Saturday, January 7, 2012
The Next Generation
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Friday, January 6, 2012
Lions Congregation: Inaugural Playoff Edition!
Welcome to the return of the Lions Congregation for the Inaugural playoff edition! From the look of things, this could be one of many playoff editions to come in the years ahead!
Just like before, Lions Bloggers from around the web gather to discuss your questions about the Detroit Lions. Want to see your question featured? Email lionscongregation@yahoo.com
Today's Panel:
NetRat of The NetRat Detroit Lions site and blog
Zac of The Sidelion Report
Blades Boyd - resident contrarian for Roar of the Lions
Joshua - DetFan1979 of Roar of the Lions
Question 1: Based on the Lions active roster in their meeting versus who should be active and healthy on Saturday, how do you feel the Lions defense will stack up versus the Saints?
NetRat: Better than last time, all things being equal (which they probably aren't). Last time we played New Orleans Chris Houston did not play. Neither did Delmas or Suh. Fairley left after the 1st quarter. IF those guys are all healthy and can play the whole game the Lions defense may be able to get a couple more stops, and that should mean a few more stalled drives (and really, most games, that's all it takes).
Zac: Any defense is at a disadvantage against the Saints offense. While the Lions look to have the benefit of a healthy defensive roster, their ability to hang with the Saints will come down to execution, not personnel. If the Lions look to wrap up and tackle rather than just hitting then they can limit the damage. This is especially true with Darren Sproles who can turn a minimal gain into something big in a flash.
Al: First off, I refuse to get overly worked up by Matt Flynn throwing for a gazillion yards, or the media talking heads who claim, "If a backup can throw 6 TDs against Detroit, Brees will throw for 20!" Flynn isn't your typical backup quarterback. He's a good quarterback who happens to be a backup to the best in the NFL. Flynn would start for half the league. What I am worked up about is the lack of a pass rush against Flynn, allowing him to pick apart the Lions' secondary at will.
The Lions may be healthier than they've been in weeks, but if there is only a minimal pass rush from the front four, an empty trainer's room won't make a difference. Even if they are fully healthy, I'm not expecting big things from the Lions defense.
The Lions may be healthier than they've been in weeks, but if there is only a minimal pass rush from the front four, an empty trainer's room won't make a difference. Even if they are fully healthy, I'm not expecting big things from the Lions defense.
All of which is my long-winded way of saying the Lions' chances rest on the shoulders of the defensive line. The front four must have a big game, pressuring Brees in a big way. The Lions aren't going to keep Brees from throwing for 300 yards. Few defenses are capable of it, and the Lions' aren't one of them. But they can minimize the damage by creating turnovers. How do you create turnovers? To channel my inner Al Davis, you must hit the quarterback early, often and hard.
After seeing little to no pass rush against the Packers, I'm not confident at all as to how the Lions match up against the Saints high powered offense.
It's simple. If the Lions don't win the turnover battle, they won't beat the Saints. The Lions must fluster, or at least annoy Brees, Otherwise, it's going be a long, long evening for Lions fans.
The Lions may be healthier than they've been in weeks, but if there is only a minimal pass rush from the front four, an empty trainer's room won't make a difference. Even if they are fully healthy, I'm not expecting big things from the Lions defense.
The Lions may be healthier than they've been in weeks, but if there is only a minimal pass rush from the front four, an empty trainer's room won't make a difference. Even if they are fully healthy, I'm not expecting big things from the Lions defense.
All of which is my long-winded way of saying the Lions' chances rest on the shoulders of the defensive line. The front four must have a big game, pressuring Brees in a big way. The Lions aren't going to keep Brees from throwing for 300 yards. Few defenses are capable of it, and the Lions' aren't one of them. But they can minimize the damage by creating turnovers. How do you create turnovers? To channel my inner Al Davis, you must hit the quarterback early, often and hard.
After seeing little to no pass rush against the Packers, I'm not confident at all as to how the Lions match up against the Saints high powered offense.
It's simple. If the Lions don't win the turnover battle, they won't beat the Saints. The Lions must fluster, or at least annoy Brees, Otherwise, it's going be a long, long evening for Lions fans.
Blades: I think Schwartz made it perfectly clear who you will being seeing active Saturday night. He mentioned he would not bench any players based on last Sundays game. That being said, with the return of Delmas, I think Alphonso Smith should be worried.
