Well, It's over. The Lions run in the play offs ended abruptly in New Orleans with 45-28 loss to the Saints.
It was disppointing because the Lions got beat and did not play their best. If they would have played well, and got beat then you tip your hat to the Saints. While the Saints clearly were the better team, the Lions made it a lot easier on them with a performance on defense that was just not anywhere near their best.
Maybe if the Lions would have been sharper on defense they would have lost anyway, but I really believe they would have been in it right to the bitter end, and maybe even won. They can play with the Saints, but not when they make glaring errors. I point to three area's specifically where the Lions, in my judgement, let the game get away.
They did not tackle well at all. Tackling is one of those fundamentals that you must execute in big games. If you give the other team more yards after contact, which translates to more possessions, and more opportunities, you are heading into a bad place. When that other team is the Saints and that offense, you are asking for big trouble. The Lions got in big trouble by not tackling. I would hate to see the numbers on yards after contact by the Saints offense. It was the difference in the game.
The other part that was very tough to take, was a wide open receiver for a score when the Lions busted a coverage. And, a score by New Orleans at the goal line when the Lions were late getting lined up, and it was an easy pass from Brees to Graham for a score. Look I understand a broken coverage on occasion, but when you have a full week to scout the opponent, and it's after 17 weeks of the season and a full training camp, not to mention it was after you had already played them a month before, this kind of thing should not happen. I know injuries and personnell playing unfamiliar positions are a factor to some degree, but this is a play off game, and these guys are professionals. These aspects of the game were the most disappointing to me.
The broken coverage and pass defense was more a second half problem and snowballed the Saints ability to build a lead, but the missed tackles was a problem throughout the game. I know the Lions defense is better than that, but, while you can say that, they did not prove it during the game. That's the big difference. In the NFL, you have to prove how good you are each and every snap, each and every game. The Lions chose this play off game to make it a bit easier on the Saints than it should have been.
That, to me, is the look at the game from a microscope. In the big picture, we should give this team, and this franchise credit for making a very solid three year run. From the absolute depths, they made it to 10 wins and a play off spot. Sounds pretty hollow after a play off loss, but, you have to look forward from this, and that's what I choose to do.
Offensively, this is a very good team. The skilled positions are in very good shape. Calvin Johnson and Mathew Stafford are both studs. In the NFL, as long as you have the quarterback, you have a chance. Trust me, the Lions have THE quarterback! I do believe they have to start working on the offensive line. They have to start getting younger up there and plan ahead to keep that line in an improvement mode.
Defensively, the front four is good, although disappointing that they weren't as dominant in the latter part of the year than the early part. That's on them to improve. We know they can play, now they've got to play better. The secondary remains an issue. We knew going in that it wasn't the strongest area, but thought that with the front four dominating, the issues in the back end wouldn't be as evident. Well, the Saints kind of exposed the area of concern, and it has to be addressed.
All in all, despite the disappointment of the Saints game, the Lions are an improved team. Expectations will be higher from the get go next season, and they should be. Nobody is going to be hoping for 8-8 next season. Steady improvement, as is the self explained goal of head coach Jim Schwartz, will be the idea. What does that mean? Well, it means that if they stay healthy at their key positions, the play-offs should be a realistic expectation. In addition, winning in the play offs should be a goal. Additionally, getting a home play off game should be in the mix. That means winning the division.
It was a very good year for this Lions team. Was it as good as it could have been? probably not. But for many of us who have pulled for this team for a lot of years and who have been waiting for them to get it right, I believe there is light at the end of the tunnel. It's been twelve long years since we've ended the season lamenting a play off loss. Wouldn't it be nice for the next 12 years if we talked about the Lions play off runs, as opposed to trying to get in. I'd take that! I think thats where this team is. Let's hope I'm right!
