Detroit Lions: Franchise continues to evolve into a winner

The Detroit Lions have taken their first steps towards contention. This season could be a legitimate step towards a championship team.

The bye week seems well placed for a Detroit Lions squad that could use the rest after three tough weeks. On the other hand, the last three games (two of which were victories) showed a team that was getting better and playing together. Hopefully, that momentum continues despite the break.

This week the Lions visit the Green Bay Packers for Monday Night Football. And beyond the recovery from various injuries, the players and coaching staff have an extra week to prepare for their division rival.

This is an important game. Winning after the bye week is the trademark of good teams. Getting an extra week to prepare means the team should be that much more focused. And the play on the field should show with minimal mistakes and sound decisions.

The Packers are no slouch, but they are very beatable. The most disappointing thing to see on Monday would be the Lions getting pummeled on national television – especially after their terrific effort against the Kansas City Chiefs.

On Sunday’s The DA Show, host Damon Amendolara spoke about the Detroit Lion’s new identity in the NFL. The last three weeks have forced people to consider the Lions as one of the good teams, instead of just the middle of the pack. Amendolara spoke of what has changed (10-06-19, “#1”):

"“If you’re going to get where Lions fans have been desperate for you to get, which is a Super Bowl, which they’ve never been to. You’ll have to beat teams like the Chiefs. And last week felt like they were a step behind. But, hey, a step behind is way better than nine steps behind. Which is what that franchise has been for a long time.”"

Beating the Chiefs would have been an important step for this team. The fact is that the Detroit Lions need to show with a win against the Packers this week to be taken seriously as a playoff contender.

But it is the progress that is important here – just a step behind a great team like the Chiefs. That game had blowout written all over it. And every time the Lions stumbled against Kansas City, it felt like the perfect opportunity for this team to shut down and accept the beating by the superior team. But they didn’t. And that is a major step for this organization.

For the first quarter of this season, there has been enough of an evolution to see that the brain trust of this franchise has the right ideas. Specifically, general manager Bob Quinn is making brilliant moves on the roster – finally providing some much-needed depth. And head coach Matt Patricia knows how to get the most out of the players provided by Quinn and tailor them to his schemes.

The next thing is to be a step ahead of the other teams. It might not happen this year. But the Detroit Lions are finally pointed in the right direction. It is what everyone has been waiting for in this town.

The final twelve weeks of this season will certainly determine how real this change is. But the philosophy of running the ball, playing sound defense, and really being a team with a physical presence is working.

And to boot, quarterback Matthew Stafford has put last year (which was awful) behind him. He is playing solid football, and some of his throws have been remarkable. Stafford is capable of leading this team to a division title, but he cannot carry them.

Stafford may not be elite. Alright, he isn’t elite. It’s been over a decade, and we know that already. But, if coached properly on how to play quarterback, he can be very dangerous for opposing teams.

The Detroit Lions look poised to finally make their mark. And it starts on Monday Night. Win or lose, this team can still make a statement. Let the Packers know that this division is up for grabs. Let them know that the Detroit Lions are legit.