Detroit Lions, Like Michigan Wolverines, Need to Uncage Their QB

This weekend was certainly an all Detroit affair. The Wolverines played a game for the ages, the Lions started out their season of redemption and even the Tigers wrapped up a nine game win streak.

While there is plenty to love about how all of the above teams did their business, in the case of the two football teams, we are left wanting more.

Michigan put the clamps on their signal-caller in the first half and into the middle of the second half, forcing their best playmaker to play within the confines of a system not designed for him.

Finally, in the fourth quarter, they let him loose and he guided them to victory.

The Lions represented a slightly different situation as the first half they allowed their quarterback to lead them to a big lead, but in the second half they decided to slow down the game and take the ball out of his hands.

Now, the Lions had something specific in mind. They had a big lead, and they wanted to sit on the ball and run out the clock.

That certainly is understandable considering the success the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had last year.

Sure, the heat was a factor, causing starting quarterback Matthew Stafford to double over in pain due to cramps, but basically, the Lions went into prevent mode on offense, and as we all know, the prevent is the best way to prevent you from winning.

Luckily in this case, the Buccaneers were unable to muster enough of a running game to pull this one out.

This needs to serve as a lesson to the Lions. Once you get a lead, you need to crush the spirit of the other team.

Look at the first and second half statistics for this game. In the first half, Stafford threw 25 passes and completed 72 percent.

In the second half, he only threw eight passes.

Now, if he wasn't doing a good job, I could understand that disparity but he actually completed six of those for a passing percentage of 75 percent. So Stafford was just as effective, but the coaches just decided to take the ball out of his hands.

The fact of the matter is that this is an extremely explosive offense capable of numbers far greater than what we saw this week. This is an elite offense.

The Lions need to develop a killer instinct on offense.

Sure, you can always sit on the ball and run out the clock. That works great in Pee Wee leagues when you don't want to hurt the other kids' feelings.

This is the National Football League. When you have an advantage, you need to exploit it until the defense cries uncle, and then exploit it some more. Grind their teeth into the dirt and crush their spirit. That works much better than just sitting on the ball.

Besides, it increases your momentum for the next round of games.