2010 Detroit Lions

[gnome]

well said smogboy, Stanton did a fine job and if Cement Hands Pettigrew would just remember to catch balls that hit him in the hands ... arhg

Follet, I hope this is the last we see of him. He is a young guy and has already played an entire game clouded by a concussion [[week 2?). Any brain injury portends poorly for the future, a slight one is bad, the kind that he had on Sunday is massively serious. Do not mess around with the brain.

I hope he has the smarts to know that his career is done. Football is a game. Entertainment. It has no meaning outside of those words and despite being elevated to almost religous status by "football is my life" and "winning is the only thing" mythology, it is entertainment.

If people didn't find football entertaining, they wouldn't build stadiums, wouldn't have uniforms, and wouldn't pay people millions to play it. It just is that. Nothing more. And anyone losing the ability to form a sentence, use a fork or not poop their pants at age 26 is not a gamble that should be made.

Zack, I hope, is done.

On the entertainment level, I was certainly entertained by Sunday's game. Stanton was tough, Pettigrew a maddening misfit, Burleson a wtf was that, and the Johnson bois both pretty good. The offensive line did a very good job except for Cheralus' attempt to become a fullback.

All in all, it was exciting to watch, got me standing on my feet and pretty close to breathless in the last couple of minutes.

That's entertainment.

[kenp]

Stanton did a fine job and if Cement Hands Pettigrew would just remember to catch balls that hit him in the hands ... arhg

I dont exactly agree, Stanton was average at best. That pass to a wide open Pettigrew was awful. You cant float a ball up there in that situation. His pass for the TD was a fluke. He had 2 fumbles one leading to a TD. We gave up a lot to get this guy in round 2 and he isnt even a 2nd stringer.

This team is at least competitive, if we could just get Stafford back. The one thing that does reamin the same is the stupid mistakes. What about Avril going nuts when we stop them on 3rd and goal. That was 4 points right there.

[sirrealone]

I have a question for those who have been watching the games regularly. The question is whether you think the officiating has been equally fair.

Let me start by saying that [[except for the no-catch catch against the Bears), I'm not playing 'blame the refs' for the Lions losses. I'm also not arguing that the penalty flags against the Lions are unwarranted, but where my question lies is with some of what I will call the 'fringe' penalties, where they might go either way. What I'm seeing is that, even in the same game, the Lions will often get those flags thrown and the opponents often will not. What's even more frustrating is that I've seen a couple of flags thrown against the Lions on those fringe penalties where the officials threw a flag after the opponent 'pointed out' the violation to the official.

I guess the way I look at it is that at least one or two flags a game [[or no-flags on the opponent) seem to be of the 'Ah, the Lions would have needed to violate the rules to make that play / the opponent is talented enough and therefore wouldn't have needed to violate the rules to make that play' variety.

All I wish is that the officials called the game the same no matter of the jerseys that the guys have on. Am I jaded because I'm a Lions fan or is there something to it? I mean, any difference in calling is subtle [[unlike the NBA where they don't even try to hide the difference in play-calling), but it still seems that there is a 'benefit of the doubt' factor that seems to favor other more 'respected' team.

[smogboy]

I dont exactly agree, Stanton was average at best. That pass to a wide open Pettigrew was awful. You cant float a ball up there in that situation. His pass for the TD was a fluke. He had 2 fumbles one leading to a TD. We gave up a lot to get this guy in round 2 and he isnt even a 2nd stringer.

This team is at least competitive, if we could just get Stafford back. The one thing that does reamin the same is the stupid mistakes. What about Avril going nuts when we stop them on 3rd and goal. That was 4 points right there.

Stanton is an average QB. That's why he's not a starter in the NFL and just barely a third stringer here, but to be thrust into the role he was in- he did alright. He wasn't lighting up the scoreboard but then most third string QBs can't. It wasn't a pretty performance but he hung in there, managed the ball somewhat adequately, and didn't lose the game by himself. As far as to the who, what, where and why we drafted him- all one has to do is point to Millen for it; we need not say any more with his brilliant track record of talent assessment.

I think this will be Drew Stanton's last year here as well. He's obviously not climbing the depth chart and not going to displace Stafford any time soon. The game day experience he got yesterday was good because coming back after the Bye Week, more than likely he's going to the be the back-up QB to Stafford and only because he's got some experience with the offense. Until we hear more as to the severity of Shaun Hill's injury and the length of time he's going to be out [[projected 4-6 weeks), Stanton's #2 and Lord knows who we're going to get to be #3.

[Danny]

Face it folks, Lions SUCK! They are under the BARRY SANDERS CURSE since 1991. It would take 100 years for the Lions go the NFC playoffs, but they NEVER win the Super Bowl. They cutting all the good players and bring the guys that suck and won't listen to the coach.

