Recapping Weeks 6-10 (We May Never Lose Again)

        Since 1967, the Super Bowl has been the most coveted prize in the National Football League. The Detroit Lions are one of four teams that have never been to one. Having been established in 1930, the Lions are the oldest franchise to have never stepped in a football stadium on Super Bowl sunday (I'm not counting those 4 league championships we won before that). 

        I know I brought that up in my last blog, however I think it's important to note. It emphasizes how special this team is this year. We're 7-2 on the season, with losses against the Seahawks in OT and the Ravens on the road. Our offense is second in total yards per game and the defense is giving up the ninth least total yards per game. A lot of our success has been without CJ Gardner-Johnson, David Montgomery, James Houston, Emmanuel Moseley, and more. Despite injuries to a hand full of our offensive lineman (Ragnow, Jackson, Vaitai, and Nelson), we're still ranked as one of the league's top O-Line. Goff is making a case to be paid handsomely and Amon-Ra is showing the world why he's a superstar.

        Before diving into weeks 6-10, I think it's important to remind everyone that good teams lose games. Let's take a look at the last five Super Bowl champions - the 2022 Chiefs lost to the Colts who finished the season at 4-12-1. The 2021 Rams lost to the Cardinals, Titans, 49ers (twice), and the Packers. That Rams team would eventually go on to beat the Cardinals and the 49ers in the playoffs when it mattered most. In 2020, the Buccaneers lost to the Saints twice, one of which was a stomping, 38-3. They also lost to the Rams, Bears (lol), and Chiefs. Similarly to 2022, the 2019 Chiefs lost to the Colts (at home). They also lost to the Texans, Packers, and Titans. Lastly, the 2018 Patriots lost to the Jaguars, Lions, and Dolphins, all of which who finished that season below .500. My point in saying all of this is, don't freak out about one bad loss. It's bound to happen. I would rather lose to them now than in the playoffs when it matters. What say you?

Week Six - 20-6 W @ Buccaneers

        The win streak extends to four! The Lions and Buccaneers both came into this game having lost one prior game. Despite the slow start, the defense gave up only two field goals and Goff was able to dissect the Buccaneers secondary. Injuries to Gibbs and Jonah Jackson, limited the Lions running game, but this team made up for it in the air. 

Notable Stats from Week 6:

• Goff: 30/44 for 353 and 2 TD's
• Amon Ra: 12 receptions for 124 and a TD
• Jamo: 2 receptions for 53 and a TD (first of the season!)
• Will Harris: 1 INT
• Anzalone: 7 Solo Tackles, 2 Pass deflections

Week Seven - 38-6 L @ Ravens

        I don't want to talk about it. This was a BRUTAL game from start to finish. It was 28-0 at halftime and 35-0 before we even scored a point. Not only did Lamar run all over us, he also threw three TD's. He had six incompletions and looked like vintage Lamar Jackson. A team that was only a 3.5 point favorite going into the game, looked lightyears better than us. A needed wake-up call for this defense and for this team as a whole.

Notable Stats from Week 7:

• Goff: 33/53 for 284 and 1 INT
• Gibbs: 11 carries for 68 and a TD
• Amon-Ra: 13 receptions for 102 
• Kerby Joseph: 10 total tackles, 9 Solo's

Week Eight - 26-14 W vs Raiders

        We've talked about special games for special players, today was Jahmyr's moment. With 486 total yards for the entire team, almost 40 minutes of possession, and 29 first downs, this Lions dominated this game. Regardless of what the scoreboard says, this game was never close. A tremendous way to bounce back after losing to the Ravens, the Lions showed a lot of heart, discipline, and why they're the favorites to win the division. 

Notable Stats from Week 8:

• Goff: 26/37 for 272, 1 TD, 1 INT
• Gibbs: 26 carries for 152 and a TD
• Amon-Ra: 6 receptions for 108
• Anzalone: 5 Solo tackles, 2 Sacks, 3 TFL
• Kerby Joseph: 2 Solo tackles, 2 Pass deflections, 1 INT

Week Nine - BYE

       All things considered, we won the bye week. Tons of players with nagging injuries, were allowed to recover and get back to a more manageable health designation. Just in time too, for the big away game against the Chargers. Following said game, the Lions take on the Bears, Packers, and hit the road against the Saints. If the Lions want to win the NFC North, it'll take excellence for the rest of the season. Despite who plays, it'll be the next man up mentality from here on out.

