Lions 2012 Schedule

The Lions 2012 schedule has been unveiled. This link shows who we play but not when we play them. That part will be released in the spring. Check it out!

Should Lions go all out in Lambeau?

The Lions have won 10 games and are headed to the playoffs, but we still have one game left in Lambeau on Sunday. The question all week has been whether the Lions should go all out and try to win this game. My answer to that would be, yes.

Look, the Lions have clinched a playoff spot but we have not clinched the fifth seed. If we stay in the fifth spot, we avoid going back to New Orleans until the NFC championship game. We didn't play well last time we went to New Orleans. We need to avoid the Superdome early if at all possible.

The fifth seed also gives us an easier bracket in the playoffs. We would play the NFC East champ in the first round. We beat Dallas already and we're better then the Giants. Lions fans could finally say we won a first round playoff game.

The most important thing about going all out Sunday, is that the losing streak in Green Bay would be over. Since the Schwartz regime began in 2009, the Lions organization ended many negative streaks. After going 0-16 we finally won a game, we ended our road losing streak, and we made the playoffs for the first time since '99. The only streak left is winning a game in Green Bay. We haven't done that since 1991.

Winning this game would completely change things. We wouldn't go into next season with those same Green Bay question marks. We would probably be headed back to Lambeau for the second round. A win Sunday would give us the confidence to win that game. Who cares if Green Bay doesn't play their starters, go win the game.

Pro Bowl Snubs

Yesterday the 2012 Pro Bowl rosters were announced. After having a good year and making the playoffs for the first time in 12 years, the Lions were expected to have a few extra helmets roaming around Honolulu but the fans felt differently.Calvin Johnson will be the only Lions player playing in the Pro Bowl.

Number 81, who's having a career year, deserved the nod. He's caught 85 passes, gained 1,437 yards, and pulled down 15 TDs and there's still one game left. But Calvin shouldn't be the only Lion headed to Hawaii.

One other Lion that should be in Hawaii is Cliff Avril (36 tackles, 11 sacks, and 6 forced fumbles). Cliff is having a great year. Since being drafted in 2008, he has increased his sack total every year. It's not just about the stats though. He's made key plays in every Lions win this year. But look at who made the team at defensive end, there's no way he could've made it over them. Jason Pierre-Paul had 15.5 sacks, Jason Babin had 18 sacks, and Jared Allen had 18.5 sacks. Hard to argue that he should've been selected over one of them. Cliff is getting real comfortable in this defense and should have another good year next year. As long has he re-signs, I truly expect the see him in Hawaii this time next year.

The Lion that should definitely be there with Calvin is the man that throws him the ball, Matthew Stafford. It might be redundant, but this kid is having a career year. How could he not with Calvin having one? With one game remaining, he's racked up 4,518 yards and thrown 36TDs. No way he would be selected over Rodgers and Brees, but he should've been selected over the "other Manning". Granted Eli is having a good year too, throwing for more yards (4,587) but less TDs (26). But that doesn't tell the story. Eli has been up and down this season. Good one week, down the next. Stafford has been clutch all year, bringing the team back from 14 point deficits 4 times this season.

But if the Eli selection wasn't enough, Newton and Romo were selected as alternates before Stafford. Not only did Stafford beat both of them this season but he had better stats. Romo threw for only 3,895 yards with 29TDs. While Newton threw for 3,893 yards with just 20TDs. Stafford not being selected upsets me. But think about it, would we rather see him in Indy or Hawaii?

Not the Same Ole Lions

The punter for the Raiders, Shane Lechler, is the best punter in the league. His longest punt of the year is an 80 yarder that he kicked against the Chicago Bears. So when he punted the ball and pinned the Lions on the 2 yard line, I knew it was over. It was no way that a young Stafford was going to drive the team 98 yards for the game winning touchdown. So many a time in Lions history has the team given up and showed no fight what so ever after something like that. After the first play of the drive when Smith dropped the screen pass I said to myself "Same Ole Lions". But something changed. Stafford got back in the huddle and rallied the team.


"I just try to be calm in the huddle, I didn't say anything special. We just played. When you're 98 yards away, on the road, with two minutes and change left and no timeouts, you've just got to execute your plays or you're going to lose. I don't think it helps to get all emotional about it'', said Matthew Stafford. This kid showed extreme poise. He made throw after throw, he just made plays. In my entire lifetime, and I'm not that old, have I seen a Lions quarterback show the command in the pocket that Stafford shows. Now I don't want to go overboard, but Stafford could actually be the franchise quarterback that we have been searching for since Bobby Lane. At times he makes it look so easy.

This team will make the playoffs. They won't when the Super Bowl, but they're a good team. Finally not the same ole Lions!