If your team is fortunate enough to return a punt for a long touchdown, things are usually looking up. If during the same game, one of your behemoth defensive linemen somehow manages to intercept a pass and lumber a few yards into the end zone for yet another touchdown, it just HAS to be your day. Further, if your team puts up 38 points, a win should be a lock.
That is, unless you're a Detroit Lions fan. The Motown puddy-tats did all the above and still got beat at the hands of the New Orleans Saints. Bad. Two touchdowns worth. This is what happens when the other team racks up a whopping 52 points. Any NFL team getting shredded for the big five-oh should hang their heads indeed.
So now instead of going into their bye week coming off a win with a respectable 4-2 record, the Lions are at a piddling 3-3 having suffered consecutive losses.
Yet in the ever-magical world of the Lions, they received some good news on the same day. Much to the chagrin of the Packer faithful in Green Bay, star quarterback Aaron Rodgers went down with a broken collar bone, (worse, on his throwing arm side), in a game against the Minnesota Vikings. He'll likely be lost for at least the rest of the regular season.
In other words, the Lions are right back in contention for the NFC North Division title through nothing they themselves did. With Rodgers out, the Packers will likely falter. Detroit has already defeated Minnesota once (though the Vikes were playing with their third-string quarterback at the time), and the purple gang hardly looks formidable even when fully healthy. Rounding out the division are the Chicago Bears. They remain, well, Da Bears. 'Nuff said. As it always has been and seems to continue to be in Detroit, there is hope. (Excuse me. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk. OK, I feel better now.)
Elsewhere around the league strange things were happening indeed.
Miami came roaring back from a 17 point deficit to take down Atlanta? The same Dolphins where that Cutler guy is still bumbling around at quarterback? Against the defending NFC champions? Get outta here.
The Steelers went into Kansas City and knocked off the previously unbeaten Chiefs? That wasn't supposed to happen.Then again, Pittsburgh DID eliminate KC in the playoffs last year. Maybe they just have their proverbial number.
And just when you think it can't get any wackier, leave it to the NY Giants, yes the heretofore winless Giants, to waltz into Denver and defeat the resurgent Broncos. Handily. 23-10. Are these the same Giants that were third from last in the entire league in rushing? Going up against the same Broncos that featured the league's leading defense? And the Jersey-ites pounded the ball down the Mile-highers' throats the whole game?
What's that? The above-mentioned Bears --THOSE guys? -- beat the Baltimore Ravens? Shades of nevermore.Very strange indeed.
Some have said the NFL stands for the No Fun League. Or No Fair League (see the ongoing Colin Kaerpernick saga).
Perhaps another interpretation should be offered.
No Favorites (are) Locks.
It's just Not Freaking Logical.
That's it. I'm launching a Kickstarter to pry the Lions from the Fords' grip.
ReplyDelete-Mach
Yeah, a Kickstarter and a couple billion dollars might just get you there. Good luck. Face it. The team's been in the family since the Kennedy administration, and they keep breeding new generations. Methinks you're pretty much stuck. But maybe, just maybe, you're starting to come around to my way of thinking about them.
DeleteI'm still a Lions fan, but I accepted the fact that the Lions are hopeless under the Fords. Someone has to make the Fords an offer they can't refuse.
Delete-Mach
Thing is -- they don't need or want the money, regardless what the number is. The team is more of a toy and bragging rights for being an NFL owner. As long as they keep breeding, family ownership could theoretically go on forever. Scary -- eh?
DeleteScary indeed. As for the Fords, the Lions aren't bragging rights as much as they are an avenue for Ford to get the ads out.
Delete-Mach
Good point on the ads. Hadn't thought of that angle.
DeleteOops. I gave you more ammo.
DeleteNot to worry. Ammo I got. It's that part about aim that I continue to have trouble with. I think in laymen's terms it's sometimes referred to as a "loose cannon". Go figure. LOL
Delete