Both the Detroit Lions and their fans must be better

Motor City fans are capable of much, much better. Just look at how former Detroit Tigers ace, Justin Verlander was greeted in his return to Comerica Park on Monday night or at the full show of love and respect during the recent passing of Detroit’s own Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

To my fellow fans of the Detroit Lions, I’m not asking you to lose your emotion, fire, or passion. I’m just asking for more of us to be able to dig deep and truly support our team during the worst of the worst. It’s too easy to stay during the good times only to bail at the first signs of turmoil.

I know it’s easier said than done, (especially with this franchise’s history), but if you think you feel bad, imagine how the players and staff must feel, they’re the ones who were just thoroughly embarrassed on national television.

Losing their Week 1 game in such a terrible fashion will not make or break Detroit this season. That will all depend on how they rally around each other and prepare themselves for their remaining 15 games.

Regardless of how the rest of this year plays out, I just hope I never see another display like Monday night in the stands or on the field ever again at Ford Field.

Happiness and satisfaction are functions of realistic expectations. Lions fans, we came into this season with heightened expectations but maybe we should temper them a bit. The warning signs were there during the preseason.

Matt Patricia was brought in to get this team over the hump but each team’s process is unique. Cultures don’t change in one offseason and Super Bowls aren’t lost after Week One. We’ve all been burned before by this franchise and Monday night was the latest example.

But as fans, we should be capable of being upset with what we see on the field while still offering our unwavering support to the team. This season has only just begun, please let’s not ruin it any further just as its starting.