Detroit Lions 2011: New England Patriots of the NFC?

Are the Detroit Lions the NFC version of the New England Patriots?

Early in the 2011 season the Lions and Patriots are, in a snapshot, similar in many ways. 

To thieve a derivative line from Motley Crue…Stats, stats, stats.

With franchise quarterbacks Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford running the offenses, both teams like to toss around the ol’ pigskin.  The Patriots have 163 attempts for 1,539 yards.  The Lions have similar passing yards of 1,205 yards on 162 attempts.  Granted Stafford does not have Brady's jewelry, or supermodel wife, but both run most of their offensive sets from the shotgun and are given green-light status to audible the play-calls when necessary.

While both are viewed as pass-first teams, they both rank in the middle third for rushing attempts with 103 for the Patriots and 101 for the Lions.  Although both teams throw the ball more than 61 percent, they are using the running game to keep defenses somewhat honest.

On the defensive side of the ball, both teams are tied for third in the NFL with seven interceptions apiece and the Patriots have 198 tackles while the Lions have 199.  Their punt coverage is similar as well with both averaging just over 38 yards of net yardage.

Jim Schwartz, the prodigy assistant from the Bill Belichick coaching tree, likes to play things close to the vest when it comes to the media, similar to "The Hoodie."  Both are defensive minded coaches and have their hand prints all over the defensive schemes, while they both have employed highly-respected offensive coordinators to orchestrate the explosive aerial attacks: Scott Linehan for the Lions and the OC lineage of Charlie Weiss & Josh Mc Daniels for the Patriots.

Both are heavily involved in personnel decisions with a belief in "buying the groceries," as Bill Parcells famously professed.  Having direct involvement with roster makeup, Belichick & Schwartz fiercely defend their players and in turn, they defend their coaches.

While coaching is critical, players still need to execute the scheme all four quarters and both these teams have shown an NFL game still lasts 60 minutes.

With the Lions down 27-3 on Sunday, the Lions headed to the locker room down by 20-plus points for second straight week. 

As Chris Houston was pulling a Texas-sized boot out of his backside that if it was from Toy Story would have “ROMO” etched on the bottom, the Lions again responded in the second half to record the greatest road comeback victory in the history of the NFL.  This is the type of resiliency the Patriots have shown for years.  

Remember last Thanksgiving when the Lions led the Patriots 17-10 and Santa was ready to hand over his freshly received "key to the city" to Schwartz?

That's right.  The Patriots blew out the Lions in the second half 35-7, securing a 45-24 victory and sending the Honolulu Blue Faithful home to drown their sorrows in turkey gravy.

Only time will tell if the Lions are trending towards the Patriots and further from, well.......the old Lions.