Detroit Lions: Now That Push Has Come To Shove...

No champion ever wants a win to come down to injuries that the other team suffers. Good teams always want to beat the very best that the other team has to offer.

It's a bragging rights thing. It's about pride and all of the hard work and preparation that goes into winning an NFL matchup every week.

But no team in the NFL will ever turn down a win during any week because the other team didn't have enough qualified personnel to put on the field at the end of the day to triumph.

Each week, the game is won by the best 45 active game-day players who suit up.

Truth be told, this season, the Detroit Lions have a better than average chance to beat the Packers and Vikings season because of injuries.

It is what it is.

During some seasons, the injury factor works against you. Sometimes it works for you.

The Lions are certainly far from unscathed by injuries heading into the 2010 regular season, but they seem not to be harmed to the extent that Green Bay and Minnesota are to this point.

Let's be clear, however. Injuries or no injuries, The Lions have the offensive and defensive firepower this year to beat any team, in any matchup, bar none.

Wait and see.

Detroit's primary weakness this season is with its secondary. But you know what? While the Lions secondary is not world class yet, it is good enough to warrant respect and make you pay if you don't respect them, especially you, Jay Cutler and Mike Martz!

Despite the opinions of some national sports commentators, some of whom should seriously consider retirement (hey Vic Carucci, I mean you...who else gets paid really well to judge the future based on the past...example: "They're still the Lions. And they're still not going to surpass Green Bay, Minnesota or Chicago..."

And this while Detroit has quietly become a viable playoff contender this year.

Duh.

Unlike Green Bay, Detroit's Martin Mayhew doesn't sit on his bottom and hope for the best. He works the trade and waiver wire hard every day to manufacture it.

So if you're a Detroit Lions fan, here's some really good news. The previously very formidable early divisional schedule has gotten a lot easier during the last week or so.

Green Bay will likely still win its opener against the Eagles, but Minnesota will likely lose it's opener against the Saints.

This means that Detroit will likely be tied for first place in the NFC North after the first week and will have broken its long record of road game defeats right out of the box.

Not a bad place to start this early in the season.

Sorry, Vic, pay more attention. Your privileged, lazy-butt, lame CYA time as a credible NFL prognosticator is near an end.

Oh wait, you don't work for a particularly fan-responsive organization, so maybe not.