost is that Goff is no Stafford. Goff failed to execute when most needed. Stats support that our Lion’s secondary pass defense is woefully inadequate. LAR offense was 87% passing. On a few carries by Swift, their were some ‘Barry’ moves of days long gone. The game plan with special team’s ‘wrinkles’ added some ‘spice’ to a game with a destined conclusion.

Based on post game commentaries by a wide array of pundits, Goff is now the official reason for the Lion’s 0-7 record. Your supposed to suspend belief the the same array of players could have executed miraculously under Stafford. Yep, just another trade characterized as ‘two in the bush is worth more that one bird in hand’. And, wallah were officially into our 65th year of rebuilding. What if LAR finish at or near the ‘top of the heap’ for the next two seasons? How far down in the draft picking order will two #1 picks be really worth? Not to misconstrue, Stafford deserved the chance to play with a full “deck” of supporting talent considering how much longevity he has left. George Bland he is not to quote “Yoda”.

The Lions may manage to win a few games during the rest of the season and avoid the coveted ‘trophy’ of two windless seasons in modern day NFL history.

Get used to the patina of defeat. After trading stupid penalties the game settled down into a familiar pattern of three and out for the Lions. As a natural follow on, the Bengals proceeded to eviscerate the Lion’s defense. Leave your defense on the field and eventually even the best of shape individuals will tire. Game over.

Cincinnati’s rushing game crushed the Lions and they responded with a meager output of 36 yards rushing. Goff’s passing was ineffectual at best.

The ghost of 0-16 is ensconced forever in record books and the ‘stink’ still prevails. Gentle Lion’s fans we have nothing to look forward to but more derision and satirical football comedy during the rest of our 64th year of rebuilding.

Humpty Dumpty is still broken with no chance of reassembly this season. “Silver Sieve” defense is alive and well. Additional key player injures enhance an outlook of a truly dismal season beyond the first five games. Fans will be treated to derision as permanent keepers of the “doormat” of NFL teams.

So far we’ve been surprised by a coaching staff willing to eschew 64 years of Lion’s tradition by not taking risks on 4th down situations. However, when the secondary defense is performance deficient, why is it sane to give even a mediocre opposing QB more time to execute critical passes?

By now the lack of scoring from within the ‘red zone’ is an accepted fact. Faith in a run game is only valid if it works when needed. More of the ‘same’ is the most we can look forward for the rest of this season.

Gentle Lion’s fans,

After four games into the season, this scenario should be blatantly familiar. Only item missing is a ‘sacrificial lamb’ who was exiled to the west coast.

What have we seen that is new? Well, an innovative way to fumble was superbly executed when a unexpected snap from center ricocheted off the QB into the arms of an opposing lineman. Goeff wishes he could have a redo on a few errant passes. Failure to score in the red zone is old hat for the Lions. And, not to beat a ‘dead horse’, the Lion’s secondary is mediocre at best.

After the upcoming Minnesota game the Lions have a splendid opportunity to gain a solid grip on last place in all of the NFL standings. However, all the prior 63 years of rebuilding have so calloused us fans that failure is our lot and place in football fandom.

Let’s hope that coach Dan Campbell has enough fortitude and toughness to survive until the seasons’ injury situation rectifies itself and in future seasons, draft choices can help rescue the franchise. Countless other teams have done the “Phoenix” thing in less that 64 seasons.

marvinudy

Gentle Lion’s fans,

First a look at the game. A quick review of the overall stats would seem to give you the impression that the Lions outplayed the Ravens and won the game. However, remember the 2-3 dropped ‘gimmie’ passes the Raven receivers committed early in the game? Gifts to the Detroit defense who struggled the entire game. Wide open receivers made for easy targets for Jackson. Fourth down calls were not controversial in my opinion.

What drives me nuts is the ‘prevent’ defense. You cannot stop the passing game by a ‘running’ QB so why not give him more time to pass or run the ball as an option. And, Detroit made its usual quota of penalties most effectively to each critical situation.

