Detroit Lions, After Starting 5-0, Might Miss the NFL Playoffs

 Put your hands up for Detroit.

After starting the season 5-0, the Detroit Lions have lost five of their last seven games. Despite relatively low expectations for the team heading into this season, the Lions appear poised for their first non-losing season since 2000. But the Lions would be disappointed if they finish their 2011 campaign without a playoff berth. And they should be if that happens to be the case.

The Lions had a chance to atone for their Thanksgiving Day meltdown against the Packers last night. A win against the New Orleans Saints would allow the Lions to gain ground in the NFC playoff race and in the hearts and minds of doubters nationwide. They missed both opportunities in a penalty-plagued loss at the Superdome on Sunday night, 31-17.

With those same Green Bay Packers having locked up the NFC North yesterday in their win against the New York Giants, Detroit has to focus their attention on simply making the playoffs. At 7-5, Detroit finds itself ranked seventh in the NFC, on the outside of the postseason looking inward, like a child pressing his face up against the glass window of a pet store.

The rest of the Lions schedule is no cakewalk, either. They’ll face a beatable Minnesota team at home before heading to Oakland. Then it’s their home finale against San Diego and their season wraps with a New Year’s Day tilt at Lambeau Field. And you thought your holiday schedule was hectic.

The Lions, not unlike the American automobile industry with whom they share a city, are plagued by a lack of quality control.

Dumb penalties killed the Lions again Sunday night, as wide receiver Nate Burleson incurred three offensive pass interference fouls. Titus Young earned a personal foul for shoving an opponent. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew got one of his own for shoving an official.

The Lions earned over 100 yards worth of penalties overall. And oh by the way, their best defensive player, Ndamukong Suh, was suspended for this game after stomping on an opponent’s arm two weeks ago. One is left to wonder what tomfoolery the boy named Suh could have found himself in during this game.

Calvin Johnson—their star wide receiver and arguably the team’s biggest playmaker—hasn’t had a 100-yard game since October. His stats for last night’s loss may as well be printed on the side of a milk carton. After starting the season with nine touchdown catches in those first five games, he only managed three in those following seven games. He was held scoreless last night.

Matthew Stafford has managed to stay healthy, but has struggled down the stretch. In his last four games, Stafford has thrown 10 interceptions. That includes games against division rivals Chicago and Green Bay where Stafford was picked off four and three times, respectively. The Lions lost both games.

Despite all of this, the Lions hung with the NFC South leaders for most of the game, trailing by only a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. But then Drew Brees—having another monster season under center for the Saints—iced the game with a short pass to Darren Sproles early in the fourth. The Lions’ ensuing drive would stall after (what else) a penalty, and would not escape their own half of the field for the balance of the game.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz is borrowing heavily from the legacy of his mentor, former Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher. Fisher’s teams were known for scrappy play and for finishing the season among the league’s most penalized teams. Had Fisher not been burdened with facing Peyton Manning twice a season, we could have seen the Titans in a few more postseasons.

This is where Schwartz finds himself now, and he surely understands that an angry team is a better problem to have than the opposite. Teams like the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles have looked forlorn and defeated in tough games against superior opponents.

Schwartz inherited a team that hadn’t won a game in its previous season and pulled them off the mat. Even with the NFL’s implementations to aid underperforming teams, getting this team into playoff contention is an impressive feat.

But Schwartz has to tune the attitude of his team, now, or face missing the playoffs. The Lions might have to run the table to make that happen.

Much like the Saints’ season two years ago, a strong postseason appearance would not only do wonders for the Lions’ franchise, but also its city. But if cheap-shot hits and pushing officials are all this team has to offer, we’d probably be better off without them.