G B U - Just 1 bounce short of the Super Bowl edition

[chemiclord]

For every long shot that succeeds, a hundred fail.

Yep, things lined up nicely for them this year. It could be their only shot. Sure!

But my point is, if that's going to be their only shot, if you honestly believe that... check out now. Because if that is going to be their best or only chance, there's no point coming back next year. You will already know how that story ends.

The teams that keep coming back? They're the teams that get good enough that it doesn't matter if things line up nicely for them. They're good enough to overcome it. They won't overcome it always, but they'll be right back in the mix ready to take another shot next time.

That's where the Lions need to get to, a place where they don't have to rely on things lining up for them, with the right matchup, in their home field. Will they? Who knows? Holmes would hardly be the first GM to fail to construct a team that gets to that next step.

But the idea that they can't... that this was their "big chance," nah. Miss me with that. That is doomerism.

[maxw3ll]

i was in vegas for a conference. I don't really sports gamble but I placed a bet before the season for lions to win the SB. Why not! I can post the bet, but the odds were long. One thing I remembered was KC had the best odds.

Lions were flawed on defense. Still had chances to win that game. They did not execute. decisions aside, they had plenty of chances to win against a good #1 seed on the road.

They are a young team that has went 22-8 (I think) since the 1-6 start last season. They have not pushed draft or cap into the middle to make a serious run. Fix several glaring holes on def and you don't have to agonize over going for it on offense. Holmes hit on more than he missed. Injuries plagued the team.

No Mosley hurt if he was a starting corner. Vaitai retiring killed G depth. Houston and CJGJ missing entire season were big (money wise for duce) losses over majority of the season.

Young players and coaches are learning how to win. I do think the future will continue to be bright for Detroit.

[froot loops]

Branch was drafted as a slot corner. If he is playing in the slot, he is not really a safety. The safety play didn't paper over shit, because when the guys were playing as true safeties, they left the corners out to dry. CJ Johnson left a Deuce out in Santa.Clara.

Iffy showed something late in the year, but mostly as a blitzer.
Joseph was disappointing this year.
CJ.Deuce - all talk no action

[froot loops]

The Lions didn't need everything right to go for them. They were up 24-7 at half and self destructed. They were still moving the ball with ease against this vaunted SF D even as they self destructed. They would have been into the Superbowl with a favorable matchup against a team they had already beaten that has less.than optimal skill position players.

It's not like they lucked into their record. They earned the 12-5 as they nearly always played with a lead. In the end the Lions had an elite offense and a mediocre.defense. Plenty of teams have won that way. That was a Patriot specialty in the later years when they would duct tape around a less than stellar D. If you are going to be flawed, it's much easier with an elite offense that is balanced.

[DanO]

"How much it hurts long term is to be determined. Isiah's bad pass, the numerous early round exits of the Wings in retrospect are looked on as steps along the way. Bad memories but mitigated by an eventual championship.Rasheed leaving Horry is a constant topic, but the Pistons had already won a title.

The Wings exits were terrible in the moment, that's the only thing I can compare it to. Following their every move over a whole season and your team blows it. I immediately shut off the TV after they lost in OT. I could recite you players who scored in OT in the playoffs against the Wings like Arya could recite her enemies before she went to sleep. Mike Foligno, Nikolai Borschevsky, Jamie Baker. After they would get eliminated, you walk around like a damn zombie. This feels that way for now. Hopefully the Lion franchise has changed its stars and this season is looked on that way. Who knows, but it sucks right now.

"Good post Fruit. The Niners didn't go out and beat the Lions. The Lions self destructed. That's what happened and it's sad to think about but they were their own worst enemy. We could be waiting on a SB right now. Yesterday was harder for me than Sunday. I had expected them to lose but when you can taste victory and it's taken away that's hard to accept."
---------------------------------------That's what it feels like for sure.

"Young players and coaches are learning how to win. I do think the future will continue to be bright for Detroit."
----------------------------------Agreed. I've always looked forward to FA and the draft. I'm really looking forward to them this year to see what Brad Holmes does.

[DanO]

"How much it hurts long term is to be determined. Isiah's bad pass, the numerous early round exits of the Wings in retrospect are looked on as steps along the way. Bad memories but mitigated by an eventual championship.Rasheed leaving Horry is a constant topic, but the Pistons had already won a title.

The Wings exits were terrible in the moment, that's the only thing I can compare it to. Following their every move over a whole season and your team blows it. I immediately shut off the TV after they lost in OT. I could recite you players who scored in OT in the playoffs against the Wings like Arya could recite her enemies before she went to sleep. Mike Foligno, Nikolai Borschevsky, Jamie Baker. After they would get eliminated, you walk around like a damn zombie. This feels that way for now. Hopefully the Lion franchise has changed its stars and this season is looked on that way. Who knows, but it sucks right now.

"Good post Fruit. The Niners didn't go out and beat the Lions. The Lions self destructed. That's what happened and it's sad to think about but they were their own worst enemy. We could be waiting on a SB right now. Yesterday was harder for me than Sunday. I had expected them to lose but when you can taste victory and it's taken away that's hard to accept."
---------------------------------------That's what it feels like for sure.

"Young players and coaches are learning how to win. I do think the future will continue to be bright for Detroit."
----------------------------------Agreed. I've always looked forward to FA and the draft. I'm really looking forward to them this year to see what Brad Holmes does.

"How am I doomering?"
---------------------------------I looked up "doomering". Said there was no word found.

[Mainevent]

Nothing Ceedy Duce did on the field this year would indicate he’s a high priority to bring back. Yeah, he had a couple of picks, but those were opportunistic rather than something he created.

