Three cups deep: fundamentally strong

Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press, in reaction to a notable Lions victory (I believe it was this one), once said: “Hang on, folks.  We have ourselves a football team.”  As it turns out, we didn’t—the Packers went on to bounce the Lions from the playoffs in the first round.  I’m tempted to use the same line today--though not to describe a perennial also-ran who gutted out a must-win win.

I’m tempted to use that line to describe a team coming off an 0-16 season, the worst season ever.  I’m tempted to use that line to describe a franchise that looked like it had no business taking the field against NFL competition.  I’m tempted to use that line in reaction to the Lions 18-17 preseason win over the Colts--not because our football team finally came of age, but because we appear to have established a minimum standard: The Lions appear to be an actual NFL football team.

Coming into the game, I was positively mortified.  I had nightmares of Peyton Manning rending the defense helpless; Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez leaving cleat marks down the back of Henry and Buchanon.  I had visions of Gunther sending three blitzers, and Manning simply lofting it over their heads to wide-open wideouts.

The stat line insists that the reality wasn’t that far from the nightmare: Manning was 12-of-15 for 123 yards and a score.  Though he is to NFL quarterbacks what Mary Poppins is to nannies—practically perfect in every way—the fact remains that the Colts only scored 14 points in four drives with Manning in.

This means that the Lions successfully held the Colts’ starters to no points on half of their drives—much as you would expect from an actual football team, if not a winning one.  Instead of being down 21-0 with time still left in the first quarter, the Lions were actually UP 10-7  at halftime!  It’s incredible what a little running-and-stopping-the-run will get you.  Oh yes, about that:

• The Lions posessed the ball for 34:21, versus the Colts’ 25:39.  This was much more imbalanced in the Lions' favor during the game, thanks to some epic first-half drives.
• The Lions converted 60% of their third downs, which is a mind-bogglingly high number for the Lions--their calling card, for as long as I can remember, has been incomplete passes on third down.
• The Lions outrushed the Colts, 151-50.
• The Lions outpassed the Colts, 261-249.
• Of the Lions' TWENTY FIVE first downs, 17 of them came from passes.

Of course, all was not rainbows and butterflies; the Lions were penalized 6 times for 75 yards, struggled in the red zone (1-of-3), the blitzes were in fact exploited for some long completions, and Matt Stafford threw another "rookie" pick. However, note the difference here: instead of fluky turnovers, penalties, and late-game threes-ont-threes heroics turning an early deficit into a win, the Lions fundamentally won this game. In terms of offense versus defense, ones versus ones, the Lions were better than the Colts.

Yes, Peyton Manning had a great statistical day, but the Lions won by keeping him off the field; in order for Manning to run four drives for the Colts, he had to stay in past halftime! The Lions ran the ball, early and often; the offensive line opening holes and seams. The Lions threw the ball, with legitimately good protection opening up the deep pass (Megatron 4-for-67, D. Williams 4-for-63). The Lions effectively used the screen pass, over and over and over. And, despite all the handwringing over the defensive tackle starters and depth, and despite the Lions allowing over 2,700 yards on the ground last year, the Lions stopped the run. Joe Addai and Donald Brown gained only 38 yards on 12 rushes--less than 3.2 yards per carry.

I'm certainly not going to suggest that the Lions are ready for playoff contention. All we really know is that when it's starters versus starters, base offenses and defenses only, the Lions can control the line of scrimmage against a team not historically known for doing so. Still, that is incredible progress from last season. Assuming the Lions' coaching staff can scheme, gameplan, and adjust much better than last season's, we now know that the Lions will not be a laughingstock again. We know they won't go 0-32. We know that when they take the field for real in less than two weeks (!), the Lions will have a chance to win.

Hang on, folks. We just might have ourselves a football team.

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Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers, 1993 Playoffs

Last night, I was flipping through my channel guide, and I saw on ESPN2: "NFL's Greatest Games: 1993 Divisional Playoff, Green Bay at Detroit".  I gasped and switched channels immediately.

