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Detroit Lions preseason: 3 different approaches, choose your own adventure

By Payne Schanski

DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 17: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions calls signals in the first half while playing the New York Giants during a pre season game at Ford Field on August 17, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 17: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions calls signals in the first half while playing the New York Giants during a pre season game at Ford Field on August 17, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images /

Depending on the fan, the Detroit Lions‘ rough start to the preseason could mean many things: time to panic, seeing beyond the scoreboard, or nothing at all.

There is an old theater superstition which claims that a terrible final dress rehearsal means a great opening night. Taking that concept to its logical extreme, if all the dress rehearsals are terrible, does that mean a great season is in store?

The Detroit Lions seem to be banking on that being the case as they plod their way through the season-before-the season. The Detroit Free Press already has numerous “Is It Time to Panic?” hot takes up at its website, and the season is still three weeks away!

I guess it’s the time of year to pull the whole “how much does the preseason matter?” question out of the mothballs. I’m talking about from a fan standpoint though.

To the coaching staffs and second/third string players, the preseason obviously matters. For the mass media and beat writers, preseason isn’t important, but they pretend like it is for a little while since it’s a bit of a dead spot in the sports calendar. I don’t like it, but I get it (better option: Premier League is back!).

For fans, the NFL preseason is a Choose Your Own Adventure. You can follow it as much or as little as you choose. Preseason is risk-free, no emotional baggage, and no one will think any less of you as a fan if you decide to stay away altogether.

I’ve divided the various ways you can exercise your Lions preseason fandom into three general categories, based on varying degrees of caring about what’s going on. I’m guessing that most readers will fall into at least one of these three areas.

The Barry Sanders Approach

Preseason games mean: Absolutely nothing.

Back in the day, there was always a small semi-controversy when Barry Sanders wouldn’t play in the preseason. The main reason was that he didn’t want to risk an injury; I’m guessing the subtext was also that he viewed the whole thing as the worthless scrimmage that it is.

The opposing argument was that he should use the exhibition games to gel with his offensive line and be more prepared for the real thing. It gained the most steam in 1997 when he got off to a terrible start  (53 yards, 2.1 ypc) through two games.

That argument went out the window when he went for 2000 yards in the final 14 games, dragging a pretty weak Lions team to a 9-7 record and Wild Card playoff spot.

If the greatest running back in NFL history puts no stock into preseason games, why should we as fans?

Supporting evidence for this approach: The Lions went undefeated in the 2008 preseason.

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