This is a tough one to write today. I have waited to get my thoughts together overnight rather than writing this as soon as I got home from the Thanksgiving Day Lions game. The reason is simple, the one play in the game that everyone is talking about. Ndamukong Suh's kick to a Green Bay lineman that forced an ejection, a probable fine and suspension.
First of all, let's talk about the game. I am convinced that the Lions can play with Green Bay. The Packers are very good, but, the Lions are not out of their league. In the first half of the game, the Lions dominated the Packers. They had more yards, both passing and rushing. They had the time of possession well in their favor. The defense had kept Aaron Rodgers to one of the lowest half time outputs he's had all season. The Lions had every chance to take a good lead in that first half. They didn't. They actually trailed 7-0. The Lions were their own worst enemy again. Penalties stopped their own drives, and extended Green Bays. A Lion turnover created the only opportunity Green Bay had to score and they did. I'm not trying to dress up a pig here, I'm stating the facts. It was a loss. It was not good for the Lions, but, this game was not lost for lack of talent or anything that the Lions can't fix with the players they have on their roster. They are their own worst enemy. Sadly, against Chicago and Green Bay it has cost them.
While they squandered chances in the first half, the Lions were still in the game and then the third quarter happened. Thanks to a combination of injuries to the Detroit secondary, the Green Bay Packers themselves, and the Lions curious penchant for hurting themselves, the Packers scored 17 unanswered points and won going away 27-15. Seventeen of the Packer points coming as a result of Lion turnovers.
That's kind of the analysis of the game from my viewpoint, but, lets be honest, that's not the story of the game. The story of the game is Ndamukong Suh and his penalty and ejection following a scuffle in the third quarter with a Green Bay offensive lineman.
It came at a really critical moment in the game which really hurt the Lions. I think that fact is missed in the discussion somewhat, and it makes the Suh penalty even more disappointing. The action by Suh, gave the Packers a chance to go up 14-0 instead of 10-0. It's a big difference. It hurt the team. It hurt their chances to win. It was unacceptable.
Earlier this year, during pre season, Ndamukong Suh was flagged for some roughing penalties, and at the time, most were willing to let him go with his style of rough play. It was thought that if he was forced to back off his style of play he wouldn't be the same defensive force. I remember writing that I didn't agree with that. I felt he had to rein it in a little bit because at a critical time down the road when the games counted, a needless roughing call could cost his team. It appears as though that scenario has come to pass. Look, I'm not saying his play against Green Bay cost the Lions that game. I don't believe it did. There were plenty of other plays in that game that took the Lions down. Suh's penalty was just one of them.
Clearly there will be a fine and possibly a suspension for Suh after the league review. If that is the case on a suspension, the Lions will be missing one of their best players. I don't think it is a stretch to suggest the defense will not be as formidable without Ndamukong Suh. Let's put it this way, I would much rather have him in the line-up than not. If he's not, he has only himself to blame, and it hurts the team.
I don't think I am overstating this, but the Lions are in the play-off hunt. They need to be at their best to get there. Without Suh, they are not at their best.
I like the guy. I think he is as exciting a player the Lions have had on defense in many years. He plays with great intensity and passion. I love that too. You have to have that attitude to become the best player in a Top Gun league. Combine that with his immense physical skills and abilities, and he's a can't miss All Pro and Hall of Fame prospect. But, he must get this issue under control.
He already has a bulls-eye on his back. What happened against Green Bay Sunday will happen again. An offensive lineman is going to try to get him to blow up. I don't doubt for a second that there were mitigating circumstances that caused Ndamukong to snap. It was probably going on all day. A little hold here, a little elbow in the gut there, a little extra shove after the whistle, all of that is part of the other guy trying to get an edge. It is not an excuse. As a player, you can't react the way Suh did. If you do, the other guys wins, they got you out of the game. If you don't think the physical and mental "get an edge" game doesn't exist in the pit in the NFL, you should listen to former Viking defensive tackle John Randle. The Hall of Famer took it to an art form. He got more guys off their game than anybody in history, just with his mouth!
It is vital for Ndamukong to understand this is a part of the game he is struggling with. It's no different than beating a double team. He has to recognize this, and play through it.
Suh's comments after the game were troubling too. He has to understand that the officials didn't put him in a position that they could eject him. He did. He put himself in that position. His comments to the press may even hurt his chances with the league and their decision on punishment.
It was disappointing all the way around. The game and it's outcome, and the Suh event and it's fallout. As I said before, I believe in the guy, I think he is a great player. He has a liability in his game though. The great ones work on their weaknesses, and eliminate them. Ndamukong can do this too. And he must. In the meantime, the Lions and all of us have to live with the consequences of his growing pains. Hopefully, the consequnces don't cost too big a price.
