Week Eleven

Packers @ LIONS

When the Lions used to lose what seemed like every week it was frustrating to watch because watching them just confirmed what we already knew, the players just weren't good enough to be truly competitive in the NFL. Yes there would be the odd game where they surpassed expectations and either came through with an unexpected victory or went down in flames in glorious defeat, as opposed to the usual inglorious defeat, but ultimately the frustration we felt came from the fact that the team seemed incapable of correcting what we knew was wrong. The frustration we feel now is different to what we felt then. Now we know our team is stocked with players of ability and that they are capable of beating all that the NFL has to offer.The fact that they seem unable to do so and even seem to find ways of losing games they should be winning easily has brought a whole new kind of frustration. If the old frustration was that of a resigned acceptance then this new frustration is one of anger and annoyance at an under performing roster and dubious play calling. What should have been a glorious continuation of last season's playoff run has turned into another season of struggle with the team winning just enough to keep itself on the periphery of the post-season places. For the Lions the playoffs effectively start here at home to Green Bay. We can only hope that they start to play like they need to win.

Week Ten

LIONS @ Vikings

Halfway through the season and the Lions are sitting at .500 at the bottom of the NFC North. Perhaps the most disappointing of the four defeats from the first half of the season was the home one to the Vikings and its impact on the season can be lessened with a result reversal in this fixture. A win would also leave the Lions at 5-4 with five of their remaining seven games to be played at Ford Field. Sadly the quality of the opponents that will be heading towards the Lions home is such that whatever advantage home field brings will be needed if they are to be overcome. As we head into the second half of the season the Lions form appears to be improving which is a good sign. The Vikings conversely, after a great start to the campaign, have struggled of late and will be looking for a win to get their season back on track.

Week Nine

LIONS @ Jaguars

Sadly for those of us on this side of the Atlantic this fixture has come a year too early with the Jaguars series of London games not beginning until next year. There may well have been a strong chance that the Lions with their array of young stars would've been the perfect opponent for the International Series game but we'll never know what might have been. Whilst it may be a disappointment for us on distant shores the Lions players will probably prefer the warm Florida air to that of a drizzly autumnal London. Encouragingly going into the game the Lions finally seem to be finding their form. Having resolutely refused to buy into the Game Plan I've been offering them the last few weeks the Lions persistent belief that they were right offensively received a much needed boost in last weeks victory over the Seahawks. It now has to be hoped that the team are able to build on that win and start to put themselves back into the playoff hunt.