Detroit lions self-destruct on Sunday Night Football, playoffs slipping away
What we have seen from the Lions over the past few weeks has been painful to watch. The once highly touted Detroit Lions are self-destructing right before our eyes. It’s not just the actions of Ndamukong Suh but rather the whole teams Discipline that is failing them over the last two weeks. Thursdays Thanksgiving game was still within reach by the under-dog Lions until Suh single handed helped the packers kept their drive alive with the stomp heard around the world. This kept the Packers offense on the field and what was once going to be a field goal attempt to give the Packers a managable10 point lead turned into a touchdown that tougher 14 point lead plus Suh one of Detroit’s best players and pass rushers was ejected for the rest of the game. With starting quarterback Matthew Stafford struggling though a hand injury and Kevin Smith back to the bench with an ankle injury the Lions needed every player on the field. Suh’s personal foul was one of nine penalties delivered to the lions at home and handicapping their chances of beating the undefeated world champions. The lions extended Packers drives and diminished their third down hopes with long yardage situations with the lack of discipline displayed.
Suh was later suspended for his actions in the Thanksgiving game. Not only did Suh get a two game suspension but he was decline an appeal. The league seems to now looks at Suh as a repeat offender and the luxuries of just saying “I am sorry” are gone.
The Lions walk in to Sunday night football against New Orleans minus Suh, Houston and Delmus against one of the most potent offenses in football. Although Stafford and the offense was healthy again welcoming back Smith the defense was pieced together with players out of position so winning would mean minimizing mistakes. In a game most though would be a track meet from the beginning, the Lions found ways to hold their own. It was the second quarter where they started to unravel. 11 Penalties for over 100 yards which includes: 3 offensive pass interference calls all negating huge catches and setting their team further back, 3 Personal foul calls either extending Packers drives or pushing the Lions back into a whole and this includes one for Brandon Pettigrew for shoving a referee. It was embarrassing and even long time center Dominc Raiola who has lived through the losing years was pulling the young players aside and really starting to let them have it. Some guys like Raiola have been dreaming of a playoff berth for years and are watching it slip away because of immaturity.
In a winnable game for the Lions it ended 31-17 Saints. By the end of the game Smith was back out with an ankle injury and the whole teams to be self-destructing around coach Swartz. After losing 5 of their last 7 games are now looking on the outside of the playoffs with San Diego, Oakland and the undefeated Green Bay Packers left on their schedule.
Swartz will have to find a way to calm the young players on his roster before next week because you cannot win games with those kinds of mental errors on top of the fact that Suh is still gone for one more week and injuries are piling up. Smith who was the one you opened the running game back up from the Lions left the game again with an ankle, Fairley was benched after the sore foot that kept him out of 4 games this season was re-injured adding to the laundry list of guys that were out before this game.