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Health & Fitness

Lions can use Cowboys win to catapult into playoffs

The Lions win last Sunday over the Cowboys at Ford Field has been discussed all week both locally and nationally. The focus has been on Matthew Stafford’s sneak to win the game and the incredible play of Calvin Johnson throughout the game – outdueling his fellow receiver Dez Bryant from the Cowboys. It is great to see the Lions in the national spotlight for something positive.

 

But what does the Cowboys win do for the Lions the rest of the way? I think it does a lot quite frankly – it could catapult the Lions into the playoffs for the second time in three years (along with a soft second half schedule). It gives the team a confidence that was lacking last year in close games. When things aren’t going well (four turnovers) – and things are not always going to go well – the team has to dig down deep with a great effort to pull out a victory. That is what happened last Sunday.

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The Lions should be favored to win seven of their final eight games after the bye week starting with an injury riddled Bears team in Chicago on Sunday. I originally pegged the Lions for a rough November after a 4-4 start with road games in Chicago and Pittsburgh followed by a Thanksgiving Day showdown with Green Bay. Because of injury and poor play, the two road trips seem far less daunting than they did in early September.

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The winless Tampa Bay Bucs will be the home appetizer before the Packers game on Thanksgiving. With a modest win streak, the Lions/Packers game could be for the division on November 28th. If that happens, a lot of the credit will go to Stafford and Johnson – and it should. Both players are the best at their position in a long time for this franchise.

 

Growing up watching running back Barry Sanders make NFL defenses look silly, I never thought I would see a player that exciting wear a Lions uniform again. Johnson plays a different position, but he is equally compelling in his own right. Running backs lean on a good offensive line (which Barry never really had, but they were adequate) whereas Johnson relies on a good quarterback and other offensive compliments. The Lions have done a good job of surrounding Johnson with some weapons now on offense. Receiver Nate Burleson should return from injury this Sunday.

 

I have said many times that Stafford is already the best quarterback I have seen with the Lions in my twenty plus years of watching the team. Great arm and competitive are two good traits for an NFL quarterback to have. At just 25 years of age, Stafford should be a key part of the franchise for a long time – directing the offense to a lot of points and yards.

 

I thought that the defense held up pretty well against the Cowboys. It is by no means a shut down defense. But they put pressure on the opposing quarterback (although not a ton of sacks) and try to control the running game. The secondary is slowly improving but the cornerback play is still suspect. Every defense looks better if they can cause turnovers, which the Lions have improved upon this season. My hope is that young corners Darius Slay and Bill Bentley continue to develop and improve throughout the year in order to be ready come playoff time.

 

The Lions have the talent to make the playoffs. The goal should shift to making an impact once they reach the playoffs and not just making it there. There are some elite teams in the conference – Green Bay, Seattle, San Francisco and New Orleans all come to mind this season. It is any one’s guess if Detroit can compete with these teams come playoff time – my guess is not yet – but these in-their-prime years for Stafford and Johnson can no longer be wasted on hoping to make the playoffs.

 

The Colts owner was recently criticized for complaining about only winning one championship and two conference titles while the team had quarterback Peyton Manning. I can understand the point, though, that each year needs to have intensity to it to go as far as you can go. Barry Sanders played ten years for the franchise and retired (famously early) because the team lacked direction to be consistently competitive.

 

Johnson and Stafford are no where close to retiring. But the day will come for Johnson and the franchise when 329 receiving yards are spread over many games and not just in ONE game (as was done against the Cowboys). When that day comes, will the Lions be able to look back on at least one championship. This fan sure hopes so.  

 

I have been a die hard Lions fan since 1991. I played football in high school and began a college playing career at Wayne State before hanging up the cleats. I will try to provide a perspective on my favorite NFL team as the season progresses for the Patch.




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