Detroit Lions: Win over Vikings Shows Lions Have Reached Emotional Maturity

I would imagine that when seeing the 20-0 halftime score, with the Vikings seemingly in control of the game, many people had to have been saying, "Same old Lions."

What have I been saying for the last few weeks?  These ain't them Lions.

The second-half comeback—on the road, no less—tells me the Lions have reached that point every team looks for.  That point where each member of the team looks at each other and collectively says, "We can do this."

Matthew Stafford took the team on his shoulders and in Bobby Layne fashion, willed this team to perform better.  And the team responded.

Running game not working?  Jahvid Best carried the ball 12 times for 14 yards.  So what.  He took a screen pass from the Lions' 35-yard line and went 60 yards to set up a score.

Best had a total of five catches for 74 yards.  Add those 12 yards and he contributed 86 total yards...that's good enough to get the job done.

Matthew Stafford continues to play with a chip on his shoulder.  Stymied much of the first half, there was no sense of defeat in him.  And with him saying, "We're not done yet," the stars of this team rose up and played some outstanding football in the second half.

Let's start with Stafford: 32-for-46, 378 yards with no interceptions.  The Vikings came after him like they said they would and sacked him five times.  But each time, he got back up and seemed to get more angry with each time he was put down. 

Making Stafford angry is not a good thing because when he gets angry, he doesn't lose control.  If anything, he becomes more controlled, more focused.  That focus leaks into the rest of the team.  Over and over again, Stafford shows the NFL his most important trait.  It's not his arm, it's not his vision.  It's his leadership and ability to get his team to play better.

Next up his Jahvid Best.  We are all waiting for him to become the runner we know he can become.  But you know what?  While he may not have busted off a long run or gained 100 yards, I want him on the field.

He contributes in so many other ways.  The 60-yard screen pass came at a critical time, and Best came through.

Calvin Johnson.  What an amazing player.  He wants the ball, and the chemistry between him and Stafford strengthens with each game.  A defense can only stop him for so long.  But once he gets on a roll, there isn't a secondary that can cover him.  Seven catches for 107 yards and two unbelievable touchdown catches that completely demoralized the Vikings.

The defensive unit got lit up in the first half.  But the leaders—Suh, Vanden Bosch, Tulloch and Delmas—took it upon themselves to shut down the Vikings in the second half.  They gave up 20 points in the first half, which must have ticked them off.

So ticked off, they shut the Vikes out in the second half, sending a message to the offense that said, "They ain't gonna score, so get it done."  With that message, the defense had the offense's back, which gave them confidence to get moving.

The offense fed the defense and the defense fed the offense...which makes this Detroit Lions team a very complete one.

So next up is the Dallas Cowboys...and this comeback win against the Vikings is going to give them a ton of confidence they can stay with any team, including the overrated Cowboys.

If anyone else wants to jump on the bandwagon, c'mon aboard...we'll make room.