Click here for Why the Lions Can Beat Any Team in the NFL Part 1.
Before the first place Lions started this season, I was paying close attention to the team to see if they were likely to have a disappointing season like last year or a season as good or better than 2011.
The moves Detroit made during the offseason, the way players conducted themselves off the field, the shape team members were showing up in for Organized Team Activities, and the development of the returning players gave me expectations.
High expectations.
In fact, I perched myself all alone way out on a long limb and predicted this would be the year the Lions would win the Super Bowl.
I started this column last week, sharing the expectations for this team that led me to believe the Lions could beat any team in the NFL and the surprises through the season that keep me clinging to the branch from which I made my bold prediction.
Now I continue:
Expectation #3 – Matthew Stafford Would Be Clutch.
Bobby Lane was known for being clutch. Since he led the Lions to NFL championships in the 1950’s, clutch has not been a term used for quarterbacks in Detroit. In fact, I’d prefer not to repeat most of the terms used to describe Detroit’s QBs over the years.
We’ve seen Stafford lead 8 from behind, fourth quarter, game winning drives coming into the 2013 season. His rookie season, throwing the winning TD (his 5th TD of the game) with no time on the clock and a separated shoulder against the Browns was enough to see the kind of competitor Stafford is.
Matthew Stafford, despite all the criticisms, is a clutch quarterback who would come through big for the Lions in 2013.
Has Matthew Stafford Lived Up to this Expectation?
Absolutely. Not that he hasn’t struggled here and there; not that he hasn’t made mistakes. But Stafford has shown his ability to be a clutch QB when the game is on the line.
You can see it looking at the last three games (yes, including the loss in Pittsburgh):
I don’t need to say anything about the finish against the Cowboys, but can’t stop myself from typing that Matthew Stafford led the Lions to victory with one of the most incredible, exciting comeback drives of all time, finishing by fooling Dallas’ defense and his own offensive line by leaping for a touchdown instead of spiking the ball to stop the clock.
In Chicago, he led the Lions on a game winning drive in the fourth capped by a TD pass to Calvin Johnson.
Even in that rough game against Pittsburgh, Stafford was doing everything you could ask in the last drive to get his team back in it against the Steelers. On third down, he threw a beautiful deep pass that hit Ogletree on the numbers but was dropped. Still needing 10 yards on fourth down, Stafford made a 14-yard run himself to get the first.
The drive failed, but Stafford gave the Lions the opportunity.
Stafford’s clutch play added 2 more fourth quarter, come from behind, game winning drives to his resume so far this season. Expect more big plays to be made by Stafford in high-pressure situations as the year continues.
Surprise #3 – So You Think You Can Dance Joseph Fauria
With all the injury problems–on and off the field–the Lions receiving corps has had the emergence of undrafted rookie Joseph Fauria.
Yes, he’s a tight end, not a wide receiver, but he is one more target for Matthew Stafford other than Megatron. At first, Fauria was serving as a red zone threat, but is being used more and more on the field (largely because of injuries).
Fauria’s size and hands keep him on the field and make him a real weapon for the Lions. I don’t care if he dances like a boy band member, as long as he keeps catching passes. I would like to see his blocking improve, but am impressed by the positive impact he has had on the team.
Expectation #4 – An Improved Secondary with Darius Slay and Glover Quin
Here’s the tough one.
The secondary has been a real weakness for Detroit leading up to 2013. When the Lions went to the playoffs in 2011, Drew Brees ripped the secondary apart to make Detroit one and done.
Going into 2013, Detroit went out and got Glover Quin and the talk around Louis Delmas and his knee was extremely positive.
Delmas flies around the field, making some risky moves, but he’s a great competitor and leader who makes the defense better when he’s playing. Glover Quin is simply a good, solid safety who should be a perfect compliment to Delmas.
Chris Houston has been a decent corner for Detroit and second round pick Darius Slay could finally give him a solid counterpart.
In 2013, I expected the secondary to have some struggles here and there, getting beat some; but, with Quin and Slay it should be improved enough to stop teams from matching points with Detroit’s explosive offense.
Has the Secondary Lived Up to Expectations?
The good news is in most games, Detroit has outscored its competitors. The bad news is the secondary has gotten beat. A lot. So the secondary remains a trouble spot for the Lions.
Darius Slay has often been beaten when on the field. I expected him to get beat here and there, making rookie mistakes. Unfortunately, his confidence seems to have taken a hit from his mistakes, keeping Slay on the under performing side of things.
Quin has been pretty solid, but is wrestling with an ankle injury. The secondary has plenty of potential to improve, but need a serious injection of life.
Surprise #4 – Louis Delmas Stays Healthy and On the Field
I don’t want to say I expected Delmas to go down with injury, but it’s been a relief to see him consistently on the field. The rest regiment really seems to be working.
As I said above, the defense is better with Delmas on the field and if new life is going to be injected into the secondary, it is likely to start with Delmas.
The secondary had 3 interceptions in the Week 4 game against the Chicago Bears: Delmas had 2 and Quin had 1.
You can’t expect that kind of production every week, but that is the kind of performance that can, not merely ameliorate a liability, but transform the energy of the unit and the whole team.
Conclusion
The explosive offense of the Lions creates the ability to keep up with any team. Shooting matches is a dangerous way to play, so the defense needs to make it harder for other team’s offenses to keep up.
The secondary has the ability to come up with big, game-changing plays; but, are giving up big plays way too often. The best strength of the defense comes from its strong defensive line and solid play from the linebackers which has the dominant force to make up for times when the secondary struggles.
The Lions haven’t hit full stride yet this season, but we’ve seen flashes of how good they can be which is proven by their first place standing in the NFC North at this point in the season. The offense has had big games back and forth between Bush and Megatron while the defense has done some solid work on stopping third downs and red zone drives.
As the final stretch of the season hits, the Lions only need to find a little bit of rhythm to be one of the scariest teams in the NFL to face.