The Lions defense shapes up extremely poorly against the Saints offense. The Saints strength is clearly in the passing game and there isn't a single player on the Lions roster who can cover Jimmy Graham or Colston. Also, no lions DB has the speed to run with Moore or Meachem.
The other thing that few people are talking about is the Saints have two all pro guards which means they can shift protection to the outside and really stymy the pass rush. I fully expect Gunther to blitz up the middle more than we've seen all season. I expect the saints to double team Suh and single block the other DT with their all pro guard. As a result, the RB's will be protecting to the outside and if the lions blitz up the middle, they will come in unblocked.
DetFan1979: The defense will give up points. Make no mistake – this is a meeting of two of the top four offenses in the league and they will both put up some TD’s. The key will be doing what they almost did in their first meeting with the Saints – slow down the Saint’s offense more than they are slowing down the Detroit Offense.
Nick Fairley was getting good penetration and disruption before leaving the game with his injured foot – after that is when the Saints started scoring. Seeing as the Lions were down by three linemen that game I expect the pressure to come much stronger, and more consistently than in the first meeting between the teams.
As for the secondary, I seriously said the day before the first New Orleans game that with Houston and Delmas out along with the other injuries in our secondary Green Bay should have put up 50 on the Lions – and that Drew Brees should do the same. However, it took a late game icing TD after the Lions had already committed ritual suicide via penalties to salt the game away.
With everyone relatively healthy (all participated in practice Thursday) I fully expect a better showing from the Lions defense – especially playing motivated after laying an egg last week. Will it be good enough? That’s why they play the games.
Question 2: Based on the Lions active roster in their meeting versus who should be active and healthy on Saturday, how do you feel the Lions Offense will stack up versus the Saints?
NetRat: Last time we played New Orleans it was the first game Matt Stafford played without the glove. His confidence probably wasn't real high and his finger probably wasn't fully healed. Meanwhile, Titus Young has started playing better and Pettigrew is being used more. For that matter, CJ is taking on more too lately. Turnovers will decide the game most likely, if they favor the Lions or are equal, it should be a great game (for Lions fans).
Zac: The Lions offense moved the ball in their first meeting with the Saints and we should expect them to do so again. Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson have played their best ball since the first meeting so it will be fun to see what they can do in a rematch, especially if the Lions handle the blitz-happy Saints' pressure. Kevin Smith also figures to be healthier this time around and any explosion he can give them in the running game will be a bonus.
Al: I expect big things from the offense. Actually, I think it would be more accurate to say I expect big things from Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson.
Stafford has been a huge roll since removing the glove protecting his broken finger, averaging 383 yards and 3 TDs in the final 5 games. Megatron woke from a mid-season slump (doing little against the Packers, Saints and Vikings)m and is now playing like his dominant self, averaging 187 yards in the season's final 3 games. I don't expect the Saints to slow either of them down.
Brandon Pettigrew also needs to play well, and he'll get more than his fair share of opportunities. Stafford loves to throw to his TEs, especially in the red zone (11 TDs combined between Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler) But Pettigrew also has to keep drops to a bare minimum....or don't drop a pass period. The Lions won't have a margin for error in a winner take all situation. They have to capitalize on their opportunities.
A healthy Kevin Smith would come in handy as well. He's the closest thing to an impact runner on the Lions' roster. And there will come a time when the Lions will need to keep the Saints' defense honest with the occasional hand off to Smith. As much as I'd like Stafford to throw 70 times a game (all to Megatron), it's not realistic.
If the wide outs and TEs play as well have they have in the final quarter of the season, the Lions won't have any trouble scoring points on Saturday. They will move the ball. It's just a matter of capitalizing on their red zone opportunities.
Stafford has been a huge roll since removing the glove protecting his broken finger, averaging 383 yards and 3 TDs in the final 5 games. Megatron woke from a mid-season slump (doing little against the Packers, Saints and Vikings)m and is now playing like his dominant self, averaging 187 yards in the season's final 3 games. I don't expect the Saints to slow either of them down.
Brandon Pettigrew also needs to play well, and he'll get more than his fair share of opportunities. Stafford loves to throw to his TEs, especially in the red zone (11 TDs combined between Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler) But Pettigrew also has to keep drops to a bare minimum....or don't drop a pass period. The Lions won't have a margin for error in a winner take all situation. They have to capitalize on their opportunities.