Week Ten - 41-38 W @ Chargers

        I'm not going to lie, I was nervous about this game. Despite scoring on nearly every offensive possession, and leading for nearly the entire game, I thought we were going to lose. In 2022, 2021, or any year prior to 2023, we probably DO lose this game. However, like I've said a million times already, this team... is special. Jared Goff, David Montgomery, Amon-Ra, Anzalone, Walker III, Joseph, Sutton, every damn Lion on this team, is special. Justin Herbert passes for 323 yards and 4 TD's? No problem. Keenan Allen goes for 175 and 2 TD's? Who cares! This team... is special. 

Notable Stats from Week 10:

• Goff: 23/33 for 333 and 2 TD's
• Monty: 12 carries for 116 and a TD
• Gibbs: 14 carries for 77 and 2 TD's
• Amon-Ra: 8 receptions for 156 and a TD
• Anzalone: 9 total tackles, 1 Pass deflection, 2 QB Hits
• Kerby Joseph: 5 Solo tackles, 1 Pass deflection, 1 INT

How the NFC North Has Fared

        Minnesota Vikings: Currently 2nd in the NFC North, at 6-4 on the season. I don't think it surprises anyone that they're winning games (finally) this season, although I'm sure Vikings fans didn't expect Dobbs to be the one doing that for them. They're currently on a 5-game win streak, having beat the Bears, 49ers, Packers, Falcons, and Saints in that span. Looking forward, they have the Broncos on the road, Bears at home, then Raiders and Bengals on the Road. The Broncos have struggled mightily this season, but with (potentially) easy games against the Bears and Bengals, they should finish 2-2 (at worst) or 4-0 (at best). It's worth noting that Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles in Week 8 against the Packers. Although, Joshua Dobbs has picked up the slack beautifully in those games. He's passed for 426 yards, 3 TD's, and 0 INT's. Alexander Mattison leads the team with 461 rushing yards. Hockenson and Addison are the leading receivers with 681 yards and 603 yards, respectively. Justin Jefferson has been out since week five when he tweaked his hamstring. Jordan Addison has 7 receiving TD's on the season and is breaking out as a legit wide receiver in Minnesota. Apparently, this team knows how to draft these wide receivers. On the defensive side of the ball, Jordan Hicks leads the team with 87 total tackles. Danielle Hunter has 11 sacks and 3 forced fumbles on the season, and Byron Murphy Jr. has 3 INT's. The biggest question for this team moving forward is, can Joshua Dobbs lead this team with Cousins out for the remainder of the season?

        Green Bay Packers: Currently 3rd in the NFC North, at 3-6 on the season. Over the last four games, they're 1-3 with their only win coming against the Rams. With losses against the Vikings, Broncos, and Steelers, this season may me over. Looking forward, they have the Chargers at home, the Lions on the road for Turkey day, the Chiefs at home, and the Giants on the road for MNF. Truthfully, I see this team winning one game over that 4-game stretch, at best. Jordan Love hasn't played awful over the last three games, having passed for 746 yards, 4 TD's, and 3 INT's. AJ Dillion leads the team with 376 rushing yards. Their best reciever has been Jayden Reed with 417 receiving yards and 4 TD's. Christian Watson has missed a handful of games this season, thus the reason for the lack of the production from the 2nd year receiver out of North Dakota State. Defensively, Quay Walker leads the team in total tackles with 66, Preston Smith has 5 sacks on the season, and Rudy Ford has 2 INT's. What makes things worse is that they've been relatively healthy this season. The biggest question for the Green Bay Packers is (and still), is Jordan Love the answer? With this next draft potentially being loaded with QB talent, do they move on from the Utah State QB or build up the weapons around him.

