Last year the Detroit Lions went 10-6 making the playoffs for the first time since 1999. Naturally the expectations for this season were going to be high assuming the young team will improve if not at least stay the same. However, after ten games they are 4-6 and lost a pivotal game in which they were leading the Green Bay Packers until less than two minutes to go. Playing in the tough NFC North, the Lions are in last place again, a spot we've seen them before. With remaining games against Houston, Green Bay, Atlanta, and Chicago (a combined 32-8) it's safe to say Detroit is out of the playoff hunt. But how did they get here? How did they come in with so much realistic hope after making the playoffs only to disappoint once again? I have 5 reasons why.
5. Poor Special Teams Play: The Detroit Lions are the only team in the NFL to give up multiple Kickoff and Punt returns for touchdowns. Oddly enough all of these returns came in back-to-back weeks against the Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings with the Lions losing both games. Not only have they given up big plays, they haven't had any themselves. Detroit averages a NFL 2nd worst kickoff return average of 18.6 yards leading to bad starting field position.
4. Turnover Margin: This year Detroit has the 3rd worst turnover margin in the league at -7. With how much the Lions throw the ball you will have interceptions, but it's hard to explain eight fumbles in ten games. The biggest difference though is they aren't getting the takeaways like they did last season where they were 3rd best in differential with an opportunistic defense creating 34 turnovers. Overall the defense has played better, ranking 10th in total defense, but they haven't been able to get the ball back to the offense.
3. Matthew Stafford: In his first full season in 2011, Stafford was very impressive throwing for over 5,000 yards and 41 touchdowns. However, in 2012 he has been mediocre with 12 TD's and 10 interceptions. Stafford has been getting Calvin Johnson involved as he's on pace to have over 1,700 yards and his first 100 catch season, but Nate Burleson going down and the team leading the NFL in drops doesn't help Stafford's numbers, neither does his decision making.
2. Slow Starts: For whatever reason the Lions just can't seem to have their offense ready at the start of games. They are averaging only 3.1 points in the first quarter but a league best 12.1 in the fourth quarter. This is supposed to be a high powered offense but can't get rolling until late which usually means they are losing at that point. It's hard to win games when you are always playing from behind.
1. They Aren't As Good As We Thought: Detroit made the playoffs for the first time in 13 years, but how good was that team really? Yes, the Lions won ten games a season ago but zero were against teams
that finished with a winning record and only one made the playoffs
(Denver, who finished 8-8). The slow starts were a problem last year as well but the Lions had four second half double digit comebacks. So far this year three of their four wins have been 4th quarter comebacks, but again, you can't consistently win playing from behind. The defense this year is statistically better than 2011, but last year they had an uncharacteristically high amount of takeaways. As for the offense, Stafford was the 4th quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 5,000 yards, to ask for a repeat performance is asking a lot.
With 6 games left in the season the Lions are technically not out of the playoffs, but realistically you would have to assume so. Until they can beat quality opponents they will always have a difficult time making the post-season. Also, until they stop digging themselves early holes they will have a difficult time beating average teams. This is still a young team with a lot of growing up to do and a lot of potential. But for right now they seem headed for another losing season which reminds us of the same old Lions.
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