The Detroit Lions have no opportunity versus the Green Bay Packers, right? How could they?
They simply lost to Mitchell Trubisky and the Chicago Bears in the most Liony way ever.
Theyre facing a hot Aaron Rodgers.
Theyre dipping into Lambeau Field, a venue for the Lions that traditionally has held all the suspense of a battle between a hammer and a nail.
They made huge mistakes– mental and physical– that simply cost them a video game.
Theyre dealing with injuries to key gamers on offense and defense.
No possibility?
Maybe. However maybe not.
[Lions Matthew Stafford pens effective essay on why he will not stay with football ] Before I go any even more, let me confess: This season its going to be difficult for reporters who cover NFL teams to gauge the mood of the group since of coronavirus security procedures that prohibit us from going into locker spaces.
Normally, NFL reporters have locker room gain access to for 45 minutes 4 times during the week and after that once again after video game day. Thats a lot of time to get to understand gamers and the vibe inside the locker space. Five-minute Zoom calls are a poor replacement.
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But I can inform you this about the Lions today: They appear to have actually reacted well to what took place. They havent rejected the reality of what led them to waste a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter. They havent hung their heads either.
Linebacker Jamie Collins confessed that headbutting referee Alex Kemp, which led to his ejection, was an error, although an unintentional one. When he spoke about the incident Thursday, he seemed contrite but also at ease. When he spoke, he even smiled.
Perhaps some individuals would prefer a gamer to revel in anguish and insecurity while flagellating himself over such a psychological lapse. Learn and admit the mistake from it.
Novice running back DAndre Swift discovered himself in a similar scenario, though his mistake was physical. He was the goat of the video game for dropping the winning pass with 6 seconds left. Swift was a sure-handed receiver at Georgia however he confessed his huge drop was a lack of focus, which he said was an uncharacteristic error.
[Film review: Detroit Lions have huge prepare for rookie RB DAndre Swift ] When it comes to coach Matt Patricia, he did what he required to do to put his gamers in position to win that game. You can second-guess the missed long field goal attempt or any other call. However the basic fact is the Lions had the Bears beat. That video game was won.
While no Lions gamer or coach came out and stated it, that was the vibe I got over the week. Were talking about a shorthanded group finding a method to win. Were talking about Swift scoring 2 goals in his debut and making the winning catch.
The Lions know this. They also understand they enter Lambeau having won three of their past five games there. And it would have been four wins if in 2015s pro wrestling-caliber referees hadnt been fooled by David Bakhtiaris Golden Globe-worthy acting performance versus Trey Flowers.
In spite of all this, Ill confesss hard to see the Lions winning Sunday. It isnt impossible. They have a possibility to do more than win a video game. They have an opportunity to reveal us how resilient they are.
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He was the goat of the video game for dropping the winning pass with 6 seconds left. As for coach Matt Patricia, he did what he needed to do to put his gamers in position to win that video game. They also know they come into Lambeau having won 3 of their past five video games there. Despite all this, Ill confess its difficult to see the Lions winning Sunday. They have a possibility to do more than win a video game.
