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Detroit Lions: It’s time to get healthy and focused going into the bye week

By Kellen Voss

SEATTLE, WA - OCTOBER 5: wide receiver Golden Tate #15 of the Detroit Lions sits on the bench late in the second half of a football game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on October 5, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks won the game 13-10. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - OCTOBER 5: wide receiver Golden Tate #15 of the Detroit Lions sits on the bench late in the second half of a football game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on October 5, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks won the game 13-10. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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The bye week couldn’t come at a more perfect time for the Detroit Lions, as they need to get back on track and spend some time getting healthy.

As all Detroit Lions fans know, there is not a more depressing way to spend a Sunday then watching the Lions lose and look really bad doing it. It is especially depressing to see this year’s team get blown out, because all the potential they’ve shown means absolutely nothing if they can’t show up for games like this.

The Detroit Lions lost pretty handily to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, 52-38. After allowing 31 points in the first half, the Lions put themselves in a hole and could never dig out of it.

The Lions did mount a comeback in the 2nd half, cutting a 45-10 saints lead into a 45-38 lead with only seven minutes left in the game. But turnovers, injuries and bad offensive play prevented the Lions from having any real chance at winning the game.

While Motor City did play poorly in the contest, it is important to mention that they are not at full health. Quarterback Matthew Stafford definitely was not playing at 100 percent health, and it clearly showed in his play. He’s been struggling with an injured ankle that he hurt in week 5 against the Carolina Panthers.

Stafford isn’t the only impactful offensive player that’s been struggling with injuries this week. Veteran Guard T.J. Lang was inactive for the saints game with an unfortunate back injury, and Wide Receiver Golden Tate left the game early with an apparent shoulder injury. Starting Left Tackle Greg Robinson also left the game early with an ankle injury

Tackle Ricky Wagner missed some practice time this week with a shoulder injury, but he was active for the game and struggled throughout, clearly looking unhealthy. Also, Wide Receiver Kenny Golladay missed his third straight game heeling a hamstring injury.

Sadly for the Lions, the offensive side of the ball is not the only place where Detroit has been hit with injuries.

Former pro bowl Defensive End Ezekiel Ansah hasn’t played well for a long time, as he too has been tampered by a knee injury for a while now. Also, Linebacker Paul Worrilow didn’t play in the game, missing his second week in a row with a knee injury.

Both starting safeties left the game early for the Lions on Sunday, with Glover Quin leaving the game with a concussion and Tavon Wilson leaving with a rib injury. 

With all these injuries for the Lions, it’s getting hard to figure out who is healthy and who isn’t healthy, which is a horrific thing to say. After losing this game and with many players leaving with injuries, this game really couldn’t have gone any worse for this banged up Lions team.

Luckily for the Lions, they do indeed have a bye week this next upcoming week. The Lions need to use this week to properly heal all their injuries and get back on track for this season.

Next: Detroit Lions - Offensive line investments yielding poor returns

This Lions team has not looked good in these past two weeks, and they certainly don’t look the team that was 3-1 and primed for the playoffs just two weeks ago. If they want any chance at getting back into playoff contention, they need to get healthy and get focused for their Week 8 primetime game with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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