Good, bad, ugly, season done,

[DetroitRockCity]

The ending of these last two seasons have just given me the shits. I must be a bad fan, because forever I thought I would be happy with them just being competitive, but I'm not. I mean... both final games of the last 2 years were shit for our side. And I just can't get over it. I feel that AG did his absolute worst, and BJ tried to be too clever when we should have kept running. In the end it looked like everyone just realized it was FUBAR. Why did we throw blitz after blitz at a QB who seems to thrive when blitzed? This is the first time I've said anything about it since the end of the game. But it's been eating at me.

[DanO]

I feel your pain DRC. I'm still coming to grips with the whole thingy.

[froot loops]

The best parallel to this disappointment is the Red Wings in the early 90s. Really good regular season but kind of flawed defensively that resulted in painful playoff exits. It is painful, you hope in the end they win a title like those Wings did, then those painful losses look like steps you needed to have. But there is no guarantee it works like it did with the Wings

[Septem]

The ending of these last two seasons have just given me the shits. I must be a bad fan, because forever I thought I would be happy with them just being competitive, but I'm not. I mean... both final games of the last 2 years were shit for our side. And I just can't get over it. I feel that AG did his absolute worst, and BJ tried to be too clever when we should have kept running. In the end it looked like everyone just realized it was FUBAR. Why did we throw blitz after blitz at a QB who seems to thrive when blitzed? This is the first time I've said anything about it since the end of the game. But it's been eating at me.

Don't blame yourself. Do you want to know why I choose to follow the Lions back in 2009 when I started to enjoy Football on ESPN?

My favourite colour is blue (not joking), and they were coming from the 0-16 season. I picked the Lions because of the low expectations, was fed up of supporting teams that have always the pressure to be successful every year. I support Benfica in Portugal, and the fans demand the championship every year. So yeah low expectations so I wouldn't be bothered much with losses. I used to enjoy the playoffs when the Lions were not around.

Now the Lions are a good team. Last 2 seasons after the losses in the playoffs, Football is over for me. Until last Saturday, as I have Game Pass, I had the TV on NFL Network all day while working. Some days I would watch Good Morning Football 3 times (they repeat it)...after the loss I simply don't want to know...it's over until next August...so yeah...

Most important tough, and apart from the 2 playoff losses, I think we are having fun, even in the first season of Dan Campbell Lions were fun to watch...and everything will be ok for some years I think. Yeah we have to learn to deal with the tough playoff losses...but maybe one day who knows...it's not just a dream, it's a possibility right now.

PS: A big virtual hug to all of you forumites, it's much harder for you guys I know. I'm in a bubble here, I am able to completly ignore Football, so I'm fine.

[froot loops]

Tough loss for Benfica Tuesday, that game was nuts.

[El Axe]

This was a gut-punch loss, one of the worst of my fandom and I've been a fan for a looong time. I stay away from Lions stuff after a big loss because I don't want to get worked up by people who are venting and angry without any real thoughtful analysis. This forum is far better than others, but still prone to some of that.

Amik's injury was the straw that broke the camel's back. As long as we had him and/or Davis, our defense was going to be okay because Glenn's defense completely relies on great corner play. For example, that big play where Washington took advantage of the Branch blitz for a long TD would have been stopped early if Amik had been out there. Vildor completely whiffed on the tackle. Both Davis and Amik make that play.

Losing Glenn & Johnson is a bummer. I can't blame Ben for going to Chicago because they had the only available situation with a potential franchise QB and the roster overall is much better than the others. I wonder if Glenn is mildly regretting not waiting on Jacksonville now that they've fired the terrible GM.

As I've said before, my 3rd season at my first varsity job, we had a lot of success. The next year, I wanted to take it up a notch. I pushed the kids too hard and we had a ton of injuries -- at one point, I had to bring up a JV player on game day to play. After last year, his 3rd year, Dan said the same thing about taking it up a notch and I had flashbacks. I was seriously tempted to write Dan a personal letter cautioning him about such an approach. Let's hope that he makes some training adjustments for next season.