A healthy Kevin Smith would come in handy as well. He's the closest thing to an impact runner on the Lions' roster. And there will come a time when the Lions will need to keep the Saints' defense honest with the occasional hand off to Smith. As much as I'd like Stafford to throw 70 times a game (all to Megatron), it's not realistic.
If the wide outs and TEs play as well have they have in the final quarter of the season, the Lions won't have any trouble scoring points on Saturday. They will move the ball. It's just a matter of capitalizing on their red zone opportunities.
DetFan1979: Matthew Stafford is 100% healthy and playing like it. I mentioned earlier this week how Stafford became one of only four quarterbacks ever to surpass 5000 yards in a season. He accomplished that despite a broken index finger on his throwing hand that obviously hampered him for a solid 4-5 games. As it is, as John Madden used to say incessantly about Brett Favre “It looks like he’s having fun out there.” We all know what that meant – it meant that Brett was making throw after seemingly impossible throw and racking up yards and points in bunches. Imagine how much fun he would have had with Randy Moss on his team?
Guess what? That is exactly what Stafford has been doing – only he does have Calvin Johnson. They are both clicking and confident in themselves and each other like they were in the 5 game win streak. Only better. And to add to it Brandon Pettigrew is playing excellent, and Nate Burleson has been taking advantage.
The biggest xfactor to me this game for the Lions offense are Kevin Smith and Titus Young. Titus has taken his game to a whole new level since embarrassing himself at New Orleans the first game. As for Smith, he wasn’t healthy for the first New Orleans game. If he is, watch out Gregg Williams because Smith is one of the best in the league when it comes to picking up the blitz and protecting his QB. It has always been a strong point for him, and now he too has been playing better than he ever did in his first go round with the Lions.
Question 3: How do you feel this mostly young, emotional team will fare under the pressure of a high profile playoff game? (coach Schwartz included)?
NetRat: The problem with highly emotional young teams is you don't know how they will handle the pressure. The crowd noise is going to be tremendous and that might help make the players forget the pressure somewhat. Raiola is going to really be after the O players to perform (it's his first playoff game in the NFL after all). KVB will do much the same on the D... and Delmas chatters all game long no matter what (the Lions opponents have scored nearly 100 yards less yardage in the games he has played in). Hanson is likely to get a workout but he should be fine. My prediction which I made last Saturday night in my blog is the Lions win this game 30-28, the next day Vegas set the over/under at 58 1/2, which I found scary odd.
Zac: I see the Lions' biggest problems in this game being between the lines, not between the ears. If we can't have confidence in this team knowing the stakes are high and acting appropriately then we don't have any reason to watch the game on Saturday. It will be up to the leaders with playoff experience (coaches included) to prepare the rest of the differences of playoff football and how to keep the emotions in check.
Al: The Saints have been to the playoffs before, and won it all. The Lions....well, we know all about their checkered past.
So there will be a stupid penalty or three by the Lions. It's a given. It's their nature. But I don't expect to the Lions to embarrass themselves either, unlike we saw go down during their first meeting with the Saints.
The Lions realized they were throwing a shot at the playoffs away after their nationally televised back to back mental meltdowns. They have been relatively well behaved since...thank goodness.
But I do expect to see the team show some nerves, especially in the 1st quarter. For most of the Lions, it'll be their first exposure playoff pressure. Jitters and butterflies are to be expected.
I'm not worried about Jim Schwartz's mental state. He's been in the playoffs before as defensive coordinator with the Titans (6 games in 4 appearances, winning 2), making it to the AFC Championship in 2002. He knows what to expect...though I'm sure he'll be on edge.
To be honest, I am still worried the Lions themselves will snap, and do something stupid...like get in a sideline shouting match, throw a punch, shove a ref or stomp on a player. They've kept their emotions in check since their implosion 5 weeks ago. My fear is we'll see another if calls and bounces don't go their way. It's Schwartz's job to prevent it.
So there will be a stupid penalty or three by the Lions. It's a given. It's their nature. But I don't expect to the Lions to embarrass themselves either, unlike we saw go down during their first meeting with the Saints.
The Lions realized they were throwing a shot at the playoffs away after their nationally televised back to back mental meltdowns. They have been relatively well behaved since...thank goodness.
