First quarter grades for the disrespected Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions have a winning record through the first quarter of the season but continue to receive little credit. We’ll grade the season so far.

The Detroit Lions had a chance to take sole possession of the NFC North this past weekend but were unable to seize the moment and the hometown mojo.

They now face a bye week where they will have to circle the wagons, get healthy, get focused, and be ready a Monday Night rendezvous with their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers, at Lambeau Field. Let’s discuss the first quarter grades for each unit in this week’s Kick In the Crotch Weekly.

Leave it to the national media to drop the Detroit Lions in its power rankings after a four-point home loss to a Super Bowl contender. According to ESPN’s NFL Nation, the Lions were ranked thirteenth last week but fell to number fifteen this week after a tight contest with the number two team, the Kansas City Chiefs. Forget that the Lions beat two of the other top sixteen teams, though.

The Philadelphia Eagles are eleventh while the Los Angeles Chargers are sixteenth. Every team in our division is ranked higher, too. Who would coastal pundits have to pick on if they treated everyone fairly, though? It’s all part and parcel of being a Honolulu Blue backer.

Here at Kick In the Crotch Weekly, as Detroiters, we are used to this kind of treatment. It is a staple of sports commentary, “make fun of Detroit.” Although you get sick of it at certain moments, it only solidifies our resolve to see people eat their words with a huge slice of humble pie, no matter how long it takes.

The Detroit Lions are going to have to finish games if we’re going to be able to make good on our plans to destroy these national stereotypes about the Motor City this year. Here’s how each unit is doing so far this season based on production.