Week 8, 2019 Detroit Lions vs NY Giants @ Home

All Game.

The 3-3-1 Detroit Lions managed to beat the 2-6 New York Giants at home with a 31-26 score. Had the defense not scored a TD on a fumble recovery early in the game the Lions may not have won today. Injuries to the DBs forced the Lions to put in their 3rd stringers as starters for the 2nd half, which is not surprising, since the Lions just traded Safety/CB Diggs to Seattle this past week. Overall though, the Lions were up and down all game and eeked out a win.

Matthew Stafford was 25 of 32 (78.125%) for 342 yards 3 TDs and 1 INT. The run game, led by one Tra Carson (who had 34 yards on 12 carries) totaled 59 rushing yards with 5 different runners. KJ might not be all that, but he's going to be missed (he's on IR now). The defense for the Lions managed to allow the rookie QB Daniel Jones complete 28 of 41 (68.29%) for 322 yards and 4 TDs with no INT (but one backwards throw that is recorded as a fumble). The run defense was slightly improved, only allowing 80 yards (64 to Barkley) but they also allowed Barkley to catch 8 passes for 79 yards, only being topped by Golden Tate who had 85 yards. Many of those throws were to wide open receivers, so it's quite amazing the Lions won at all... yet the Lions scored first (ala defense) and never once lost the lead all game.

The officiating was at times a little bit frustrating, but no where near as bad as the past few games. The Lions themselves also made many errors, but once again, not quite as bad as the past three games. Perhaps this will generate a little bit of confidence that might carry over into next week's game against the Oakland Raiders for the first of two away games. To win the Raiders and Bears games away the Lions will need to clean up their errors and play well, all game. The up and down alternating good and bad plays have to get turned around, and quickly.

The Lions are now in 3rd in the division, as the Bears lost today by 1 point (failing to hit a field goal as time expired). After the Raiders the Lions play the Bears twice in 18 days (due to the Thanksgiving day game)... all the next 5 games are critical... they must be wins if the Lions want any hope of making the playoffs. Not sure yet if they can pull that off. The Lions confidence might have improved, but mine has not. Not when you keep making mistakes every game all game.

Week 7, 2019 Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions @ Home

Hoping.

The 2-3-1 Detroit Lions lost to the 5-2 Minnesota Vikings 30-42 at Ford Field today. Unlike the Monday night game against the Lions, the officiating this game was much less controversial. However, injuries played a huge part in the loss. Not to say if the injuries hadn't happened the Lions would have won, but I do believe the score would have been much closer. The Lions still managed to do things wrong aiding the other team to win, as they have done every game this season so far (not that all were loses). I wonder if the coaches and players can ever get their act together for a complete game, here's hoping.

Matthew Stafford was 30 of 45 (66.667%) for 364 yards 4 TDs and 1 INT. The offense always gained 81 yards on the ground. Meanwhile the defense allowed Kirk Cousins to go 24 of 34 (70.59%) for 337 yards 4 TDs and no interceptions. The Lions defense also allowed the Vikings offense to rush for 166 yards. This was mostly a game of defense, or the lack thereof, and the Vikings defense outplayed the Lions defense. Prior to the game a couple of the Lions defensive starters were inactive and during the game more then half the starters ended up out for at least part if not the larger portion of the game. I'm hoping they can all get healed up this week for the next game.

Next week the Lions play the 2-5 New York Giants at home. There can be no excuse for them to not win this game. Should they lose I predict the Lions will be drafting in the top 5 again next April. Here's hoping that is not the case. The Lions absolutely must go on a lengthy win streak if they want to have any hope of a post season this year at all. I'm much less confident of that happening then I was just a couple of weeks ago.

Week 5 = Bye, Week 6 2019 Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers

Incorrect.

The 2-2-1 Detroit Lions were beat by the NFL refs, err, I mean the 5-1 Green Bay Packers by a score of 23-22. Now it's true the Lions settled over and over for field goals instead of getting touchdowns. It's also true they led the game from the opening series all the way until the final 2 seconds, and the only reason the Packers were able to win was due to some great play by the Packers and even better penalties (or lack thereof) that kept the Packers in the game. The announcers know it, my local news guy knows it, my friends and family know it, and all Lions fans know it. Only some Packers fans will deny it, and that's fine, that's what fans do. The NFL will get all kinds of complaints, they will apologize to the Lions, and the Lions will still be 2-2-1 and not get the calls the next time they play. What should happen is that official should be fired. Tomorrow. Never to call an NFL game again. But I'm sure that won't happen either, as there are no consequences for repeatedly getting the calls wrong in the NFL. Nothing happens when the officials are incorrect.

Matthew Stafford was 18 of 32 (56.25%) for 265 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. The offense gained 56 rushing, which is horrible while the defense allowed 170 yards rushing and allowed Aaron Rodgers to go 24 of 39 (61.54%) for 283 yards 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Yet it was the two hands to the face calls against Trey Flowers (his hands were never once in the dudes face, but the dude did have his hands in Flowers face the second time) and the no call for pass interference when the Lions were driving to regain a two score lead that really affected the game the most... though there were other calls that were a bit one sided, not called or made up completely that also contributed. Now why the Lions didn't challenge the no call on pass interference I don't know, that is a coaching mistake. In the end, the Lions went toe to toe against a good team, would've won, but did not. As incorrect as that may be.

Next week the Lions go against the refs, err, the Minnesota Vikings at home, I'm just going to predict a loss right now, since the Lions are probably really upset and it's only take one thing going wrong that shouldn't to get them into the doldrums and blow the game. Unless, that is, they are more resilient then I give them credit for, which would make me incorrect.

Once more, I'll just say, the NFL really should remove that official from the league to show their are consequences for throwing a game... even if the only reason he blew it was due to needing glasses, which I doubt is the case, but you never know. I do know he was incorrect, more then once, and it did in fact matter this game.