Detroit Lions 2023

[TC Talks]

Every year the Lions deliver soul crushing results to you fans. It's like watching 5 stages of grief in reverse. You start with Acceptance and end with Anger.

[moldyoldie]

I'd also add the idiotic fake punt call as a reason we lost. Handing the Packers that field position was beyond dumb.

Bingo. I couldn't believe it!

[MWmetalhead]

Lions best win came in week 1 against KC without two of KC's best players. I thought Tampa Bay was a great win at the time but now we know they are mediocre. The Lions lost to Seattle (good team) and got killed by Baltimore (great team). Struggled against the shitty Bears at home on Sunday and looked like horseshit against the Packers today.

As an aside...what a moronic decision by Campbell not to punt on 4th down from deep inside GB territory when the Lions trailed by 9. Lions also did not utilize their timeouts effectively on their final drive today.

Any of you still believers in the fantasy that this is an elite team?

[bmw]

Any of you still believers in the fantasy that this is an elite team?

I'll bite.

Everything is relative. Detroit is still tied for the 2nd-best record in the NFC and sits 2 full games ahead of anybody else in the division. Let's look at their competition:

-SF 49ers. Their only "quality' win was over Dallas. They lost 3 straight, all to decent teams. 4 of their 7 wins come against 4 of the worst teams in the league.

-Dallas Cowboys. Same record as Detroit. Lost to lowly 2-9 Arizona, couldn't beat Philly, and got absolutely blown out by the 49ers. Their 8 wins? All 8 teams below .500. Translation: They have yet to beat a team with a winning record.

-Philly? Clearly the best team in the NFC, maybe the whole league.

So I mean, in the NFC, that is it. Detroit is still arguably the 2nd-best team in the conference. In the AFC, Baltimore is probably better than Detroit. KC? Maybe, though Detroit beat them. Buffalo is a sinking ship. Pittsburgh has no business being 6-4, they may be the worst 6-4 team in the history of the NFL. Miami has a weak schedule. Cleveland and Jacksonville are looking good and may ultimately prove to be better than Detroit.

I still put Detroit in the Top 5 teams in the league. Does that make them "elite"? I don't think we know yet.

[MotorCityRadioFreak]

I think the Lions have benefited from a poor NFC Central and easier schedule. The second half looks tougher. You want me to believe? Win a playoff game.

[Honeyman]

I have enough faith in the team to believe what we saw today was the lowest point this team will get to from a performance standpoint and expect to finish 12-5. The Lions are the 4th best team in the NFC. They should get to host a playoff game. If they win it, I would consider the season as a success, and a building block year. A Super Bowl within 3 years is realistic if they continue to make the right moves in the draft, and hopefully sign the right free agents. They are light years from the SOL, and on the right track.

[Matt]

I think the Lions have benefited from a poor NFC Central and easier schedule. The second half looks tougher. You want me to believe? Win a playoff game.

The NFC Central hasn't existed in decades.

[MotorCityRadioFreak]

I think the Lions have benefited from a poor NFC Central and easier schedule. The second half looks tougher. You want me to believe? Win a playoff game.

The NFC Central hasn't existed in decades.

Sorry, blame the tryptophan.

[MWmetalhead]

-SF 49ers. Their only "quality' win was over Dallas. They lost 3 straight, all to decent teams. 4 of their 7 wins come against 4 of the worst teams in the league.

You can add last night's domination of the Seahawks on the road to the list of quality wins.

I agree that the Eagles are the best team in the NFC and likely the entire league.

[MWmetalhead]

Goff has played poorly 3 of his last 5 games. Pass-rush has also been inconsistent.

Both items worry me.

[Honeyman]

Goff has played poorly 3 of his last 5 games. Pass-rush has also been inconsistent.

Both items worry me.

[Deleted User 9015]

The thing that stands out to me the most is their defense between the 20s. I have seen countless examples of teams just passing over their heads. There is a certain intuition that a guy should have in zone defense and it just seems like there's a mix of guys who either don't have that orientation yet (like Branch, who I believe will) or will never have it. Maxx Crosby would have been a nice pick-up at the trade deadline, would have been a good fit here I bet.

[craig11152]

Goff has played poorly 3 of his last 5 games. Pass-rush has also been inconsistent.

Both items worry me.

I think it should be said the offensive line, which is supposed to be our strong point, didn't do much to help Goff yesterday. They actually were rather pathetic.

[MWmetalhead]

I agree completely.

[moldyoldie]

Suddenly, what every pundit was thinking to be an easy rest of the schedule is looking like a genuine battle. Both the Vikings (two games) and Broncos are heatin' it up! Not to mention the Cowboys. Frankly, I like it better that way.
If it ain't rough, it ain't right!

On a positive note, the Eagles are down 17-7 to Buffalo in the third. If this holds up, the Lions can possibly be tied for the best record in the NFC with a win next weekend at the Saints and another Eagles loss against the Niners.

(Edit)
Bah!