        Chicago Bears: Currently 4th in the NFC North, at 3-7 on the season. Over the last five games, they're 2-3 with wins against the Raiders and Panthers. Justin Fields has been injured for the entirety of those five games, so it may surprise some that they're actually doing better with him on the sidelines. During that time period, Tyson Bagent has passed for over 859 yards and 3 TD's. He definitely did not look any better than Justin Fields, but at the end of the day all that matters is winning football games. With Fields poised to come back in week 11, he'll face the Lions on the road, the Vikings on the road, they're have a bye week (bears fans rejoice), and finish off week 14 at home against the Lions. This team will finish 0-3, only because they don't play anyone in week 13. If they did, they would be 0-4. Statistically speaking, things have been half bad for the bad news bears. Foreman, Herbert, and Johnson have account for 771 yards, 5 TD's, and 0 fumbles on the season. DJ Moore continues to be a bright spot on this team with 793 yards receiving with 5 TD's (tied with Cole Kmet). Defensively, T.J. Edwards has 112 total tackles (holy smokes) and 2 sacks (Yannick Ngakoue leads with 3) for this dilapidated bears pass rush. With five different bears players accounting for one INT each, the Bears secondary is quietly surprising some. The biggest question for them will be, who do they draft in the upcoming NFL draft? Do you stick with Fields or do you go after potential Mahomes 2.0 in Caleb Williams? One things for sure, the Bears will in fact screw up their draft, per usual. 

Other NFL Takeaways

        Despite leading the AFC East, the Dolphins can't seem to be any team that is actually good. The Bills are .500 right now and the locker room could be a little shaky. Stefon diggs was openly unhappy last year and now his brother is tweeting out that Josh Allen didn't start playing well until Stefon arrived in Buffalo. Both the Ravens and Steelers are favorites to win the AFC North, however injuries to Mark Andrews in week 11 puts a lot of that into jeopardy for the Ravens. The Steelers stink, but they might just stink less than the other three teams in that division. I'm telling you know that the Jaguars will find a way to let the Texans win the AFC South. CJ Stroud has found his footing in that offense and may lead them to their first playoff appearance since 2019. The Chiefs will win the AFC west again for the eighth year in a row. Keep an eye out for those pesky Broncos who may just sneak their way into the playoffs. The Eagles since atop the NFL at 8-1 and are doing everything they can to hold off the 6-3 Cowboys. Our Lions are leading the NFC North at 7-2, but the Vikings have seen a resurgence in their team with Dobbs at the helm now and are 6-4 on the season. Rounding things out in the NFC South, the Saints, Bucs, and Falcons all have legitimate cases to make for winning that division. My opinion? Watch out for Taylor Heinicke and company. Lastly, the Rams and Seahawks are tied at 6-3 and lead the NFC west. The Rams have had a disappointing season and may end up finishing last in that division.

Passing Leaders so far:

• Sam Howell: 2,783 Yards
• Josh Allen: 19 TD's
• Dak Prescott: 70.7% Completion Percentage
• Brock Purdy: 76.2 QBR (according to PFR)
• Desmond Ridder: 4 Game-Winning Drives

Rushing Leaders so far: 

• Christian McCaffrey: 747 Yards 
• Raheem Mostert: 11 TD's
• Josh Jacobs 186 Rush Attempts 
• James Cook: 57.5% Rushing Success Rate (Only RB's over 9 games)
• Breece Hall: 83 Longest Rushing Attempt

Receiving Leaders so far: 

• Tyreek Hill: 1076 Yards, 8 TD's 
• Stefon Diggs: 73 Receptions (Tied w/ Keenan Allen)
• Noah Brown: 20.9 Yards per Reception
• Christian Watson: 77 Longest Reception (Gus Edwards RB - 80 Yards)

Defensive Leaders so far: 

• Roquan Smith: 118 Total Tackles
• Zaire Franklin: 76 Solo Tackles
• Myles Garrett: 11 Sacks (Tied w/ Danielle Hunter), 4 Forced Fumbles (Tied with Bradley Chubb and Trent McDuffie)
• Nick Bosa: 21 QB Hits
• Geno Stone: 6 INT's
• DaRon Bland: 3 Pick Sixes

Kicking Leaders so far: (can't forget about the unsung heroes) 

