Detroit Lions: 10 observations from the win at Minnesota

Injuries, Wildcats, and a Convert

8. The non-contact knee injury…why does it happen so much? Dalvin Cook became yet another casualty to the non-contact torn ACL on Sunday. It always seems to happen to the fastest and most explosive guys. Are they just so quick and powerful that their ligaments can’t keep up at times? Are there ways to condition ligaments in the same way as muscles?

It benefited the Lions at the time, but it sucks that a promising rookie season can be suddenly over just by planting your foot at a slightly wrong angle.

9. Is this the official end of the ‘Wildcat’ offense? The Lions radio announcers were ripping apart the play call on Jerick McKinnon’s read option fumble. Why are you running read options with a guy who isn’t used to running them? Should you really put guys who can’t throw at quarterback?  Trying an offense that the rest of the league figured out how to defend about five years ago?

The Wildcat is certainly on its last legs at this point as far as the NFL is concerned. Minnesota’s ill fated attempt on Sunday is probably one of the final nails in its coffin.

10. The most ardent skeptic from the Detroit Free Press is a believer. Carlos Monarrez never has anything nice to say about the Lions. He thinks Caldwell should be fired, Stafford should be traded, that the team sucked last year, and didn’t improve in the offseason. He probably doesn’t even like the new uniforms.

Carlos Monarrez has written two glowing endorsements of the 2017 Lions in the past 24 hours (see here and here).

Next: Step aside Ziggy! Lions have a new sack leader

I’m probably one of the more ardent skeptics at SideLion Report. Until the Lions win their 9th game, I’ll still think 8-8 is the most likely outcome.

All the same, there’s no use lying about what I’ve seen so far. This team looks good.