[Tom]

I’m disappointed in the losses but I didn’t expect the Lions to beat SF last year. Even when we were up, I felt the 49ers were too good to stay down. This season, I started to think we would still win after the Buffalo loss because we won the remaining games. I was a little nervous to face Washington because we hadn’t faced Daniel’s and thought it would be similar to Allen but as the week went on, I just started to believe. But when Robertson went down, I was pretty certain they wouldn’t go far even if they could get past Washington.

The Patricia era was rock bottom for me. I told myself they’d never be a serious contender. I watched them waste the careers of three amazing players and figured they’d never get it right. So these past three years have been thoroughly enjoyable for me. And the window still appears to be open so I’ll just enjoy what Holmes and Campbell keep giving us.

[Septem]

Tough loss for Benfica Tuesday, that game was nuts.

Didn't deserve to lose, with 15 minutes to go they were in front 4-2. And people are complaining about a foul previous to the last minute goal that gave Barcelona the win. A penalty that could give Benfica the win instead.

[ghandi]

"I wonder if Glenn is mildly regretting not waiting on Jacksonville now that they've fired the terrible GM."

I know he played for the Jets but I dont know if I would want to be head coach of that team....They've been a mess as long as I can remember and you always have the NY media on your back.... I am guessing he has a plan for Aaron Rodgers? Even if he does go one more year they still need to find another option sooner than later.

[mason reese]

The best parallel to this disappointment is the Red Wings in the early 90s. Really good regular season but kind of flawed defensively that resulted in painful playoff exits. It is painful, you hope in the end they win a title like those Wings did, then those painful losses look like steps you needed to have. But there is no guarantee it works like it did with the Wings

The fear is that they end up like the Verlander/Cabrera Tigers…

[Fraquar]

The fear is that they end up like the Verlander/Cabrera Tigers…

Completely opposite situations.
Lions core is 25 or younger.
Tigers core was entering their past their prime years.
-----
Much easier to get veterans to perform next to talented youngsters than it is to find talented youngsters to play with veterans - in ANY sport.

[mason reese]

Completely opposite situations.
Lions core is 25 or younger.
Tigers core was entering their past their prime years.
-----
Much easier to get veterans to perform next to talented youngsters than it is to find talented youngsters to play with veterans - in ANY sport.

2006 Tigers made it to the World Series when Verlander won rookie of the year. I remember arguing with DanO that the future looked bright with all the arm talent they had in the Minors. They had a good eight year run but only made it back to the Series one more time only to lose again

[DanO]

2006 Tigers made it to the World Series when Verlander won rookie of the year. I remember arguing with DanO that the future looked bright with all the arm talent they had in the Minors. They had a good eight year run but only made it back to the Series one more time only to lose again

So I was wrong again? lol.

[Fraquar]

2006 Tigers made it to the World Series when Verlander won rookie of the year. I remember arguing with DanO that the future looked bright with all the arm talent they had in the Minors. They had a good eight year run but only made it back to the Series one more time only to lose again

Granderson - 25
Polanco - 30
Guillen - 30
Ordonez - 32

That was your nucleus in 2006 outside of Cabrera on the offensive side of the ball - with little to nothing on the horizon on the farm.
Two of those were walking wounded in the field.....
Verlander only pitches every 5 outings.
They wouldn't sniff the post-season the rest of the decade.

[mason reese]

Granderson - 25
Polanco - 30
Guillen - 30
Ordonez - 32

That was your nucleus in 2006 outside of Cabrera on the offensive side of the ball - with little to nothing on the horizon on the farm.
Two of those were walking wounded in the field.....
Verlander only pitches every 5 outings.
They wouldn't sniff the post-season the rest of the decade.

Yup, you’re right. I forgot the Cabrera/Verlander/Scherzer years was a reload…but I do remember being excited about Verlander/Bonderman/Robertson with Andrew Miller in the wings and Zumiya, Rodney and Rollercoaster on the back end. I also forgot that there was only a single wild card back then. But to be fair they would have made the playoffs by today’s standards in 2 of the 4 years after the 2006 appearance.