Here we are at the ‘exit’ door of another season. No emergency sign above the door, just a portal into the ally way of NFL wanna bees. No surprise that Stafford finally succumbed to a critical injury considering the ‘beating’ he has had to endure. This scenario is, with apologies to L. Carroll’s Christmas Story, a Detroit Lion’s version. Except Lion’s past, present and future are always the same.

For us that managed to stomach the entire Bear’s game, this exemplifies what the rest of the season beholds. Adult beverage bar analogy alert. Even with ‘beer googles’ on, this game was two substandard teams struggling to the 2:00 am closing time.

J. Driskel probably will ‘settle down’ and have accuracy improve as ‘reps’ ramp up and some level of comfort develops. Against the Bears his ‘high’ throws on occasion were obvious but ‘drops’ by the receivers were not helpful. Even though the Lions ran more plays, generated more 1st downs and more total yardage they managed to lose. And, the ole penalties at critical moments were still alive and well.

Get ready for the ‘pie in the sky’ forecasts around our 64 year of rebuilding.

What you saw is what you’ll get for the rest of the season. Stafford’s arm can not compensate for a lousy defense. Over 900 yards total games’ offense tells the entire story. Lion’s defensive effort made Radier’s D. Carr look better than average. Add in Radier’s rushing advantage and presto another valiant Lion’s effort added to the loss column.

Some of Stafford’s success was due to his receivers theatrics. But in the end even that could not save the game. Penalties were down but true to form occurred only when they could do the most damage.

Somewhere in the game aggressive play calling shifted. Most obvious was on the 4th down goal effort near games’ end.

This season’s die is cast so sit back and enjoy the ‘bonus’ wins when least expected and grit your teeth for the ones that will get away. Our 64th year of rebuilding is just beyond seasons sunset.

The Giant’s game could be a splendid example of ‘playing down’ to the competition. Or was it a match of even talent teams? Starting to look like the ole repeat of the latter. Stats show performances very similar with a few exceptions. Giant’s kickoff returns were high. Was ‘short’ kicks by the Lions a tactic? And our old friends ‘penalties’ are still with us.

If a ‘run game’ tactic sets up passing opportunities, why does a ‘passing tactic’ not set up running opportunities? Answer: you have no running game period. Is it lack of personnel or offensive schematics or both? The ‘merry-go-round’ is set to run until next years rebuilding starts anew.

Parents beware. Halloween ‘trick & or tr-eaters’ may find Lion’s game tickets in there collection pumpkins.

Yep, we’re on our way. The Viking’s game clearly exposed all you needed for affirmation of fears that ‘ghosts of years past’ are still alive and well in Detroit. The patented ‘Silver Sieve’ defense ONLY gave up 500+ yards of offense by the Vikings.

On the ‘almost’ positive side of hope, the Lion’s generated 81 yards of rushing offence. News flash! Cancel that optimism. A crucial injury negates all of the aforementioned hope.

Fast forward or backward, your choice, the ‘rebuilding’ for the 64th season has already begun. Peering into the looking glass we see acquisition and resurrection attempts of expired running backs combined with promises of future glories that will arise from the ‘hall of mirrors’ of draft choices and wizards of coaching changes. Such is the preordained destiny of the Detroit Lion’s. fans.

Lastly, emerging from all the lethargic murk is Stafford’s outstanding passing accomplishments. Really a ‘crying shame’ in perspective as he is bound to the Lions. As a comparative aside, take a peek and see where ‘stars’ from another Detroit sports team have managed to excel outside the Motor City.

Such as it is, we accept our burden as Lion’s fans to persevere and steel our selves for another cyclic saga of rebuilding toward the promise land of championships.

Ah here we go again. Do not be aggrieved by suspect officiating. Agreed, somehow the Lions accrue more than their fair share of bogus penalty calls. Now on to reality. Yes, Green Bay has a decent offense but the Lions allowed about 450+ yards of offensive production. Not exactly a demonstration of the Lion’s defensive prowess.

Let’s hope the coaching staff accepts reality that consistent winning does not involve faith is kicking 5 field goal. As a reminder, touchdowns produce over twice as many points. And without fanfare, the Lions do not have a ‘run game’. What is conjured up in the mind does not translate into rushing yards statistics. Let’s try a ‘wide open’ Stafford passing attack from start to finish. Yeah, there will be ugly ‘drops’, blown routes and errant throws but running up the middle on third downs is getting old.

Before closing, congratulations are in order for keeping possession of the ‘stupid penalty’ at ‘crucial times’ award intact. Yes, I’m talking about 12 men lined up on a critical Green Bay third down resulting in a penalty extending their touchdown drive.

