Detroit Lions Must Prove Why They Belong in the NFC Playoff Race

Just what the doctor ordered.

The first half of the season is in the books, and the Detroit Lions could not have gotten off to a better start. At 6-2, the Lions go into their bye week in perfect position to make the playoffs.

I know what you're thinking. Lions? Playoffs? (Insert Jim Mora "Playoffs?!" quote here). But yes, the Lions are armed and ready, provided a few things happen first.

We know Matthew Stafford must continue to be the dominant quarterback that he was in the first half of the season. We know Calvin Johnson will be the freak of nature that he was from the day he was drafted. We know Ndamukong Suh will be the dominant force he's been on the defensive line. And yes, we know that Jason Hanson will continue to be "Mr. Automatic" again in the second half.

That's what we know. How about what we don't know?

The last time the Lions played the Broncos to go to 6-2, they lost their next six in a row, and remarkably ended up finishing the season 7-9. Things were different back then, but there's always that lingering group of fans that fall under the "same old Lions" mentality. One loss could spell doom for this team, and with their schedule being what it is in the second half, we don't know what kind of start they'll get off to.

We don't know whether or not the Lions have the fortitude to stand up to the Packers who, in case anyone forgot, are the reigning Super Bowl champions. The Lions play the Packers twice in the second half: once on Thanksgiving and once in January at the perennial house of horrors for the Lions, Lambeau Field. The Packers haven't lost a game this season at Lambeau. Come to think of it, they haven't lost a game at all this season.

We also don't know Jahvid Best's status. Best missed the last two games because of his second concussion of the season. This is not an injury to be taken lightly. However, if he's cleared to play, he'll play.

Finally, we don't know if the core group (Stafford, Johnson, Vanden Bosh, Suh) will stay healthy enough to complete the second half.

So that's what we know and what we don't know. What I know is, the second half will be the tell-tale sign of what this team is. Actions speak louder than words. If the Lions want to be a playoff team, they need to prove they belong.

The Lions are primed for a playoff run going into the bye week. With the economy in Detroit being what it is, this, so far, is just what the doctor ordered.