But I do expect to see the team show some nerves, especially in the 1st quarter. For most of the Lions, it'll be their first exposure playoff pressure. Jitters and butterflies are to be expected.
I'm not worried about Jim Schwartz's mental state. He's been in the playoffs before as defensive coordinator with the Titans (6 games in 4 appearances, winning 2), making it to the AFC Championship in 2002. He knows what to expect...though I'm sure he'll be on edge.
To be honest, I am still worried the Lions themselves will snap, and do something stupid...like get in a sideline shouting match, throw a punch, shove a ref or stomp on a player. They've kept their emotions in check since their implosion 5 weeks ago. My fear is we'll see another if calls and bounces don't go their way. It's Schwartz's job to prevent it.
Blades: No matter what happens Saturday night, whether we win by 10 or lose by 30, who cares. Despite what some people thought, this team was expected to go 8-8 and if you asked any lions fan before the season, "Hey, if the season were to end today, would you be happy with an 8-8 record?" Every fan would tell you not only would they be happy with it, they would throw a parade on the streets of Detroit in honor of the Schwartz. This team is still two years away from seriously competing. We need a capable secondary and a little more depth.
If you've followed me through the years, you know how critical I am about the Lions. But you won't hear that now. No matter what happens Saturday, WE'RE THE LIONS AND WE'RE IN THE FREAKIN' PLAYOFFS BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you've followed me through the years, you know how critical I am about the Lions. But you won't hear that now. No matter what happens Saturday, WE'RE THE LIONS AND WE'RE IN THE FREAKIN' PLAYOFFS BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!
DetFan1979: I was really worried about this – until last week at Green Bay. I’m literally half blind and I could have done a better job out there on more than one egregious call. Yet, despite the frustration and the setbacks none of the Lions lost their cool – except Alphonso Smith, who was benched. I’m not sure how many noticed but it wasn’t just that he was gambling, he was not in control of his emotions at all and I think that is also a major reason he got yanked.
Ever since coming home from the Superdome last month, this has been a different team. They were thoroughly embarrassed – twice – on national television when it was finally their chance to shine on a big stage and earn respect with their play. Instead, they came off looking like an immature teen puffing out his chest acting like he’s da man. No one likes that feeling. Especially not a professional.
I think we’ve all been there at least once in our lives (I know I have!) and you can do one of two things: Pout about it, or man up and do something about it. This young team has shown they chose the second path so far. If they stay on it, I can see this game being really close.
Either way, I’m expecting an exciting electrifying game.
WRAP UP: Thank you to our participating bloggers, and of course to you our readers. Please feel free to share your thoughts, comments, and questions in the comments section. Dialogue is one of the most fun aspects of being a blogger. If you would like the whole congregation to address your question, thought, or idea please email lionscongregation@yahoo.com
Thank you and enjoy the game!!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The Lions are In with the BEST
As the clock strikes 00:00 late Sunday night the end of the regular season comes once again to the National Football League. 20 teams and their fans are left with nothing to do but reflect - What went right? What went wrong? What will come next season? What Free Agents will be signed, who will be the new coach? The new GM? Where do we draft and who will be there?
For 12 years these are questions that as Lions fans, we often started asking in December -- much less waiting until the season was officially over -- it was usually over long before the clock struck 00:00 and the ifseason would begin once again. IF only they do this, then they will have a chance...IF this happens...
But not 2011.
The Detroit Lions are one of the 12. You can argue if they belong or not (they do) until you are honolulu blue in the face. The Detroit Lions will play the New Orleans Saints on Saturday -- their first step on the road to the Superbowl.
That's right. Superbowl. The first step is making the playoffs. The next step is to do what you've done all year: win.
This was an historic season for the Lions and Matthew Stafford especially -- even if he did get a pro-bowl snub. what, you're laughing? Don't think the Lions are one of the best? NetRat compiled this stat that should give any doubting Lions fan pause.
All the Lions lost today was their 5th seed spot in the playoffs, they are the 6th seed and are playing toe to toe with the big boys, because even if it's hard for us fans to grasp it, the Lions are now one of the big boys too.
Don't believe me? Well, let's take a look at the quarterback passing record... and see where the Lions 23 year old QB is on the list...
