Kidney punching

This has been an absolutely brutal stretch for the Detroit Lions. It seems like in the span of two weeks they've gone from having all the hope and momentum in the world to being beaten up, beaten down, and pessimism embodied.

Remember all my schedule fun? Well, I have no idea anymore. I have no faith in the running game (Kevin Smith's surprise thumb surgery hasn't helped). You can tell that poor Shaun Hill just isn't right (that guy is a trooper, though, which has endeared him to the fanbase), and even though local papers are saying that Stafford will try and play again this season I have trouble believing it - I just see him suiting up and getting injured a few play into the game.

There is just this nearly palpable feeling of negativity prevailing right now. What's even more ridiculous is that we KNOW this is part of the rebuilding process; when constructing this team from a negative value standpoint, it's common knowledge that it will take at least three years. After losing perpetually for years, shaking a stigma will take time. I think it's the seemingly immediate success of the Bucs, Rams, and Browns that is so irritating, and it just fuels jealousy so easily.

So, at this point, I don't know what to expect or even predict. I want to feel optimistic going into Sunday's game against the Cowboys, but I feel like even though the NFL is probably praying for a Lions' victory (the NFL seems to get off on absolute, complete parity; if any team can win at anytime, isn't that what they've been striving for?), Jon Kitna and Roy Williams will absolutely destroy any and all hope.

On a lighter note, did anyone read Jeff Pearlman's list of the 100 Worst players in NFL History? CC Brown did, saw he was number 90, and he flipped out. It's pretty funny, especially considering that he really is terrible.

this picture not only serves as the embodiment of Brown's time in NY, but also his entire career. I can't wait until he, Julius Peterson, and Bryant Johnson get cut and ride off into the sunset in a beaten down camry.

Well....okay.

So, upon further reflection, let me add this caveat to the previous post.

I'm assuming Stafford is going to be out for a while, because he's a dainty china doll. So, if Shaun Hill is playing in most of those games, well, I can see the Lions winning. They played hard for Hill.

If Drew Stanton starts any of those games? Oh lord. Brutal loss. Every time.

Boy, is he terrible.

Just...just awful.

I mean it, he makes Dan Orlovsky look like Erik Kramer.

He makes Rodney Peete look like Scott Mitchell.

He makes Daunte Culpepper look like Jon Kitna.

He makes Andre Ware look like Dave Krieg.

(okay, that's the last one. I promise)

.....I'm a liar and he makes Joey Harrington look like Mike McMahon.

0 and 4

It's funny; In a perfect world, with a few breaks and a call or two in their favor in the waning seconds of a game, the Lions would, amazingly, be 4 and 0.

I pooped.

I pooped because that notion seems....pleasant?

...Unrealistic?

...Unrealistic yet conceivably, delightfully true?

Pooped!

It was almost unanimously agreed upon (it's true, I polled) that the Lions should have won Week 1 over the Bears. That rule, that hideously arcane and asinine "Process" rule, cost them. I don't care if it was properly enforced (which, theoretically, it was), it was devastating and unfair.

Week 2 saw them lose to the Eagles. Nate Burleson was injured the first play of the game. DeAndre Levy was still injured and didn't play. Michael Vick somehow avoided multiple sacks and the Detroit defense thought they could arm-tackle everyone. Shaun Hill tried too hard to force too many passes, and Scott Linehan just couldn't figure out short-yardage situations. That loss, that 3-point loss, could have been a win with a little luck and a lot less stupid.

The Vikings in Week 3? Frankly, Favre has the NFL in his back pocket, and it showed. It was an atrociously called game with two turnovers overturned by penalties that should not have counted (Chris Houston inception, anyone?), in addition to big plays negated by very questionable penalties. Detroit was absolutely jobbed out of that game, and the officials let the Vikings bully the Lions. Also, Stefan Logan killed me. It was Howie-Long-Mock-Disgust-bad.

And this week? Against the Packers? Criminal. Again, the Lions tried so hard, but came up empty with a combination of bad luck turnovers and cheap officiating. It's just....frustrating. Impotent frustration that no one can do anything about.

But.

After four games, I thought the Lions would be 1-3. And I thought they could finish 7-9. They have played 2 games against teams that were preseason Super Bowl picks (Minnesota and Green Bay), they played 1 game against a team that has been to the playoffs the last two years (Philadelphia), and a team that was supposed to ride a mad genius' offense for an absurd amount of points (Chicago), and they have hung tough for every game. They could have won every game. They could be undefeated right now, and they don't even have a full bloody roster yet.

Pooped again.

Matt Stafford, the quarterback that looked so.... fantastic... in the preseason hasn't played in the last three games. Burleson, the guy who was supposed to be everything Bryant Johnson, Dennis Northcutt, etc. wasn't, hasn't played in the last three games (one series against Philly? C'mon, chum. Blech). DeAndre Levy, the guy who was supposed to be the Middle Linebacker of the Future, has played one game. Everyone is nicked up. It sucks. It's ridiculous. And still, they could be 4 and 0.

I like the makeup of this team. I like the players. I even like the coaches (who are getting a lambasting recently in local media outlets). There is plenty of reason for optimism, and things should be getting better.

I just wish these jerks would get healthy. My gosh.