• Dustin Hopkins: 24 Field Goals Made
• Matt Prater: 62 Yards - Longest Field Goal Made
• Brandon Aubrey: 100% FGM (19/19 - most made/attempted)
• Jamie Gillan: 57 Punts, 2681 Yards
• Ryan Stonehouse: 52.7 Yards per Punt
• Bryce Baringer: 79 Yards - Longest Punt

Power Rankings Headed into Week Eleven

        A few small changes since the end of week five, the Eagles have solidified themselves as the team to beat. The Chiefs and Ravens join alongside them as the favorites to win Super Bowl LVIII. All three of these teams have depth, are balanced on offense, and are getting hot at just the right time. My personal favorites are the Eagles, as both the Chiefs and Ravens seem to have potential areas of weakness. The Chiefs are beatable without Chris Jones and Travis Kelce, and the Ravens lose when they aren't able to establish a run game. 

        This next tier of teams are legit, but have struggled as of late. The 49ers lost three in a row before their bye week. The Cowboys are here because, well... they're the Cowboys. I will keep them here until they prove me otherwise. The Seahawks, Lions, and Dolphins have great offenses, but can't stop anyone on defense. The Steelers and Texans may not be the best, but will win their respective divisions due to injuries on other teams. Also, CJ Stroud is playing really well. Kudos to him for breaking the Ohio State curse (for now).

        The Bills, Jaguars, and Bengals are all frauds. Honestly, I should have the Bengals ranked lower after Joe Burrow's wrist injury. I'm glad Joshua Dobbs is having his moment in the NFL, but I don't think the Vikings ceiling is higher than 9-8. The Buccaneers are eh, but better than the Chargers (who are frauds btw). I apologize to Browns fans for ranking them so low, but they're the Browns and Watson is now out for the foreseeable future. Despite their incredible defense, I can't see them having a great rest of their season. The Saints, Broncos, and Jets are all after-thoughts. Honestly, all three teams are playing better than most think they would, but they also don't scare anybody on their schedule. 

        Kupp and Puka deserve better, but with Stafford not playing his best and that defense.... the Rams are no bueno. The Colts miss Anthony Richardson and are tired of Minshew Mania. I honestly threw the Titans, Commanders, Falcons and Packers on here without moving them around. They're all having awful seasons and the majority of their wins are coming off the backs of the worst teams in the league. Free my boyz Sam Howell and Taylor Heinicke. The Raiders are not playing like the worst team on this fourth tier, but they definitely are. Without a formidable head coach, QB, or any sense of team identity, this team is winning based off of pure player skill. I don't see their "win streak" lasting much longer.

        Kyler Murray is doing his best, "Chris Paul hits a huge 3 to cut the lead to 42," impersonation right now. Bill Belichick is getting ready to retire. The Bears suck with or without Justin Fields (aka Mr. 4000). The Giants have found a away to be worse than the Jets without Aaron Rodgers and the Panthers have a QB who feels like he's 2-inches shorter than Kyler Murray. I think they're starting to realize that their problem was not the QB, but rather an abismal offensive line and having traded away Christian McCaffrey. 

The NFC North Is In Our Grasp

        Looking forward to weeks 11-14, we take on the Bears at home, the Packers at home, then hit the road for the Saints and Bears, again. Best case scenario, we walk away 4-0. Worst case scenario, we're 3-1. I don't see us losing to any of these teams, truthfully. 

        The Bears at home will be the easiest game in my opinion. Justin Fields is coming back from injury and David Montgomery is poised to get revenge on his former team. At home against Green Bay will be much of the same. The Packers are 1-4 since losing to us in week four. Week 13 against the Saints is the only time I see us potentially sputtering in this four-game stretch. The Saints are 3-3 in their last six, but with Derek Carr dealing with an right shoulder injury and concussion after their week 10 loss against the Vikings, this game is favorable for us. Lastly, in Chicago for week 14, this is another W barring any unforeseen injuries. Even if we walked out with Hendon Hooker, I still like our chances in this game.

        Let me know what you think, I'm always tweeting about Detroit Lions-related things on my twitter. It's not a safe space for Bears fans, so I apologize in advance. I'll see you guys (and gals) after week 15 for a 5-game recap of how things are going thus far.