Now on the big ‘bug-a-boo’. Go back into history in 1970 when Dempsey kicked a record setting 63 yr field goal to defeat the Lions. Fast forward to the playoff game with Dallas when a penalty flag was picked up on a genuine ‘pass interference’ call. Videos of this call are probably used as part of an NFL referee training film on what ‘classic’ pass interference looks like. Moving forward, remember the invention of the famous “Calvin Johnson” ‘catch’ rule that sealed the Lion’s fate in another critical situation.

And, for all the non believers, we have a record setting 66 yd field goal executed after what appears to be kicked 2 seconds beyond the expatriation of time which should have been a delay of game penalty. Who knows, could have saved the Lions from the ignominy of having a 71 yd field goal kicked against them to ensure another loss.

It appears the “curse” permanently resides in Detroit City and does not transfer with players as a contagion. Those that watched our alumni M. Stafford manhandle Tampa into submission saw proof he was not contaminated.

marvinudy

Gentle Lion’s fans,

Yes this is truly another year of rebuilding. Nothing to see here so move along and stock up on Tums antacid tablets. Monday night was truly reminiscent of any prior 63 years. Blast out of the starting blocks looking good and then retreat back to past form. Start out by killing a momentum drive with two stupid penalties. Downhill from that point on. Overall stats are deceiving.

Add turnovers and fumbles into the game mix and it’s all over but the shouting. Goff has got to forget about those heroic passes when he is being pummeled into the ground. Lion’s inept defense made for easy pickings for A. Rodgers. Bottom line is that Green Bay made their offensive gains count compared to the Lions. As an aside, Hockenson may be the next wasted talent for the Lions to squander.

The upcoming game with Baltimore is going to be really brutal to watch. Keep you ‘adult beverages’ close at hand.

marvinudy

Gentle Lion’s fans,

Nothing like the feel of smashing your fingers with a hammer to remind you that being a Detroit Lion’s fan is not for the weak or feeble. Ok, I’ll concede ‘febble minded’. Opening day’s game with the 49ers validated that our “Silver Sieve” defense was fully migrated intact from last season. Consistency is so reassuring.

Don’t be deceived by the final score or the stats. This game was over at half time. San Frans ‘prevent’ defense made the games’ last half ‘entertaining’. Nothing you saw was of any significance with the possible exception of a glimmer of a Lion’s run game. Still way to early to bank on.

Same ole grimace on the new coaches face after every failure to execute on defense. Well, next week we will find out if A. Rogers has really ‘flamed out’ or the just had a bad day. Get ready for the usual barrage of platitudes and commitments to rectify last weeks’ folly of a game. Don’t expect to hear from the new ‘Crown Princess’ of the Ford family any time soon.

For any who had the opportunity to see any of the LA/Bears game, our old QB alum had a great day. Good to see him smiling from the sidelines and not from the bottom of a ‘sack’ pile. We look forward to retribution day on October 24, 2021.

The bells tolling in the background are for the end of the Stafford era in Detroit. Our decimated Lion’s need to be put out of their misery. Matthew Stafford deserves a better outcome than dying on the rotted Lion’s vine. Maybe the Rams could use a seasoned QB?

The Buccaneer’s game was a splendid example for the need of a “mercy” rule in the NFL. Slice and dice was the order of the day. The Lion’s philosophy of putting a thoroughbred as leader of the pack supported by much lesser talent has to be changed. It has not worked for 63 years and will not make any difference in the 64th year of rebuilding.

Our seasons’ finally will, at best, be like watching the dying embers of every other year of rebuilding revealing the same old smoke and mirrors we’ve endured for 63 years.

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Well here we are again. After 62 years of practice, the ‘fat lady’ has the script down pat. Start with high expectations followed by mediocre results. Add in a few dramatic moments of coaching changes with predictable let downs from ‘coulda/shoulda’ moments wrapped around key injuries and initial signals of twilight from an exceptional athletic talent. It’s called the “Detroit Lion’s Way” and registered and patented as a trademark of the franchise. Yes, three more games still remain but ‘blah’ is the order of the day.

Against Green Bay the score only reflects Green Bays sloppy execution during the second half otherwise it is a ‘blowout’. Anyone remember when Cleveland went 0-16? See any of their performances this year? What is Detroit missing?

Sixty three years is a long time for a “rerun” program and some di-hard fans are nearing ‘expiration dates’. So as one of the di-hards, please pick up the pace during our 64th year of rebuilding.