Week 14: Where I figure out how I gained a week on the NFL

And the Lions lose again.

The problem with the Lions loss this week was that it was so pedestrian. The team seemed resigned to lose, played lethargically all day, and then finally lost. The 23-13 score was not in the least bit a reflection of the game itself. Cincinnati could have scored a lot more points, the woeful Lions secondary couldn't contain Chad Ochocinco at any point of the day. The Bengals simply quit throwing to him out of the mercy of their own hearts.

The other thing I learned is that, even in Hi-Def, the Lions will still put me to sleep on any given Sunday.

1. Matt Stafford, Franchise Savior, needs to be allowed to heal. Jim Schwartz says that the doctors claim Stafford cannot further injure his bum non-throwing shoulder. Maybe that's true, but it's certainly not getting any better while he plays and it does seem to be effecting his play. Let the kid rest, at 2-10, the Leo's aren't exactly in the playoff hunt.

2. Now granted, I've said all year that any snaps taken by anyone other than Stafford this season are a complete waste of time, but it couldn't hurt to see if Drew Stanton can be an able backup next season. It also couldn't hurt the organization to show some compassion to Daunte Culpepper and let him showcase himself off to the league for a game or two. Daunte worked like a fiend in the offseason, losing 30 lbs and rededicating himself to football. It would send a positive message to the team that such hard work will be rewarded.

3. Kevin Smith could be a great running back -- if the field were only ten yards long. He made lots of great cuts at the line to get a couple yards...but he just can't break anything longer than that.

4. After I called for Aaron Brown to get some time at #1 RB, Brown comes out on the radio and states that he doesn't think he's capable of being an every down back. To me, that's a huge red flag. Great players want to be on the field at all times. Great players think they need the rock at all times. Aaron Brown just waived off the ball and said, "No thanks, I'm good."

5. Ndamukong Suh, the great DT from Nebraska, who had 4.5 sacks (in one game) against #2 Texas, made himself a lot of money Saturday night. He also saved himself from ever having to play for Detroit. Suh will go #1 to whoever has that pick and it doesn't look very likely it'll be the Lions.

6. 17 of 29 for 220 yards, 1 TD and 2 picks for a QB rating of 65.3...Matt Stafford's numbers on Sunday? No, Franchise Savior's numbers were worse than that. Nope, those were Carson Palmer's numbers. Which is pretty amazing considering that the Lions give up a 110+ rating to every opposing QB they play. But don't read too much into it, the game was never close and the Bengals didn't really need to throw.

7. 11 of 26 for 143 yards, 1 TD and 2 picks for a QB rating of 41.0. And the Lions are sure that Stafford's non-throwing shoulder separation isn't effecting his game?


Why don't the Lions have Cheerleaders?

The Cincinnati Ben-Gals performed a very festive halftime show on Sunday. It should have put everyone who watched in the Holiday season.

Tis the season to be jolly...

3rd and 3 or less

The Lions faced 3rd and 3 or less twice on Sunday--failing miserably both times. Both failures came on pass attempts, one pass fell harmlessly incomplete and on the other attempt, Stafford was drilled into the ground again..."not" further injuring his separated shoulder.

On the season the Lions are 10 of 13 rushing, 9 of 21 passing. The numbers don't lie...on 3rd and 3 or less, it's always better to rush.

Tales of the inept
The competition for the #1 pick in next year's draft stayed pretty status quo this week.

The Cleveland Browns (1-11) lost 30-23 to the San Diego Chargers. Yes, the Browns need a QB to lead their team, but there isn't a QB in next year's draft worthy of the #1 pick and certainly nobody is more worthy than Suh.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-11) lost 16-6 to Carolina. Josh Freeman looks like a find at QB for the rebuilding franchise. It is very likely that if the Bucs can't get Suh, they'll take Gerald McCoy, the other DT the Lions could use.

The St. Louis Rams (1-11) lost 17-9 to the Chicago Bears. The Rams could use a new QB too and they might be the only team that would actually take one early. The Rams took a franchise LT last season, so it is unlikely they'll take another in Steve Spagnolo's second campaign.