Now don't get me wrong, I'm happy as a clam that the Lions won...but people eat clams, so I'm still pretty damn nervous. It's been three wins and forty one losses since the last Lions' blow out victory.
From the Shaun Rogers/Kong interceptions to the number and yardage of carries by the leading running back and the quarterback numbers...too much of this game echoed that last victory.
2. The Lions still give up way too many stupid penalties. They will never be a respectable team until they can control themselves from jumping offsides all the time.
3. Jahvid Best almost broke a half a dozen runs to the house. I can't wait til he starts racking up Chris Johnson-type numbers.
4. Nate Burleson makes all the difference in the world. The more times he can catch the ball and then split the seam all the way to the house, the more times Megatron is going to see single coverage.
5. Brandon Pettigrew is turning into a stud. He currently leads the league in receptions for a tight end.
6. Unless the Kong falls off the face of the planet, he should be going to the pro bowl this year.
7. The Kansas Kid has really redeemed himself these last couple of weeks.
8. Alphonso Smith keep picking them off and taking them to the house and we'll start forgiving the stupid penalties. Smith has picked off three passes in the last three games. Smith and Houston might actually turn into an NFL caliber corner back tandem.
9. Stafford should not come back this week. The Giants defensive line sacked Jay Cutler nine times last week...in the first half alone. No reason to bring back the Franchize just to see him pounded to goo on his first possession.
10. The Lions should be in every game from here on out. And I'm not high when I say that. This is not cornbread speaking as much as it is total confusion about the league as a whole. The Rams were 2-3 and just beat Washington. Washington just beat Green Bay...who can understand any of it?
3rd and 3 or less
In the NFL, teams work to get respectable gains on first and second down with the obvious intent of being able to get the most manageable third down possible. Working this way allows a team to control the tempo of the game and bleed the clock. So an offense works to get to the situation of 3rd and 3 or less. But what does a team do when they are successful in getting into this enviable position is huge in the success of a football team. I maintain that since the average NFL rush goes for approximately 4 yards, it is in the best interest of teams to run 85-100% of the time in this situation.
Against the Rams, the Lions were good enough to force seven different 3rd and 3's or less. They passed six times, converting three and ran once successfully. So far this season, the Lions are 6 of 9 rushing and 6 of 11 passing.
Still haven't blocked a punt?
As well as the team played yesterday--and they played well, in all phases of the game--they still haven't blocked a punt in years. Rushing eight men to block a punt successfully is a sure fire way of turning any momentum in your direction. It almost always leads to a touchdown and it shows that a team going to be coming at all times. Playing it safe on punts is a gambit for the meek.
By the way, Stefan Logan and his 105 yard kick off return for a touchdown was awesome, but is it just me, but I don't think that guy is tall enough to ride roller coasters at Cedar Point.
Wouldn't it be great if the Lions had cheerleaders?
I know it seems weird, but the Lions were on TV and there were no cheerleaders in the background. It WAS actually a home game and it was televised and they won. Surely the sun will turn black at any moment and the seas will open...
The Fox crew did however pan across the stadium, showing the Pride in their self paid for seats...thank you Mr. Ford.
Next week, the Lions will play the mighty Giants at their new bajillion dollar stadium...to bad they didn't have enough cash to get themselves some cheerleaders. They leave that classy move to the Jets.
Where's the fade stop?
Calvin Johnson's touchdown reception was very close to a fade stop, but it was more of a plain old fade, which works just fine...if you follow it up later with a fade stop. I still maintain that this is the hardest play to stop when the wide receiver has a half a foot size advantage on pretty much every DB in the league.
Weird item of note...
Every team in the AFC south is 3-2.
Tales of the Inept
1-2 Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings play tonight against the Jets. I don't see the Vikings staying on this list very long, especially since they just got back the guy the Lions thought they'd be better off not drafting...after all Terry Fair was going to be a stud...
1-3 Dallas Cowboys. Who can understand the Dallas Cowboys. The only thing I can think of is that they have Roy Williams...and Roy is playing really well. He can only do that on lousy football teams. Dallas lost 34-27 to Tennesseee.
1-4 Detroit Lions. The Detroit Lions pretended to be a real football team yesterday and shellacked the St. Louis Rams. 44-6.
1-4 Cleveland Browns. The Browns and the remarkable Peyton Hillis hung around for most of the game before losing late to the Atlanta Falcons, 20-10. Some might remember that Hillis was the third back in the Arkansas unstoppable running attack which featured Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.
0-5 San Francisco Forty-Niners. The Niners played well and were in the game until the end against the Philadelphia Eagles. They lost 27-24 on a field goal in the closing minutes. Mike Singletary is on his way out the door.
0-5 Carolina Panthers. The Carolina Panthers continue to display how vital it is for the team to keep John Fox as coach...losing again. This time they lost to Chicago, 23-6, who were playing a 39 year old career back up as quarterback. That's ugly.
0-5 Buffalo Bills. I will be surprised if Chan Gailey gets a second season in Bills' Town. This team looks so bad...I'm thinking there's a real chance a second team can go 0-16.
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