Biggest Takeaways from Detroit Lions' Week 10 Win

The streak is dead!

For the first time since Mark Wahlberg has been legally allowed to drink, the Detroit Lions have won in Wisconsin. All other takeaways will pale in comparison.

That begs the question: How many fans would trade a road win over the Green Bay Packers for a season when the Lions squeak into the playoffs and are bounced during Wild Card weekend?

That's a bit ambitious, but it does underscore how important this win will be because Lions fans and media members alike can finally retire any discussion about this ridiculous streak.

So what else can be extrapolated from what's legitimately a historic win?

Rushing Defense Bounced Back

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

Only the offense has sustained the level of play it exhibited last year (not a compliment), but the defense put on a throwback performance this past Sunday.

The Packers picked up just 47 yards on 18 carries. The result was 61 passing attempts for Aaron Rodgers, who is either physically hurting or mentally off, resulting in numerous throws that left the audience scratching its collective head and fantasy owners wondering if Blake Bortles is still available.

Of particular note was the play of linebacker Tahir Whitehead and safety Isa Abdul-Quddus. They both showed up against the run and were great at limiting yards after the catch, too, with eight tackles apiece.

Otherwise, it was a true team effort, which is something this unit hasn't put together in a long time.

The Secondary Has Been Shelled

Matt Ludtke/Associated Press

It's not uncommon for teams to take Monday off after a win. It's both a reward and a chance to rest up.

Unfortunately for those in Detroit's secondary, they have a mandatory orientation session to meet and greet all of the new faces in the defensive backfield.

Rashean Mathis was already ruled out for the season after sustaining a concussion a couple of weeks ago. Now it looks like Josh Wilson will probably follow him to the IR after a non-contact injury that head coach Jim Caldwell called "significant," per Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News.

Plus, Nevin Lawson, who played so well in his first start as an outside corner, suffered what seems to be a concussion, according to Katzenstein.

That leaves Darius Slay, Crezdon Butler and Quandre Diggs left standing, with a visit from Derek Carr and his 101.5 passer rating on the books for next weekend.

Joique Bell Must Be Benched

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Green Bay's rushing game was "highlighted" earlier. Now it's Detroit's turn to go under the microscope, and the results are as confusing as they are perturbing.

Somehow, the Packers still out-rushed the Lions by two yards.

The offensive line struggled, as did the offense as a whole, but it was obvious within a few carries that Joique Bell shouldn't be more than a change-of-pace power back at this point. Unfortunately, the five other Lions combined for 12 attempts, while Bell received 14.

Bell never had a great burst, but whatever he had prior to his Achilles injury hasn't returned. Yet he continually tried to bounce it outside on Sunday, resulting in net losses.

No example looms larger than the first play after Ameer Abdullah's 104-yard kickoff return, when he might have gotten into the end zone if he'd simply plowed forward instead of being shoved out three yards behind the line of scrimmage.

Now is not the time to stubbornly stick to veterans out of a misplaced sense of loyalty. Actually, that time never existed, which is partially why Detroit is 2-7.

Golden Tate Reemerged Just in Time

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Golden Tate has been a symbol of the difference between last year's bad offense and this year's horrendous version.

In 2014, the Lions relied on Tate in big moments, like his 73-yard touchdown that sparked an epic comeback against the Saints. That's just one example of his stellar season that ended with 99 receptions for 1,331 yards.

Unfortunately, those instances have been few and far between. Tate isn't even close to the pace needed to break 1,000 yards, never mind coming close to his 2014 production.

But Sunday showcased the old Tate. There he was picking up a first down to build some momentum after Matthew Stafford's Houdini-style third-down conversion to Calvin Johnson the play prior. Tate then tacked on a 43-yard explosion shortly thereafter to bring hope to a struggling fanbase.

In all, Tate finished with four catches for 52 yards. It's not a great stat line. However, when Detroit needed a play, it went to Tate, and he delivered.

Luck Be a Lion

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

Detroit won in Wisconsin. Nobody is going to take that away from them, but adding context by saying Green Bay did its part isn't just fair. It's necessary.

Besides, how many times have the Lions fans and media looked at a Detroit loss with their heads turned to the side like a dog watching its owner attempt yoga. (Here's a pro tip: That's why you bought a crate.)

Truth be told, Lady Luck puckered up and planted one on a franchise in need of some love. Or two, actually.

Aaron Rodgers struggled mightily throughout most of the afternoon. While Detroit's young cornerbacks deserve some love for their aggressive coverage, there were also throws that hit the dirt five yards before or after the intended target.

And nary a single defender laid a hand on Mason Crosby's game-winning attempt. He simply shanked it worse than either of Matt Prater's botched extra-point attempts.

But none of the above should dampen the excitement surrounding this historic win. They all count the same, no matter how they come, especially when they end a tired narrative just shy of its 25th anniversary.

Brandon Alisoglu is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter @BrandonAlisoglu.