The reasons to bring him back are twofold. First if you believe the injury just prevented him from ever finding his role and when he came back had to deal with Iffy and Brach soaking up his minutes. So maybe with an offseason they could figure out how better to deploy him. And the other reason is if they feel the D needs his fiery personality.

We’ll see what they do. Glenn loves him, so I assume he’ll push to bring him back.

[ghandi]

Nothing Ceedy Duce did on the field this year would indicate he’s a high priority to bring back. Yeah, he had a couple of picks, but those were opportunistic rather than something he created.

The reasons to bring him back are twofold. First if you believe the injury just prevented him from ever finding his role and when he came back had to deal with Iffy and Brach soaking up his minutes. So maybe with an offseason they could figure out how better to deploy him. And the other reason is if they feel the D needs his fiery personality.

We’ll see what they do. Glenn loves him, so I assume he’ll push to bring him back.

I think the team liked his swagger going into the season...you probably do need a couple of guys like that.....If he is willing to take another one year deal they may bring him back, but if he thinks he is worth much more, then they will probably pass.

[wcfwtf]

I also had a loss bummer of a day. On Monday.
The Lions did self destruct in some ways but the football gods also shone on some of this San Fran offensive possessions.

[mason reese]

I woke up Monday morning and saw I had a text on my phone from my mom, from the preview I could see it was about the Lions game, which was surprising because my Mom suffers from Alzheimer’s and kind of lives out of time. Then I opened up the message and it was a condolence message signed “Dad”, which was also surprising since he died 10 month ago. Took me about 15 seconds to realize that it was just my In-Laws who are in phone contacts as “Mom” and “Dad” because they had cell phones first.

[ghandi]

For every long shot that succeeds, a hundred fail.

Yep, things lined up nicely for them this year. It could be their only shot. Sure!

But my point is, if that's going to be their only shot, if you honestly believe that... check out now. Because if that is going to be their best or only chance, there's no point coming back next year. You will already know how that story ends.

The teams that keep coming back? They're the teams that get good enough that it doesn't matter if things line up nicely for them. They're good enough to overcome it. They won't overcome it always, but they'll be right back in the mix ready to take another shot next time.

That's where the Lions need to get to, a place where they don't have to rely on things lining up for them, with the right matchup, in their home field. Will they? Who knows? Holmes would hardly be the first GM to fail to construct a team that gets to that next step.

But the idea that they can't... that this was their "big chance," nah. Miss me with that. That is doomerism.

Well the Lions got great news today that Ben Johnson will be returning....The offense has been top 5 last 2 years and will only get better most likely.....I expect Holmes to get a free agent or two for the defense....He knows now the time is right and the team is ready....There are definitely challenges ahead but I think the team will bounce back strongly from this.

[chemiclord]

Teams that are a flash in the pan usually have some very non-replicable traits or circumstances around them.

An example I like to use was when Arizona had their charmed run to the Super Bowl, they had one year of Kurt Warner finding the fountain of youth. That wasn't sustainable.

There wasn't really anything about this season that couldn't be run back. Sure, it doesn't mean they WILL. This last step is the absolute hardest part about building a champion.

This is a team that is being built up well, and they have a lot of really good to great pieces. They're close, but they weren't quite there this season. Too much outside of their control needed to go right. It even almost happened.

[Kstat]

That hurt. It really, really hurt. That was the most painful Lions game I've ever experienced.

When you look back on it though, the Lions got outgained by Tampa and massively outgained by the Rams, and yet they still won, because they stole a TD on 4th down against LA and picked off two passes against Tampa. I suppose it made sense that they outgained the Niners and lost for the same reasons.

This was an amazing season, but it's undeniable that the offense carried 80% of the weight. They clearly did not have a defense Campbell trusted or a kicker that Campbell trusted. The fact they made it here with those flaws was remarkable. Now, they have work to do over the spring.

The Lions had a 17-point halftime lead, and scored 7 in the 2nd half. They lost.

The Chiefs had a 10-point halftime lead and scored 0 points in the 2nd half. They won.

Not hard to see the difference. Eventually, your defense has to win a game for you.

The Lions might not be back here next season. You have to be lucky as well as good. They keep building and there's a good chance they will not only be back in the championship game eventually, but win it. Maybe it’s 2025, or 2026, but it’ll happen.

The foundation is in place, and they've got a great one, including a great coaching staff. Just finish the job.

[ghandi]

I also had a loss bummer of a day. On Monday.
The Lions did self destruct in some ways but the football gods also shone on some of this San Fran offensive possessions.

If Vildor (or Sutton for that matter) comes down with that INT, and the 49ers lose that game, then Purdy is a bum....Instead they get a 51 yard completion, and Purdy is hailed as the next Joe Montana.....Some people are just lucky and luck follows them throughout their career....If another team drafts Purdy he most likely never sees the field other than a practice squad....He fell into a great system with many great players that just fits him well....very lucky.

[dpatnod]

I woke up Monday morning and saw I had a text on my phone from my mom, from the preview I could see it was about the Lions game, which was surprising because my Mom suffers from Alzheimer’s and kind of lives out of time. Then I opened up the message and it was a condolence message signed “Dad”, which was also surprising since he died 10 month ago. Took me about 15 seconds to realize that it was just my In-Laws who are in phone contacts as “Mom” and “Dad” because they had cell phones first.

I got a call from my mom's cell phone about a month after she passed. A total WTF moment. I answered and no-one was there except for some mumbling background noise.

Found out days later, my sister had given my nephew that phone (flip phone), and he had been playing with his new toy. Weird couple of days there.