Detroit Lions: 5 Things Fans Learned Friday Night vs. the Cincinnati Bengals

The Detroit Lions kicked off their 2011-2012 season with a roar Friday night, beating the Cincinnati Bengals 34-3.

Although this is only the preseason, things look promising for the Lions.

A surprising amount of fans invaded Ford Field to root on the Lions and the home team didn't disappoint.

Something fresh is in the air in Detroit.

The Lions are looking good.

Here are the top five things fans learned from the Lions on Friday night.

5. The Coaching Staff Is Aggressive

The Detroit Lions appeared to be firing on all cylinders on Friday night against the Cincinnati Bengals.

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Lions looked like a well-oiled machine, driving the ball 67 yards on seven plays. This was capped off with a 26-yard touchdown toss from Matthew Stafford to Calvin Johnson.

The Lions then forced a Cincinnati Bengals turnover and got the ball on the 16-yard line.

As the team faced a fourth down on the drive, head coach Jim Schwartz was urged by the roaring crowd to go for it. Schwartz complied and wide receiver Nate Burleson made a fine catch in the end zone but was ruled out of bounds. Schwartz continued to blitz the Bengals with his aggressive decisions and threw the challenge flag. This call turned out in the Lions' favor, putting the Lions up 14-0 within the first five minutes of the game.

This also sent a message to the Bengals that this would not be their night.

Detroit Lions fans have to love the aggression and fearlessness Jim Schwartz and the coaching staff displayed against the Bengals. This is definitely a style of play fans could get accustomed to.

4. The Special Teams Are Superb

The Detroit Lions special teams were outstanding Friday night.

After scoring on the opening drive, the Lions kicked-off to the Bengals and forced a fumble. This fumble was recovered by newly acquired Rashied Davis, formerly of the Chicago Bears. Davis is known for his special teams prowess and has made the Pro Bowl twice because of it.

This led to the Lions' second touchdown in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, with time ticking down, the Lions ran the two-minute drill to perfection. This was another moment where head coach Jim Schwartz showed his aggression and flashed his brilliance.

The Lions had all three timeouts but Schwartz refused to use them as he rushed the field goal unit onto the field to put an extra three points on the board as time expired in the first half. This experience will be beneficial in the future. It was marvelous.

The Lions took a 24-3 lead into halftime.

The Lions' special teams looked like they were in midseason form on Friday. Special teams wins ball games and fans should be confident with what the Lions have.

3. The Defense Lived Up to Its Hype

The Detroit Lions defense comes into this season being hyped as a force to be reckoned with.

Friday night they lived up to the hype.

The Lions' all-world talent Ndamukong Suh welcomed Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton to the NFL by pressuring the young pup into throwing an interception on his first attempt. Suh looks unstoppable.

Remember when Shaq came to the NBA? No one had ever seen talent quite like his before; no one knew how to stop him. Ndamukong Suh is the NFL's version of Shaquille O'Neal.

Suh set the tone as the defense stymied the Bengals' offense all night.

Expect the Lions' defense to be a nightmare for the opposition all season.

2. Matthew Stafford Is Ready to Dominate

Matthew Stafford came out like a house on fire Friday night against the Bengals.

Stafford orchestrated a flawless first drive that ended in a touchdown pass to wide receiver Calvin Johnson.

On the night, Stafford was 6-7 for 71 yards and two touchdowns. His QB rating was 148.5.

Granted, this was limited play, but Stafford looks like he is completely healthy and ready to live up to his No. 1 overall draft selection.

If Matthew Stafford remains healthy, the Detroit Lions will win, win, win.

1. The Team Is Focused on the Ultimate Goal

The Detroit Lions looked focused as they turned the Cincinnati Bengals upside down Friday night.

The team didn't look like a team that has only been practicing for a few weeks. Other than six penalties costing them 74 yards, the Lions looked pretty darn good.

The players held an intensity throughout the game. This can be attributed to the likes of veteran Kyle Vanden Bosch along with the coaching staff.

This Detroit Lions team is something the city hasn't seen in a long time, or ever.

The ultimate goal in the NFL is to win the Super Bowl and it appears to be right around the corner for the Lions.