Oct 10, 2011; Detroit, MI, USA; A Monday Night Football sign before the game between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

Monday Night Football

This countdown ends where the Lions season truly took flight. With so many important free agent signings, games, drives, and moments, it is difficult to decide which one truly is the “best” of the season. It is also inevitable that great moments will be omitted, such as the Harbaugh handshake, or Calvin Johnson serving up slice after slice of humble pie to Cris Carter. For this season however, and for this life-long Lions fan, nothing comes close to the excitement or the atmosphere throughout Detroit for Monday Night Football.

This moment tops the list for several reasons.  Detroit entered the season surrounded by hype that was, to many, undeserved and unearned. A four game winning streak to open the season only added to the excitement, and fueled the national media fire. At the same time, many doubters argued that nothing had yet been proven, as they questioned the Lions strength of schedule. The week five matchup with the Bears brought several opportunities for Detroit. First, it offered the chance to measure themselves against a proven team, who had won NFC North the previous season, and were the favorites of many once again. Second, Monday Night Football offered the opportunity to showcase the talent of a young, up and coming team on national television; something that the Lions only experienced on Thanksgiving Day in recent years. (more…)

Oct 10, 2011; Detroit, MI, USA; General view of the monday night football crew prior to the game between the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE

I remember in the 1990s, anticipating the release of the NFL Schedule and having merely mild interest in the NFL Draft.  There was usually optimism that with the schedule announcement I’d learn that the Lions would have a game on Monday Night Football – one of my favorite football traditions.

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Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

As you’re surely aware, Roger Goodell delivered his own State of the NFL speech last Thursday as part of his pre-Super Bowl press conference, and progressed some emerging ideas that have been floating around over the past few months. The most interesting element that grabbed my attention was the addition of Thursday Night primetime games from weeks 2-15. Every team in the league will now have a game on the NFL Network on a Thursday at some point in the upcoming season.

This concept irks me and should irk the Lions as well.

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