1. Drew Brees: 5,476 yards in 2011
2. Tom Brady: 5,235 yards in 2011
3. Dan Marino: 5,084 yards in 1984
4. Drew Brees: 5,069 yards in 2008
5. Matthew Stafford: 5,038 yards in 2011
That's not a typo, that's not a fluke, that's real numbers that are real hard to get unless you are one of the big boys.
That's right -- Matthew Stafford had the 5th most prolific year by an NFL quarterback in the HISTORY of the NFL. He just happened to do it in a year in which two other QB's (Brees and Brady) set a new number one and two on that list.
The Lions also make several entries on the Cold Hard Football Fact list of 2011 records:
For 12 years these are questions that as Lions fans, we often started asking in December -- much less waiting until the season was officially over -- it was usually over long before the clock struck 00:00 and the ifseason would begin once again. IF only they do this, then they will have a chance...IF this happens...
But not 2011.
The Detroit Lions are one of the 12. You can argue if they belong or not (they do) until you are honolulu blue in the face. The Detroit Lions will play the New Orleans Saints on Saturday -- their first step on the road to the Superbowl.
That's right. Superbowl. The first step is making the playoffs. The next step is to do what you've done all year: win.
This was an historic season for the Lions and Matthew Stafford especially -- even if he did get a pro-bowl snub. what, you're laughing? Don't think the Lions are one of the best? NetRat compiled this stat that should give any doubting Lions fan pause.
All the Lions lost today was their 5th seed spot in the playoffs, they are the 6th seed and are playing toe to toe with the big boys, because even if it's hard for us fans to grasp it, the Lions are now one of the big boys too.
Don't believe me? Well, let's take a look at the quarterback passing record... and see where the Lions 23 year old QB is on the list...
1. Drew Brees: 5,476 yards in 2011
2. Tom Brady: 5,235 yards in 2011
3. Dan Marino: 5,084 yards in 1984
4. Drew Brees: 5,069 yards in 2008
5. Matthew Stafford: 5,038 yards in 2011
That's not a typo, that's not a fluke, that's real numbers that are real hard to get unless you are one of the big boys.
That's right -- Matthew Stafford had the 5th most prolific year by an NFL quarterback in the HISTORY of the NFL. He just happened to do it in a year in which two other QB's (Brees and Brady) set a new number one and two on that list.
The Lions also make several entries on the Cold Hard Football Fact list of 2011 records:
2 -- 500-yard passing games in the 2011 season: Tom Brady (517) in Week 1 at Miami; Matthew Stafford (520) in Week 17 at Green Bay. NFL quarterbacks topped 500 yards in a game just 10 times from 1920 to 2010.
2 -- Passers who topped 5,000 yards through the air in the NFL's first 91 seasons: Dan Marino (5,084) in 1984 and Drew Brees (5,069) in 2008.
3 -- Passers who topped 5,000 yards through the air in the 2011 season: Brees (5,476), Brady (5,235) and Stafford (5,038). Eli Manning (4,933) fell just 67 yards of the 5,000-yard milestone, giving the 2011 season four of the six most prolific passing performances in NFL history.
3 -- Quarterbacks who topped 40 touchdown passes in 2011: Brees (46), Aaron Rodgers (45) and Stafford (41). Brady fell just one TD shy of joining the list.
5 -- Quarterbacks who topped 40 touchdown passes in an NFL season from 1920 to 2010.
1,681 -- NFL-best receiving yards by Detroit wideout Calvin Johnson in 2011, No. 7 on the single-season list, and five shy of the franchise record set by Herman Moore in 1995.
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/kerry_byrne/01/03/2011.season.review/index.html#ixzz1iSSYdQzJ
1,681 -- NFL-best receiving yards by Detroit wideout Calvin Johnson in 2011, No. 7 on the single-season list, and five shy of the franchise record set by Herman Moore in 1995.
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/kerry_byrne/01/03/2011.season.review/index.html#ixzz1iSSYdQzJ
Matthew Stafford has shown now that at just 23 years of age he is already moving into the Brady/Brees/Manning/Rodgers of the QB elite.
Over the last 12+ years, I have often heard "you are what your record says you are" while looking for the positives among the ashes of bitter disappointment. Well, to those same naysayers dooming and glooming the Lions' chances in the playoffs the Lions are 10-6. They took control of their own destiny and played their way into the playoffs. Unlike teams like the Bengals and the Broncos, they didn't back their way into the playoffs based on other teams' losses. Detroit earned its spot. Period. Also, lets look at those 6 losses...