Of course, I remembered this game.  Despite being only twelve years old at the time, I didn't forget.  I didn't forget the wierd twist of fate, where the Lions had to beat the Packers at home in Week 17 to make the playoffs at all--but then victory made them division champs, and so somehow they had the right to host the Packers in the playoffs a week later.  I didn't forget how Barry played a great game in the playoffs (which he "never did", according to his detractors); indeed, he had167 yards on 27 carries.  I didn't forget the gutsy quarterback play by Brett Favre and Erik Kramer, both overcoming pick-sixes to rally their team late.

What I forgot was William White, the silent leader of the defense.  What I forgot was just how good Sterling Sharpe was.  What I forgot was those little silver football patches on the uniforms that read "JRT".  What I forgot was how infurating it was to watch Barry cheering from the bench while Derrick Moore punched it in from one yard out--how many scores were stricken from Barry's totals like that?  What I forgot was that Brett Favre has always been a double-edged sword, and that we used to appreciate his incredible effort, and the great things he did, more than we hounded him for the mistakes he made while giving that effort.

What I never knew was Marc Spindler's grit and smarts (and mullet!) overcoming his lack of size.  What I never knew was how solid the upfront protection was, especially when compared to today's sadsack bunch.  What I thought I knew, but didn't really realize?  Just how important to the offense Brett Perriman was: being able to bail out the team on third and long was absoluely critical to keeping the ball in Barry's hands, and the wolves away from the door.  What I didn't know--but thrills me--is that Brett Favre is Chris Spielman's favorite football player of all time (and Chris Spielman is a student of the game for reals).

There's something magical about watching these Lions: the Big Buck himself roaming the sidelines--and looking young and vibrant!  A Lions defense that could collapse the pocket, flush the QB, and NOT be burned for thirty yards!  An exuberant Silverdome crowd . . . every time they cut to a kid in Lions gear, holding up a "We're #1" finger, I stopped in my tracks.  When was the last time you saw that on TV?  A little kid in the stands, swathed in Honolulu Blue, boasting of his Detroit Lions.  Sometimes, it's hard to remember that was ever me.

Barry, of course.  ESPN did a lot of editing on this film: zooming in, spot shadowing, slowing down, etc.; I don't know if they slowed down Barry's runs or what, but Barry looked slower than I remembered.  The thing is, he was even more elusive.  MUCH more elusive.  I forgot how much of Barry's effectiveness was based on his sheer ability to not be tackled.  More than once, I saw Packer defenders pull up and stand still because they figured that two teammates wrapped around Barry would bring him down . . . and it wasn't the case.  Barry had a way of shimmying his shoulders, twisting his hips, or .  . . or, I don't know, looking at defenders that would make them freeze, miss, whiff, grab air, even grab Barry but he would turn to smoke in their hands.

I am not sure what has made winning that elusive for the Lions.  My wife, who was raised a Spartan fan but didn't pay attention to the Lions (or the NFL at all) until we'd been dating for several years, has never known anything but these Millen-era Lions.  Sometimes I tell stories of 1991, of the Thumbs Up! motto, of the Lions winning seven straight games to squeak into the playoffs, of a decade of the Lions being almost awesome but never quite, and I get the feeling that she doesn't believe me.   My children are growing up fast.  My four-year-old daughter appreciates my love of the Lions, but for some reason she just thinks the Bucaneers are so cool.  I can bury them under a mound of silver and blue Lions gear all I want--but I worry that until this team can WIN GAMES, I won't be able to share my love of this franchise with them.  Who could blame them?  Even my own memories are starting to betray me.  I've clung so tightly to the 'good old days' of 9-7 (and they were so long ago!) that they're starting to fade, turning to smoke in my hands.

Last night I drunk deeply of the old spirit.  The stupid old Silverdome turf, riding on a cushion of air and sporting two sets of hash marks.  Brett Perriman snagging a TD pass one-handed when he could have gotten both paws on it.  Erik Kramer and Barry Sanders leading the team down the field for an almost-but-not-quite good enough lead.  The Lions defense pulling up when Brett Favre rolled left, and Sterling Sharpe all alone in the end zone 40 yards downfield.  At this point, I'd love to feel the pain of an excruciating home playoff loss, just to feel anything at all.

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