Looking back at other seasons when the Lions were in good shape at the halfway mark makes this 2014 team look better by comparison.
This week's Monday Countdown will do that look back and look ahead to assess where the Lions might end up after their 6-2 start.
There's a look at the remaining eight games on the schedule the tough games, the soft spots, the ones up for grabs where the Lions should benefit from timing, one somewhat amazing stat that's responsible for where the Lions are as they head into the bye and my take on a label that's been hung on Matthew Stafford of late.
We start with the stat:
1. Making time: The Lions have had the lead for a combined period of one minute and 38 seconds in the last two games, and they've won both games. They beat the Saints. 24-23, a week ago on Stafford's touchdown pass to Corey Fuller with 1:38 left.
The defense protected the lead with a furious rush on Saints quarterback Drew Brees that did not allow him to get the Saints in range to try a game-winning field goal.
On Sunday at Wembley Stadium in London, Matt Prater's 48-yard field goal with no time left beat the Falcons, 22-21.
Add it up 1:38 left one week, no time left the next, and two victories by a combined margin of two points. That's cutting it thin.
2. Quarterback label: There have been questions of late as to whether Stafford has become a game manager, and I get it. He hasn't been passing for big yards and bushels of touchdowns. Through eight games he has 11 TD passes against seven interceptions.
3. My take: a lot of that has to do with Calvin Johnson's absence, and the shuffle of receivers because of injuries.
I don't think game manager is necessarily a negative connotation. Peyton Manning manages the game, to go with his physical ability.
But with Stafford's considerable arm talent, to label him a game manager is akin to putting a governor on a Mazerati to maximize fuel consumption.
4. Trading times: GM Martin Mayhew told reporters on Thursday that he does not intend to make any deals before the trade deadline expires at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
What I think, and what I've written, is that the return of Calvin Johnson is the equivalent of acquiring a superstar in a trade for future considerations the considerations being that the Lions didn't brag about not giving up anything.
5. Tackle eligible: Ndamukong Suh will be a free agent after this season, and the market for a player of his stature has been set by the contract extension signed over the weekend by Tampa Bay Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. His deal is worth between $91 million and $98 million over seven years, with more than $50 million guaranteed.
Whatever the final numbers are on McCoy's deal, Suh is worth a little more. He's better. Period.
6. Looking ahead wins and losses:
The 2007 Lions started 6-2 and won only one more game. They had no defense.
The 2011 Lions started 5-0 and didn't exactly fall apart, but they finished 10-6 and made the playoffs as a wild card. In the playoffs, they were whipped by a Saints team that did not have to punt. Again, the Lions had no defense.
The 2013 Lions were 6-3 and won only one more game. They had too many loose threads, Stafford had a bad final seven games and the defense gave up the lead in the fourth quarter or overtime in all six losses in the last seven games.
The 2014 Lions can play defense, and they're getting their best player Calvin Johnson back after the bye.
That's why they're better than the three previous teams that were in position to do something good.
Here's a projection of what the Lions face the rest of the way, week by week:
Game 9: Home vs. Dolphins: Solid defense, solid team. Their strength is running the ball and defending the pass and run. Their quality wins are in the opener against the Patriots and on the road against Chicago a week ago.
Bottom line: Count it as should win for the Lions but no guarantee.
Game 10: at Arizona: It's hard to call the Cardinals a surprise team. They were 10-6 a year ago and missed the playoffs on the tiebreaker. They're below average on offense which is a surprise but strong on defense against the run and weak against the pass. They started the season with three straight wins over the Chargers, Giants and 49ers, got blown out at Denver, then took advantage of a soft spot in the schedule to beat Washington and the Raiders.
They were good enough to beat the Giants and 49ers with Carson Palmer out and Drew Stanton at quarterback, but not good enough to win at Denver.
Bottom line: Tough game, and the Lions have not done well in the southwest. Count this as one the Cardinals should win.
Game 11: at New England: A lot can happen in the next month, but it's Tom Brady, it's the Patriots, and Brady is almost unbeatable at home in the regular season.