2 were to Green Bay -- one big loss, one close shootout where the last team with the ball won. Green Bay is 15-1 and the #1 seed in the NFC
1 was to the Atlanta Falcons, who also ended up 10-6 and are the #5 seed. That game came down to the wire.
1 was to the New Orleans Saints who are 13-3. They are the #4 seed in the playoffs and faced a Lions team that was extremely shorthanded -- and they still held the Saints well below their season scoring average. Stafford also still was wearing gloves to protect his broken finger.
1 was to the Chicago Bears who were on a serious playoff run before losing Jay Cutler and Matt Forte, their season doomed by a lack of depth -- especially at the quarterback position.
1 was to the 13-3 San Francisco 49ers who won on a do-or-die 4th down play with only a few seconds to go. They are the #2 seed.
So....the Lions lost to the #1 seed twice, the #2 seed, the #3 seed and the #5 seed. They did not play the #4 seed (New York Giants 8-8) but beat Dallas at home earlier in the season. All of the games were competitive or so close that on any given Sunday you could flip a coin to determine the outcome.
I expect from the Lions' playoff game exactly what I saw all season from the Lions: Electrifying, entertaining football being played at a high level -- and hopefully, like 10 of 16 games this season, a win.
Go Lions!!!
Monday, January 2, 2012
Hello Playoffs!!
What an exciting game on Sunday!! The Lions have not been lacking for electricity this season that is for sure!!!
How many games have come down to the final minute or less? Spectacular!
10-6
Forget about whining about the officiating in Green Bay (it was AWFUL) or the Detroit defense (neither defense deserved to win that game -- after all, the final score was 41-45 people!!) -- for the first time since 1999 our Detroit Lions are in the playoffs!!!
I know many of you will think I just woke up form a sugar coma after eating too much honolulu blue koo-aid and cupcakes but I think that Detroit has a great shot to win against New Orleans on Saturday night!
Not only did the Green Bay offense show it can roll no matter who is under center, so too did the Detroit offense show that it can hang with Green Bay score for score. Lets not forget that Stafford ALSO topped 5,000 yards this season along with Brees and Brady.
The reason many pundits have said that New Orleans was the team to beat Green Bay in the playoffs is that Drew Brees and the Saints offense is the only group that could expect to possibly win a shootout with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense. At this point, how do you not seriously have to put Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson (244 yards against the Pack) and the Lions offense into that group?
As for the "liability" of the Lions defense? That is one thing all three of NFC's gun-slinging teams share -- or should I say lack?
Even when the Lions were losing games (or all the games) I have maintained that it wasn't about the wining (though I really prefer it!) It was about being able to watch entertaining, exciting football and have fun as a fan. On that score the Lions have already delivered by far the best season of football I've seen since Barry was in a Lions uniform on the field.
Happy New Year!!
How many games have come down to the final minute or less? Spectacular!
10-6
Forget about whining about the officiating in Green Bay (it was AWFUL) or the Detroit defense (neither defense deserved to win that game -- after all, the final score was 41-45 people!!) -- for the first time since 1999 our Detroit Lions are in the playoffs!!!
I know many of you will think I just woke up form a sugar coma after eating too much honolulu blue koo-aid and cupcakes but I think that Detroit has a great shot to win against New Orleans on Saturday night!
Not only did the Green Bay offense show it can roll no matter who is under center, so too did the Detroit offense show that it can hang with Green Bay score for score. Lets not forget that Stafford ALSO topped 5,000 yards this season along with Brees and Brady.
The reason many pundits have said that New Orleans was the team to beat Green Bay in the playoffs is that Drew Brees and the Saints offense is the only group that could expect to possibly win a shootout with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense. At this point, how do you not seriously have to put Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson (244 yards against the Pack) and the Lions offense into that group?
As for the "liability" of the Lions defense? That is one thing all three of NFC's gun-slinging teams share -- or should I say lack?
Even when the Lions were losing games (or all the games) I have maintained that it wasn't about the wining (though I really prefer it!) It was about being able to watch entertaining, exciting football and have fun as a fan. On that score the Lions have already delivered by far the best season of football I've seen since Barry was in a Lions uniform on the field.
Happy New Year!!
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