Ah, it was just the Tennessee Titans, arguably the NFL’s most dazed, confused and dreadful outfit.
Yet, the Titans entered last Sunday’s encounter with the Lions featuring the NFL’s best defense statistically.
While the Lions were heavy favorites, it was difficult to imagine the Lions hanging a cool 52 on the scoreboard.
The Lions did this without their best defensive player, and at the most important position on that side of the ball, Aidan Hutchinson, and while missing their top deep threat receiver, Jameson Williams.
The Lions still have a long way to go. This isn’t meant to suggest it’s a done deal by any stretch.
But it’s not out of line to suggest the Lions are not only a Super Bowl championship caliber team, but perhaps the NFL’s best.-
The Lions can win slugfests. They are capable of taking a boat race. They have excellent special teams. They can win despite injuries and suspensions.
It’s a waste of time to compare Jared Goff to other NFL quarterbacks.
It’s not as much about Goff’s overall skills, but how the Lions are capable of putting him into situations that play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses.
Is he an elite QB? Probably not with most teams. He is with the Lions, though.
Goff is the right QB at the right time and the right place in Detroit. It is all that matters.
“Next man up” is a saying nearly as old as the NFL. It’s usually an overused cliche, but not in regard to the Lions. Their current regime has not only drafted and developed stars like Hutchinson, Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Brian Branch, Alim McNeill, Jack Campbell and Kerby Joseph, but prepared backups who can hold their own.
Nobody has beaten the Lions this season. They beat themselves in their mistake-plagued defeat to Tampa Bay.
The key for the Lions is having the best record in the NFC. They would be exceptionally difficult to knock out of the playoffs if they receive a bye. It would only be two games at a super-charged Ford Field to reach the Super Bowl.
The Lions don’t want to be playing outdoors on grass in Philadelphia or Green Bay during January.
During the nine decades of the Lions’ existence, they are 6-1 in home postseason games, just 2-13 on the road. Their last road postseason victory was in 1957.
It all makes Sunday’s annual visit to Lambeau Field beyond even its usual importance, as well as manipulating a surprisingly difficult second-half schedule.
Jacksonville is the only layup. Green Bay, Houston and Buffalo are 6-2, Minnesota is 5-2 and the Bears 5-3. San Francisco, 4-4 will likely have Christian McCaffrey up and rolling by the time the Lions visit.
General manager Brad Holmes needs to acquire an edge defender to minimize the loss of Hutch, but the Lions are built for a Super Bowl run regardless.
The road trips to Green Bay and Houston their next two games will be litmus tests, but look for the Lions to pass them with flying colors.
They are that good, and only getting better.