Despite becoming a greater obstacle for the Minnesota Vikings, it's nice to see an improved Detroit Lions team. I've always hated seeing one sad sack team at the bottom of the standings every year. It's not good for football. The Lions cellar life was insured by the idiocy of Matt Millen. He killed that team like few ever have. It's shocking that he still has a job in football. Leave it to ESPN to see to that. The Lions have rebounded but the rush to anoint them as the next great team is just a bit premature.
General manager Martin Mayhew and head coach Jim Schwartz have done an amazing job of turning the Lions around. They wasted no time in doing so. The only stumbles came from the health of quarterback Matthew Stafford. Outside of that, Mayhew and Schwartz have led a strong climb to 4-0. The best tests of the team will be their battles with Green Bay in the second half of the season. That's a long wait for the two teams to play. In that time Detroit has some work to do. It's difficult to criticize an undefeated team, but the Lions could easily be 1-3 right now. Josh Freeman had a chance to complete a comeback in week one. If Tampa Bay does anything in the first half of that game, Detroit loses. Week two, the Lions destroy the Chiefs. It's the last two weeks against the Vikings and Cowboys that should most concern the Lions. Detroit was taken apart in the first half in both games. The Vikings and Cowboys then did all that they could to help out their opponent in the second half. Good teams create opportunities. They then take advantage of those opportunities. The Lions did both, but they aren't always going to face such generous teams. The Lions have one of the most lethal combinations in the league in Stafford and receiver Calvin Johnson. To continue their success they need others to step up. Against good teams in big games, an elite receiver can be taken away. Extra coverage on Johnson and especially pressure on Stafford can negate a single threat. The Vikings sacked Stafford five times. Defensive end Jared Allen destroyed Jeff Backus. The line has proven to be suspect. The Lions have to protect Stafford. Any future success depends on him. The Lions have weapons in receivers Nate Burleson and Titus Young, tight end Brandon Pettigrew and runningback Jahvid Best. They need to step up. Right now they might be relying too much on Johnson.
The Lions defensive line can be terrifying. Right now, they might be covering some issues in the secondary. There's talent back there with safety Louis Delmas and corner Chris Houston so they should improve going forward.
It's nice to see the Lions roaring back. It's been a while. Outside of a couple strong seasons, they haven't really been a factor since the '50s. That's a decent absence. They are 4-0, but I think that it's a shaky 4-0. We'll know more when they play teams like the Packers, Saints, Falcons and Chargers. Even the Bears this week on Monday Night will show better the potential of the Detroit Lions.
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