Detroit Lions’ Season Back on Track After Win
Sep 22, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver
(81) celebrates with free safety
(26) and wide receiver
(13) after their game against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. The Lions won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
1-21 never looked so good. That’s because the Detroit Lions finally got their first road win over the Redskins since the moved from Boston to Washington. One streak vanquished, with another one ahead to slay in Green Bay in two weeks.
Mondays are sure a lot better when your team wins and performs up to its own standards, and not dragged down by the opposition like last week. There were so many chances to prove that they were the Same Old Lions, like when Raiola snapped the ball to an unsuspecting Matthew Stafford near the goal line. Stafford recovered and threw a touchdown to Joe Fauria on the next play. Last week, the Same old-Same old Lions. This week, a new lease on the 2013 season and playing for the division lead.
Of all of the shining stars to lead the Detroit Lions to a victory in the nation’s capitol, none shone brighter than the local guy from Wayne State. Their nickname is “The Warriors”, and they don’t come any tougher than running back Joique Bell. You want tough? He’s been cut by numerous teams, so he must have a thicker hide than a politician. It seemed like every run he had, he was met at the line of scrimmage by a Redskin, and not once did he go down on the first hit. It took the whole team, sometimes, to bring him down. I’m not used to seeing a Lions running back shed tackles like Superman sheds bullets. Bell used to be a security guard for the Lions. Maybe the Lions should go over the current security roster to see if they have any other hidden gems working under their noses.
The NFL’s top quarterback/wide receiver combo were at the top of their game yesterday. Time and time again, they hooked up for a crucial first down whenever they needed one. After the ballsiest call I’ve ever seen from Jim Schwartz, going for the fourth down with the game on the line and making it, Stafford found Megatron surrounded by Redskins, and threaded the needle for the game winning touchdown. Nate Burleson had a great game himself, beating Calvin Johnson in receiving yards by one, 116 to 115.
Matt Stafford’s leadership and owning of this team is becoming more evident by the game. When he started the game off with sack and a pick six, he didn’t get rattled one bit, he just led the team down the field twice for a 14-7 lead. With the game on the line in the fourth quarter, he lofted a perfect pass to Kris Durham to keep the drive going until Megatron’s touchdown catch. His emotion after that catch said it all, “You can take your Same old Lions and shove it”.
That’s why we love the NFL. One week your team sucks and it looks hopeless, and the next week Da Bears are coming to town for a divisional showdown with first place on the line. Bring your earplugs, Ford Field is going to be rocking.