We’ve all been hearing how great the Detroit Lions are this season. This was supposed to be their year. After defeating the Chicago Bears on Monday night back in early October, the NFL was put on notice. Well, as they say, it’s not who starts the race but who finishes it. The Detroit Lions are fading fast. And as many of us are now feeling it couldn’t happen to a classier football team.
As I wrote after the Chicago Bears dismantled the Lions a few weeks ago (click here). This is a despicable team lead by defensive goon Ndamukong Suh and head jerkoff Jim Schwartz. There’s one thing to play this game physically, there’s another to play this game with the intent of hurting other players. During yesterday’s game with the Green Bay Packers, Suh slammed the head of right guard Evan Dietrich-Smith into the turf at least three times before stomping on his arm. This resulted in an immediate and warranted ejection. Did Suh show any remorse for intentionally trying to injure a player? Of course not, it was someone else’s fault. As he said after the game, “I was on top of a guy getting pulled down and trying to get up off the ground. That’s why you see me pushing his helmet down. I’m trying to remove myself from the situation. As I’m getting up, I’m getting pushed. With that, a lot of people are going to create their own storylines for seeing how they want to interpret it. But I know what I did, and the man upstairs knows what I did.” As he was leaving the field, Schwartz seemed flustered but didn’t react to Suh’s horrific actions. Suh should be suspended. Fines don’t seem to detour this guy, and his earlier meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was a joke.
The biggest result of the Lions style of play is they aren’t a very good football team anymore. Earlier in the season, they were legitimate contenders for the NFC. Calvin Johnson is the best wide receiver in football. Matthew Stafford was coming into his own as one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL. The Lions defensive front seven is as strong as any group in the NFL. There’s a lot of talent on this team, but talent doesn’t always translate to success. Some of the Lions players were griping that the officials seem to have it in for them, perhaps they need to start looking in the mirror as to the reasons why they beat themselves. Playing the game hard isn’t the same thing as playing the game dirty. All of this can be equated to the lack of quality head coach. Schwartz is a bad coach, and if the Lions hope to get something out of this group he needs to go. Can you even compare him as a coach or human being to Lovie Smith? When the Lions finally clean up this thing, they will be a scary squad. But as it stands right now, they’re going to be known for many things except a good team.
I hate the Green Bay Packers like any good Bears fan should; but my respect for this team continues to grow. Being undefeated is one thing, but they way they do it is impressive. They are almost a machine offensively. I’ve been on the Aaron Rodgers is the Best Quarterback in Football bandwagon for two seasons now, and he continues to get better. Yesterday was the Lion’s Super Bowl, and the Packers went into a hostile Ford Field and were business as usual. While I would love to see the Chicago Bears beat this team, with Caleb Hanie now starting at quarterback and Jay Cutler’s status up-in-the-air for the season, I just don’t think it’s possible anymore. The Packers have a realistic shot at running the table, and with the precision of a surgeon should be able to do so. While their defense isn’t great, it seems to get big plays in big situations. They’ll continue to have issues on special teams, but it doesn’t seem to hold this team back.
As far as I am concerned, as much as I enjoy watching the Packers lose, I really wasn’t that upset with yesterday’s results. The Lions need to crawl back into their crappy state because this team doesn’t deserve any respect. It has to be earned just like with the Green Bay Packers. Let’s face it Bears fans, it’s really hard not to respect our biggest enemy for playing the game with class. My hat’s off to the Packers. As much as it hurts.
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Until the Lions clean up their act and stop trying to knock their opponents out of the game physically, they should be required to forfeit the balance of the season. While their stated intent was to knock Rodgers out of the game and they pursued it with illegal hits, late hits and other classless hits, they failed and they took their team’s credibility down the sewer where they dwell.
THIS!
I agree. I was really upset when Lee was called for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected for trying to free himself from TWO Lions who had pretty much caged him in. I’m beginning to think that the Lions have the refs on their payroll to get away with what they do. I cheered when Suh (who I happen to like, but am beginning to question his skills to play clean) was ejected.
The Lions are proving they are nothing but thugs. I had been rooting for them until the scuff with DJ Moore and Stafford getting to stay in the game while DJ was ejected, followed by the ridiculous fines.
I have had respect for the Packers since Rodgers took over. He is a class act and the team seems to have followed suit. I think you’re right when you say the team follows the coach’s lead. McCarthy is nothing but class and Schwartz is nothing but classless.
I can’t be upset over the Packers winning yesterday. While I do hope that Caleb Hanie can lead the Bears to victory over the Pack, I agree that I’m not sure it will happen. The Packers have proven they’re no joke and maybe what Favre said about Rodgers has him angrier than he’ll show and that’s why he continues to be the best QB the league has ever seen.