Detroit Lions Monday Morning Quarterback: Lions Roar Back vs. Dallas Cowboys

The Game

The Detroit Lions just played a trick on my son. He was so excited to go to the apple orchard, where I was about to take him there after Dallas scored a touchdown early in the third quarter. But than the Lions kept fighting and I kept watching. The end result: a thrilling 34-30 victory. 

Teams just don’t come back from 24 points down on the road, and the Lions just did it. 

As the game was winding down, all I could think was Tony Romo gift wrapped this win for the Lions, but the more I think about it, I am starting to change my mind.

The first two interceptions came on passes that were decent; the defense just made plays on them. Another week, another person takes a shot at Megatron. Keep the insults coming, he will just keep on scoring multiple touchdowns. 

Do you think he might be a little motivated on Monday night against the Bears? I think he is going “complete the process” on three TDs.

Brandon Pettigrew

He is becoming Matthew Stafford’s safety net. Six catches for 64 yards doesn’t sound too impressive, but he had a long gain wiped out on a dumb penalty committed by Nate Burleson, and more importantly, drew a holding penalty in the end zone late in the fourth quarter.

Stephen Tulloch

Tulloch had a huge day, 12 tackles and an interception. On his interception, the ball was underthrown, but he had it was still high enough. He tipped it to himself with Jason Witten all over him.

Ndamukong Suh gets an assist on the play, as he was able to put pressure on Tony Romo even though he was being held.

Willie Young

He didn’t play much in this game, but how timely was his sack? Not bad for a seventh round draft pick.

The Bad

Falling Behind Early Again

I said last week that the Lions cannot afford to fall behind early against a better team than Minnesota, I stand corrected. That said, the Lions can’t fall behind early against the Bears; really, I mean it this time.

The Pass Rush

For a defensive line as highly touted as the Lions D-line is, they have not done enough so far this year.

Tony Romo had all day to survey the field in the first half. When they finally got a little bit of pressure on him, he started throwing the ball to the Lions.

Tony Oh-No

It is nice to see Joey Harrington playing for the other team. Three interceptions on 11 passes is just plain old bad.

The Ugly

Dallas’ Coaching Staff

I put this loss squarely on the shoulders of the Dallas coaching staff.

Before the game, Rob Ryan, tries to act like his brother Rex by making a bold statement about Calvin Johnson and how he would be the No. 3 receiver on Dallas’ offense. The difference between Rex and Rob, Rob is an idiot. 

When Rex says something, it usually has basis. It is not crazy to say the Jets will win the Super Bowl or predict they will beat New England, but it is stupid to say something as baseless as he did.

If the defensive coordinator wasn’t dumb enough, the play calling was even worse. Why Dallas was still throwing the ball when so far ahead is bad enough, but why they were still throwing it late in the fourth quarter while protecting the lead is something I would expect from a high school coach, not an NFL coach.

Misleading Stat of the Day

49 percent completion percentage for Stafford

The Lions allowed zero sacks on the day. Yeah, that is true, but it is because Stafford threw the ball away to avoid sacks most of the first half.

Play of the Day

The Calvin Johnson Catch while triple covered.

Can we please table the talk about how Johnson isn’t one of the best receivers in the NFL now?  Maybe he needs to become a diva that talks about himself in the third person and gets into legal trouble before everyone gives him the credit he deserves. That touchdown catch was ridiculous. 

Quote of the Day

“Indulge me for a second. I’m just glad that the third-best receiver on their team is on our team” – Jim Schwartz.  You just don’t poke a Lion with a stick; he will bite your head off.

Random Thoughts

Two undefeated teams, and both are in the NFC North

Is Stafford an elite quarterback yet?

Oh why, oh why can’t the Lions run the ball?

I am having nightmares about screen passes to Matt Forte

Go Tigers!

This is going to get me in trouble, but I don’t think the Lions are a top five team yet.

Here are my top five

1. Green Bay Packers
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. New England Patriots
5. Houston Texans

Overall Impression

Will the real Detroit Lions please stand up? Are they the team that is getting crushed in the first half, or coming back in the second half?

Matthew Stafford has now engineered two late game comebacks in a row. If anything, I blame Dallas’ coaching staff for this loss; more on that later.

The Good

Calvin Johnson

John Elway. One thing that the late Lions beat writer Tom Kowalski used to always say is that a quarterback had to play like crap early on to have the opportunity to bring his team back late in the game, he is so right.

Everyone in Dallas will want to blame Tony Romo for this loss, but in my opinion, it was a total team collapse.

Next Week

Are you ready for some football?  Monday Night Football returns to the Motor City as the cardiac Lions take on the Chicago Bears.