[smogboy]

Face it folks, Lions SUCK! They are under the BARRY SANDERS CURSE since 1991. It would take 100 years for the Lions go the NFC playoffs, but they NEVER win the Super Bowl. They cutting all the good players and bring the guys that suck and won't listen to the coach.

Care to do more than just rant about how the Lions suck? Care to also tell us the sky is blue too? What are you? Master of the MOST Obvious or what??

And if you want to really get into the conversation [[or Earth), let's cite some of those "good players" you call that have been cut. Who got let go that's that great?? WHO?? Give us an example where they're not listening to the coach as well and mind you, the coach- in their mind's eye expects perfection. If this is your feeble way of ranting on the countless penalties- it truly is feeble.

[Downriviera]

I have a question for those who have been watching the games regularly. The question is whether you think the officiating has been equally fair.

Let me start by saying that [[except for the no-catch catch against the Bears), I'm not playing 'blame the refs' for the Lions losses. I'm also not arguing that the penalty flags against the Lions are unwarranted, but where my question lies is with some of what I will call the 'fringe' penalties, where they might go either way. What I'm seeing is that, even in the same game, the Lions will often get those flags thrown and the opponents often will not. What's even more frustrating is that I've seen a couple of flags thrown against the Lions on those fringe penalties where the officials threw a flag after the opponent 'pointed out' the violation to the official.

I guess the way I look at it is that at least one or two flags a game [[or no-flags on the opponent) seem to be of the 'Ah, the Lions would have needed to violate the rules to make that play / the opponent is talented enough and therefore wouldn't have needed to violate the rules to make that play' variety.

All I wish is that the officials called the game the same no matter of the jerseys that the guys have on. Am I jaded because I'm a Lions fan or is there something to it? I mean, any difference in calling is subtle [[unlike the NBA where they don't even try to hide the difference in play-calling), but it still seems that there is a 'benefit of the doubt' factor that seems to favor other more 'respected' team.

I'm with you on this but I think its even more obvious than you claim. Two teams were playing and the Lion's had 11 penalties to the Giants 2. There were times when Manning had all day back there and I could see holding that was not called. Its tough to play against the opposing team and the refs but that is what the Lion's have to do. You could finally see the frustation from Schwartz, and its a good thing they didn't have a mike open near him or the FCC would have fined the network.

[smogboy]

I'm with you on this but I think its even more obvious than you claim. Two teams were playing and the Lion's had 11 penalties to the Giants 2. There were times when Manning had all day back there and I could see holding that was not called. Its tough to play against the opposing team and the refs but that is what the Lion's have to do. You could finally see the frustation from Schwartz, and its a good thing they didn't have a mike open near him or the FCC would have fined the network.

There were a few instances that you could tell the Giants influenced a call. Flags were thrown late and at the behest and urging of the Giants. One could see that Schwartz felt as though his team was getting the short end of the stick in instances like that. I don't have a problem with him going ballistic during the game [[as opposed to the post Calvin Johnson Mystery Catch game in Chicago).

Sure, maybe as a conspiracy theorist I feel as though we're getting jobbed but also realistically I know that we don't have one of those teams that has the talent to overcome little mistakes like that. Great teams can overcome bad calls- and we're definitely not of that caliber yet.

But I do think that nationally we are turning a few heads in the sense that we're no longer patsies. Gone are the jokes about us being total doormats. To our credit, this team has fought hard from the start of the game until the very end; we just can't steal a game just yet but it's getting closer and closer. Opposing teams know that they'll be in for a scrap now and we just won't roll over at the beginning of the second half any more. Is that acceptable? I guess so considering where we've been- but even with improvement, we still need to see the W column look a little better than the L column eventually.

[ggores]

There were a few instances that you could tell the Giants influenced a call. Flags were thrown late and at the behest and urging of the Giants. One could see that Schwartz felt as though his team was getting the short end of the stick in instances like that.

It was frustrating to watch the Giants crying on the field while the Lions just kind of stood around, helpless and with no say in anything. Frustrating, that is, until the Lions made boneheaded plays and missed opportunities - if you suck and incur alot of penalties throughout the course of a full game, completely fumbling discipline again and again - you're not going to get many calls go your way. That said, of the major sports, NFL officiating is the worst. Sometimes you'd think the game was all about them [[ref's and LJ's that is).

[sirrealone]

The slide show in the attached link is extremely enlightening.

For those who get frustrated by the Lions, who think that the 1-5 record doesn't show progress, or who wonder why other teams can turn it around so much quicker, this gives some great insight.

It reinforces the fact, by looking at the 2008 roster in a 'where are they now' fashion, that 22 months ago, this team was a complete and utter disaster.

Look at the number of players that are no longer on the Lions. It's a long list.

Do you want to know, out of those, how many are in the UFL or out of football altogether? Hint: a LOT!

