Obamacare and the Detroit Lions

Idle thought: I wonder if the Detroit Lions and their NFL brethren have to sign up for Obamacare like most everybody else? Lord knows, NFL players rack up some serious medical bills here and there.

Like the almighty Prez (the one in the oval office -- not Roger Goodell) once said -- if you like your team, you can keep your team -- or something like that. Maybe on some level he was referring to Detroit Lions fans.

And what would happen if Lions fans spent hours, days, weeks, forever on-line trying to sign up for tickets, only to find out the only seats available were in Chicago, Minnesota, or Green Bay -- when da Bears, Vikes, and Packers were playing a team OTHER than the Lions? That could get ugly.

At that, it appears the Lions have certainly been blessed this year with an Affordable Care Act custom made for them.

When their schedule was first released before the season even started -- it appeared to be somewhat formidable. But look at how it's turned out.

Who would have thought the Steelers, NY Giants, and Baltimore Ravens would be as bad as they are? Though they fell to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Lions lucked-up and beat the Cowboys in the last minute of their game. They finally broke their jinx in DC, but the Skins have gone downhill since RGIII trashed his knee last year. Yes, they lost a close one in Arizona and got trashed in Green Bay -- but the Lions always get thumped in Cheeserland. Throw in the usual couple patsies like Cleveland and Tampa Bay, and things could hardly have worked out better for the Honolulu blue and silver.

They've even lucked out in their own division. The Vikings have turned out to be even worse than expected, and the Lions travel to Soldier Field in Chicago this weekend to face off with da Bears. This has never been an easy place to play for the Lions, and Chicago starting QB Jay Cutler is trying to come back early from a groin injury. Advantage Lions.

The only really good team they have left on their schedule is the Packers. But the Lions get them at home on Thanksgiving, and the Pack will likely still be without the services of all-world QB Aaron Rodgers, who recently suffered a broken collar bone.

The Lions fans that would pooh-pooh such a thing -- saying that injuries happen to every team -- might want to consider where their team would be if their former "china doll" QB Matthew Stafford was to get broken again. It could happen. And trust me -- the guys in the other uniforms would like nothing better than to put Matthew back into the shop for more repairs.

The Lions are currently 5-3, tied with the Bears and Packers atop the NFC central division. But the rest of the schedule, for one unlikely reason after another, seems to heavily favor Detroit. Going into the season, even the Lions themselves probably would have thought a 10-6 record would be outstanding. Now, that mark not only appears reachable, but they could well do even better. 11-5, 12-4 aren't out of the question either.

Then again, neither is 8-8 or 7-9 if things go horribly wrong. If Stafford, Megatron receiver Calvin Johnson, and running back Reggie Bush all went down in Chicago due to injuries, the Lions would be in big trouble in a hurry. Unlikely, but possible. Ya never know. And c'mon. It IS the Lions. Never underestimate the power of Murphy's law when it comes to that team.

But given everything that has fallen in the Lions' favor so far, let's assume a reasonable outcome and say they win the NFC central division with a record of 10-6.

The Lions might (gasp) host their first playoff game in over 20 years. The crowd at Ford Field would be insane with excitement -- at least until they got back home and the reality of ramen noodles and tuna fish for the next month set in after they realized how much money they'd blown for 3 hours worth of entertainment. You think prices are too high now? Wait until a playoff game. It will get worse -- a lot worse.

But here's the bottom line. Even if the best reasonable scenario plays itself out -- and the Lions host and win a home playoff game -- that's as far as they go.

Because coming up next will likely be a team like San Fran, New Orleans, or even the Packers with a healthy Aaron Rodgers. And does any Lion fan really think their team wouldn't get blasted by the Seattle Seahawks?

Note to Lions fans. Enjoy the ride while it lasts, but don't get too caught up in the hype. You'll hear it from the Lion coaches, the players, and surely their koolaided local media that could spin a round steak into filet mignon -- and continue to do so. Remember -- they get in for free to sit in the press box. You don't, and I think I already mentioned ramen noodles.

The Lions are already better than they were last year, which isn't saying a whole lot -- but let's not get carried away.

No. Repeat NO, they are not going to the Super Bowl this year, much less winning it.

Because while they may have a couple outstanding players -- as an overall team they're nowhere near good enough. They have too many weaknesses that will be exposed when the pressure ratchets up under playoff competition and the other team is just flat-out better across the board.

Maybe next year. Hmmm. When it comes to the Detroit Lions, it seems I've been hearing that for a LOOOOOONG time.

Some things just aren't meant to be.

Kind of like yours truly trying to figure out this on-line health care thing. Do I really have to go to Afghanistan for a flu shot? That doesn't seem right.....