Week 4: Lions lose! Lions Lose! Lions Lose!

I figured if I was so excited last week, I had to be just as excited this week.

As for the game, all I can say is, it must have been some kind of half time speech.

The Lions looked professional, almost good even, going into halftime on the road against the Chicago Bears tied 21-21....but that was the last we would see of a professional team on this day.

So what went wrong? Let me give you another list...that seemed like a good idea last week anyway.

1. Special teams were awful. Abysmal. Disgusting. I mean really, really bad. Johnny Knox, Chicago's rookie kickoff return specialist, returned the second half kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown. The coverage teams couldn't cover a punt or a kick, Chicago's average starting field position was the Detroit 46 yard line. While 3 times, Chicago was able to pin the Lions down inside of their own 20 on punts. Detroit special teams coach, Stan Kwan, should be clubbed like a baby seal.

2. Matt Stafford was injured in the fourth quarter. Apparently his kneecap popped off...I can't confirm that, but it has been reported in several papers that his kneecap popped right back on, but until further tests are done, the groundskeepers at Soldier Field have been told to keep their eyes open for a loose kneecap.

3. Seriously, the hopes for this season--and ultimately next season--will come crashing down like a house of cards if Stafford misses any significant amount of time this year. As I've said before, this season is a 24 game preseason in prep for next year and if we're not training the franchise qb...it's all pretty much a big waste of time. Here's to keeping our fingers crossed that Stafford's injury isn't too significant.

4. Kevin Smith was injured last week--a game in which he had gained 100 yards by the middle of the third quarter. All week there was a question of whether or not he'd play. He played and well, I think his injury was contagious, because the O-line didn't look all that healthy either. Smith managed only 30 yards on 19 carries. Even when the Bears pulled everyone out of the box to protect against the pass, seemingly leaving them vulnerable to the run...the Lions couldn't move the ball on the ground.

5. What I said about the O-Line in last week's column--that the Lions might be able to ignore it in next year's draft in favor of the defense--I take it back. Jeff Backus looks old and slow and for him, that's really bad, because he wasn't all that good when he looked young. Backus averages a sack allowed a game. And when he's not whiffing on his assignments, he's getting called for holding or jumping the snap count. He's got to go.

6. Matt Stafford was 24 of 36 for 296 yards, 1 TD and 1 Int in almost three quarters of play. Calvin Johnson was targeted 12 times, caught 8 passes for 133 yards. Brandon Pettigrew was targeted 10 times, caught 4 passes for 64 yards....this is the kind of offense that the Lions need. Add in 110-120 yards from Smith and this is a winning team...above average even.

7. The Lions are putting together significantly long drives now. Against the Redskins last week, Stafford led scoring drives of 98, 69, and 89 yards. Against Chicago, he led the team on scoring drives of 60, 87, 103 (due to penalties), and 64 yards. That is the mark of a veteran quarterback. If Stafford can stay healthy...he looks good. (I won't say anything more about that, I'm superstitious.)

8. Many in the media believe that this week's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers will be a sellout due to the onslaught of "Steeler Nation" trekking to Detroit for the cheap tickets. I hope they're right, at least I'll be able to see the game.

9. The Lions do not know how to cover the tight end, especially in the redzone. While the game was still a game, Jay Cutler was able to find wide open TE's Greg Olson and Kellen Davis in the endzone for scores. On both plays, the TE was trailed by S Louis Delmas, the rookie defense player of the month in September. Traditionally, depending on scheme, the TE falls to the safeties or the linebackers, I'm assuming that means those players were Delmas' responsibility. I could be wrong. Either way, the TE has haunted the Lions for 50 years, can somebody figure out how to cover one?

10. As well as Stafford played, there were still a lot of incomplete passes that fell directly on his shoulders and his lack of touch.

Wouldn't it be great if the Lions had cheerleaders?

This past Sunday the NFL splashed team uniforms with pink in order to raise awareness for breast cancer. In Denver the cheerleaders sported these numbers, I'm sure to many raucous cheers from the front rows.

I think it's great that the NFL is trying to do something to bring attention to a horrible affliction, but I think that it should only be the first step. The NFL has a world wide stage, they should be doing something like this all year long. Every Sunday.

Next week they could splash uniforms with powder blue for Autism awareness. They can do something for Muscular Dystrophy or Drunk Driving or homelessness...The NFL has a huge voice, it is negligence not to use it.

3rd & 3 or less

The Lions only had one instance of being in the 3rd and 3 or less down and distance against the Bears. I think that this statistic is important because the offense is always trying to work toward a "manageable" down and distance for the first two downs. The team strives to get to 3rd and 3 or less because the team's whole offense is available to them. So what does the team do with that opportunity? My suggestion will always be "RUN! RUN! RUN!" The average NFL running play gains almost four yards a carry. I'm not a math genius but 4 is bigger than 3, right?

So the Lions on Sunday faced 3rd and 3 or less only once...and they passed. Incomplete to Calvin Johnson. So, on the season the Lions are 3 of 4 rushing and 1 of 3 passing.

The Fade Stop???

The greatest pass play of them all...the most indefensible play of all time...was once again, not used by Detroit. Chicago ran the fade once, which would have worked, but the receiver dropped it.

Again, I have to consider that maybe Matt Stafford doesn't have the touch to throw it. Perhaps, if he's out, Daunte Culpepper will be able to throw it. I'm sure he collected a few of the TD's on his resume throwing the fade stop to Moss and Carter...but I'd rather have Stafford healthy, so he can do it on his own.

Welcome Steeler Nation!