Stat: In 2008, Brady went out with a knee injury, and the Patriots were 5-3 at home in a season when they went 11-5 with Matt Cassel at quarterback and missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker.
With Brady back, the Patriots are 41-3 at home in the regular season since opening day of 2009.
Bottom line: If you want to go out on a limb and pick an upset, make sure to have a safety net. Count this as one the Patriots should win.
Game 12: Home vs. the Bears on Thanksgiving Day: The Bears have been squabbling, and there are reports of internal potshots at QB Jay Cutler. Retired perennial All-Pro linebacker Brian Urlacher called Cutler elite only in salary.
Maybe it's the uniforms, or the history ancient history, back to the great Super Bowl champs of 1985 but in the last couple decades the Bears have been more talk than show. They've made the playoffs once since the 2006 season, when they lost to Indy in the Super Bowl, and they've been the second or third best team in the North six of the last seven years.
Bottom line: Count this as will win for the Lions.
Game 13: Home vs. Tampa Bay: The Bucs used to give the Lions trouble every year, even in seasons when the Lions were good and the Bucs usually weren't. The Lions will have extra rest after Thanksgiving before they play the Bucs, but they shouldn't need it.
Bottom line: Count this a win for the Lions. Guaranteed, Godfather lock.
Game 14: Home vs. Vikings: What they did to the Vikings in Game 6 on the road will be more of the same.
Bottom line. Count this a win for the Lions, but not quite a lock. There's always a chance that Adrian Peterson might be back.
We pause here for a deep breath and to reflect on where the Lions stand.
They were 6-2 when they landed at Metro early Monday morning after their week in England. In the first six weeks after the bye, I've given the Lions four wins. That makes them 10-4, and in good shape to make the playoffs. But almost every year, some team with 10 wins misses the playoffs.?This is the crucial stretch, and both of the last two games are on the road, outdoors, and in cold weather.
Game 15: At Chicago: The Lions swept the Bears in two games last year, and they won at Soldier Field. If I'm not sold on the Bears after eight weeks especially after their stink-out at New England Sunday then I'm not sold on them in eight weeks.
Bottom line: Count this as a game the Lions should win.
Game 16: at Green Bay: The ugly stats are like a bad meal at an expensive restaurant. Chew on them all you want, and you're not going to like it any better.
The last time the Lions beat the Packers on their own field was 1991. Since then the Lions have lost 22 straight in the regular season, and one more in the 1994 playoffs. Losing 23 straight is not a fluke.
Bottom line: Count it as a loss for the Lions until proven otherwise.
The final tally here: potentially a record of 11-5 and a playoff berth.
Feel free to disagree.
7. The NFL's best after eight weeks
1. Cowboys (7-1): Don't see them losing at home to Washington on Monday Night TV.
2. Broncos (6-1): What's the limit for Peyton, 1,000 TD passes?
3. Cardinals (6-1): Big win over Eagles, forced 3 turnovers.
4. Patriots (6-2): Win streak at four with Brady's 5 TD passes in rout of Bears.
5. Lions (6-2): Jumping them up seven spots this week for one reason: winning.
6. Eagles (5-2): Got yards, not points, in loss at Arizona because of turnovers.
7. Packers (5-3): Rodgers' sore hamstring, loss to Saints, won't let Packers fans relax.
8. Bengals (4-2-1): Back in first after narrow win over Ravens.
9. Colts (5-3): Bad loss at Pittsburgh ended five-game win streak.
10. Ravens (5-3): Fourth-quarter rally blunted by Dalton's TD for Cincy.
11. Chargers (5-3): Fading.
12. Steelers (5-3): Can make it 3 straight at home next week against Baltimore.
8. The NFL's worst after eight weeks:
5. Falcons (2-6): Sunday's loss to Lions was their fifth straight. They botched the ending.
4. Bucs (1-6): Lost in OT to the Vikings on a fumble return.
3. Jaguars (1-7): Loss to Dolphins kept them from the heights of 2-game win streak.
2. Jets (1-7): Benching Geno Smith for Michael Vick underscores desperate, wayward franchise.
1. Raiders (0-7): Worst record, worst team. Same comment as last week