Most of the rest who have been dispatched from the Lions roster but actually managed to stay in the NFL are backups.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/4...deserve-praise

I know that from a wins and losses standpoint, this team has not shown the progression that we want. But, to look at who's no longer here versus who we have now, the improvement in talent is hard to argue with, and I truly believe that the wins are on the way, and we're getting closer and closer the more we move on from this 2008 mess.

[smogboy]

The slide show in the attached link is extremely enlightening.

For those who get frustrated by the Lions, who think that the 1-5 record doesn't show progress, or who wonder why other teams can turn it around so much quicker, this gives some great insight.

It reinforces the fact, by looking at the 2008 roster in a 'where are they now' fashion, that 22 months ago, this team was a complete and utter disaster.

Look at the number of players that are no longer on the Lions. It's a long list.

Do you want to know, out of those, how many are in the UFL or out of football altogether? Hint: a LOT!

Most of the rest who have been dispatched from the Lions roster but actually managed to stay in the NFL are backups.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/4...deserve-praise

I know that from a wins and losses standpoint, this team has not shown the progression that we want. But, to look at who's no longer here versus who we have now, the improvement in talent is hard to argue with, and I truly believe that the wins are on the way, and we're getting closer and closer the more we move on from this 2008 mess.

It's that link and NBCSport's Mike Florio's comments that speak volumes about the buffoon that was running the organization at the time:

http://www.freep.com/article/2010102.../1050/SPORTS02

[Downriviera]

Happy bye week to my fellow Lion's fans. Go Skins, Go Vikes. Gotta keep our division title hopes within reach. Maybe we'll miss the playoffs by one game, then the league will catch more flak for the non td call in game one.

[smogboy]

Happy bye week to my fellow Lion's fans. Go Skins, Go Vikes. Gotta keep our division title hopes within reach. Maybe we'll miss the playoffs by one game, then the league will catch more flak for the non td call in game one.

Likewise Downriviera! It's always odd having a Sunday in the Fall to chill and goof off for a day. I actually spent a good chunk of my mid-afternoon not at the game or glued to a television. And it was a gorgeous day outside too... heck, I'm gonna get back out there and enjoy it. I can always come back and check out the scores in the rest of the NFL later.

To our men who are in Honolulu Blue & Silver this week- heal up. Work out whatever quirks, mental anguish, kinks, aches and pains that you might have and come back next week sharp! We still have high hopes for you to succeed the rest of the year.

[Downriviera]

Looks like the game may not sell out this Sunday. Does anyone know if you can watch it in Windsor, at the casino maybe? Or does Canada comply with the black out rules also.

[Big Dog]

You could watch them on your computer last year. I tried the site for one game this season, but it wouldn't work.

[jefferson78]

The real question is why would you want to watch it?
Why put yourself through the misery of another Lion's loss?
I just wish they would put a good competitive game on instead of some two hour informercial.

[Leroy Hoard]

FYI: Those of you with "NFL Redzone" will still see the bigger plays even if it's blacked out.

[Big Dog]

What bigger plays? We're talkin' lions here.

[Leroy Hoard]

What bigger plays? We're talkin' lions here.

The other team's?

[Thruster315]

The real question is why would you want to watch it?
Why put yourself through the misery of another Lion's loss?
I just wish they would put a good competitive game on instead of some two hour informercial.

Obviously you haven't watched any of the games as of late. And obviously you're not a fan of this team so why even bother commenting? Seriously if you've watched the games this season you would realize that this team actually is competitive.

Actually if you were any sort of Lions fan, you might even realize that the Lions are a two point favorite in this game.

[Big Dog]

They could win.

[kenp]

They should win

[Downriviera]

If the Lions win and nobody sees it, did it really happen?

[Big Dog]

I saw it at home. Lions deserved the win. The redskins played very bad.

[sirrealone]

Kudos to the Lions for a well deserved victory. I listened to most of the game, and was impressed how the Lions stormed through most of the fourth quarter to grab victory. The Lions, not the other team, were the ones to capitalize on the other teams mistakes, and more often than not, that will win you football games. While they certainly made their share of mistakes throughout the game, in the end they were able to make the Redskins pay for their turnovers, their lack of ability to convert third downs, their penalties, and their bad coaching decision [[Rex Grossman? Really?).

I think more than anything, it's important for this team to learn how to win. With the Rams game, they had that game early but kept their foot on the gas to make sure they won. In this game, they were able to overcome many of their own miscues but still hang in there, and then take advantage when the other team self destructed. As fans, we've grown pretty accustomed to seeing that script flipped, so that was a sweet finish.

Speaking of fans, the roar of the fans as they rolled over the 'Skins in the final few minutes was awesome to hear. It had to be great for the players to hear that too. As loud as it was yesterday, imagine as our record keeps getting better plus actually have the additional 10,000 fans to fill the rest of the seats. It's getting closer.