Baring divine intervention, what we have seen thus far is revelation of future results.

Last Sunday’s game with Kansas City elicited an eerie feeling of ghosts of seasons past. Several ‘Ray Charles’ non penalty calls were extraordinary and all went against the Lions. Someone needs to point out where Golladay did not have control of the ball when he broke the ‘plane’ of the end zone. Is this another version of the ‘Calvin Johnson’ rule?

In the end, the Lion’s ‘prevent’ defense allowed the Chiefs to march down the field to win the game. This series and the games earlier failure to stop the Chiefs on the 4th down situation tell you the Lion’s defense still is ‘lacking’. Do the stats really show that ‘rushing’ three linemen against a ‘good’ QB is a successful strategy?

Yes this is ‘second guessing’ but history from 62 years of rebuilding buttress fans’s disillusionment. It’s going to be a yo-yo season so keep your blood pressure medication prescriptions activated.

Gentle Lion’s fans,

A quick reminder that over the last 63 years of ‘rebuilding’ we have seen this train leave the station before. Yes, the Lion’s are undefeated so far BUT to many unanswered questions remain. Sunday’s game was won by Stafford’s passing. Just check out the ‘rushing stats’. Eagles offense was much more balanced. The Lions are still a ‘passing’ team offense. Well after efforts to ‘establish’ a run game expired, the Lions kept up the futility.

The Lion’s still committed silly penalties at critical moments. Some were refereeing errors going both ways. In addition the Eagles had a severe case of passing ‘dropsies’.

In summary, this game should have been over early but in true Lion’s style they failed to apply the ‘cup de grace’. Not to diminish the Eagles’s effort but having a games’ outcome hinge on a blocked field goal attempt and aborted ‘hail mary’ passes to secure a ‘win’ is not the way playoff teams work.

It looks as if we’re gearing up for a reality 8-7-1 season or die hard Lion’s optimism expectations of a 9-6-1 record.

Ugly does not even describe this game. Your ‘bingo’ card of penalties would be a sure ‘coverall’. A premonition of disaster started with the missed PAT on the Lion’s first touchdown. Stafford’s time to throw was minuscule compared to the time Rivers enjoyed. If this performance was the new and improved Lions, get ready for a plethora of Lion’s game tickets in your Halloween bag instead of candy.

Missed field goals by LA were part of the gift package along with their 9 penalties that the Lions repaid with 8 penalties of their own. Lion’s defense only gave up a little over 400 yards to LA. Not exactally a stellar defensive outing.

The next few games are with way less forgiving teams so gird your loins for some tough sledding. On the bright side, our Lions avoided starting the season with a 0-0-2 record.

Gentle Lion’s fans,

Well here we go again. Another innovative way to make a loser team look good. Never one to let a game escape into the ‘win’ column, our beloved Lions continue to evolve.

For starters, we watch a rookie quarterback flounder on trying to pass down the middle. When he switches to slant pass patterns the defensive adjustment are minimal or useless. Oh yes, we have not forgotten the use of mental mistakes causing dumb penalties. Can someone please explain who or why a ‘time out’ was called when Stafford was still within the snap count on a crucial third down? The Cardinal’s defense was not touted to be highly rated but our Lion’s offensive line manage to expose Stafford to a few brutal hits. It’s a good thing his legs are still functional. If this flaccid protection continues he could be out by mid season. The rest of the seasons’ schedule against premier defenses could be extremely hazardously to his health.

A few positive aspects of the game were the exposure of a potential ‘north/south’ running game. The newly drafted tight end looks like the ‘real deal’. Stafford still has his arm. If you watched any of the Viking’s game you saw a preview of the reality of the ‘bright light’ in the schedule tunnel. And it is not daylight portending a rainbow into the playoffs.

A few more stunning(sic) performances like this and Matt will need more than a crutch to escape the dashed expectations of Lion’s fans and cement his place in the ‘Grave Yard of Lion’s Coaches’.

marvinudy

The answer will be displayed in the final Green Bay game. For the Viking’s game you needed a “barf bag” compliments of the airlines. Fortunately, I only saw bits and pieces of the game due to a travel schedule and that was more than enough. Review of the game statistics drove home the picture of total surrender with no hope of survival.

Stafford looked ‘ugly’ in spite of the drops by intended receivers. Makes one wonder why he even started. Anyone still believe you can achieve victory via the field goal route? Apparently the second half adjustments included “just lie down and die” components.

Alas, another year of expectations, no matter how modest, founded on personnel changes dashed into the dustbin of NFL statistics. Our 63rd year of rebuilding has abundant historical linage to anticipate more of the same.

Being a Detroit Lion’s fan is a psychological disorder made up of masochism and schizoid optimism.