So the Green Bay Packers won Sunday over the Detroit Lions but was anyone really surprised by this? The only thing I can say is, I’m shocked it wasn’t by a bigger margin. I thought it was a given that Green Bay would put up 35 points but as it turned out they only put up 24.
But let’s take a closer look at this 24-20 outcome.
That 24 points put up by the Packers should have been 33 given some bad field goal kicking by Green Bay place-kicker Mason Crosby costing them nine points. And because of Crosby’s shaky kicking, Green Bay was essentially forced to go for it on fourth down early in the game.
My point in all this?
Green Bay owned this game and at no point did I see a Lions team that was going to win or even deserve to win. Unlike the Lions the Packers were a team Sunday that didn’t miss chances and didn’t let the game slip away. Sooner or later you have to own the record and take responsibility for the team you are. The problems for the Lions Sunday were the same things we’ve seen all year. And because of that you can’t look at this as a blown game or even a missed opportunity since it’s been the same thing over and over with the Lions. It becomes a track record and it becomes the same broken record.
So let’s look at some of the Lions’ faults… again.
Detroit started the game with two drives that resulted in consecutive three and outs. Why? Well Brandon Pettigrew and Calvin Johnson had more drops in both sets of downs while Matthew Stafford was largely inaccurate. So stop me if this becomes repetitive which it will.
- Stafford couldn’t hit his targets and had 2 interceptions
- Calvin had 2 drops, Pettigrew had 2 drops. Both on huge ‘coulda’ plays.
- Stafford fumbled while scrambling when he could of gained 30 yards.
- The receivers did a poor job getting open for the quarterback.
- Tony Scheffler was clearly not on the same page as Stafford.
- Play calling was bad in the red zone. On two separate occasions the Lions settled for three points because Green Bay simply out played them.
One more thing, the offensive line played it’s worst game of the season (yes I know Backus got hurt, but it made no difference since the Packers had pressure before he left the game). The Packers got to Stafford all game, resulting in numerous hurries, hits, and six sacks.
The only thing good I can say about the game was I thought Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley(especially) had productive outings. Fairley with playing time, is showing the talent he had at Auburn. But that’s basically it when it comes to the positives for the Lions Sunday.
The Lions defense also did not have a good game as they were clearly bailed out by a Green Bay offense that was out of sync. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers blamed himself after the game saying his team needed work but you have to consider what the Packers were missing, Cedric Benson, Greg Jennings, Charles Woodson and Clay Matthews.
Three Pro Bowlers while the Lions were missing Louis Delmas and Corey Williams.
And Lions fans can save it if they believe it was the Lions defense that put the Packers offense out of sync. They didn’t. If anything the Packers coming off a bye allowed the Lions to be in this game.
Bottom line is I can look back at all my recaps for the season and the same complaints are persistent every week after a loss. It’s the same things that go uncorrected. We were told about this offensive fire power and all this talent. But where is it? Lions players and coaches in interviews go on and on about the talent on this team which almost looks as though they’re talking themselves into believing that this team actually does have enough talent.
At 4-6 on the season you can start reading your mock drafts and going to your favorite social media spots arguing about whom the Lions should draft in 2013 because THIS SEASON IS OVER. The Lions have zero chance at the division, are 2 games behind a wild card spot and they face an impossible schedule ahead. I strongly doubt any accountability happens after this season as it should. Business as usual will continue. Schwartz, Linehan, Mayhew will all probably get a free pass. And until the ownership has some FIRE to win It will be a painful for any Lions fan going forward. The Fords don’t have the same compassion to win the the Robert Kraft’s or the Jerry Jones’ of the world have or even our own Mike Ilitch. It’s not in the Ford’s DNA to win at all cost. Owning the team is good enough.