2011 NFL Schedule: 6-2 at the bye, are the...

The 2011 NFL schedule is rolling right along, and one of the biggest surprises so far has been the Detroit Lions. Detroit has not been a Super Bowl contender, or even a playoff contender for that matter over the last decade but things have changed in the Motor City.

A healthy Matt Stafford and one of the best front sevens on defense have the Lions with a 6-2 record at the half way point of the season and having this team and it's fans thinking post season.

The Lions are one of only three teams that have six wins this season. The San Francisco 49ers (6-1) and Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) have six wins, and the only team better than these three are the 7-0 Green Bay Packers.

"You look back (at) the things we've done well, and the things we still need to work on, there's still a lot of things on that need to be worked on side of our equation, Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said. " There's still things we can continue to get more consistent with."

So Lions fans, can they keep up this pace and make the 2011 postseason? With a 6-2 start, if they don't make the post season the 2011 season be a failure?

Comments: 6

Erik Lambert Nov 1, 2011, 1:52pm UTC

Oh they're good, until somebody shows they're not intimidated by them. Why do you think they talk so much? They're relying on fear to win half the battle.

Joseph Karbousky Nov 1, 2011, 4:09pm UTC

Not sure what you mean Eric....the best teams on D (70's Steelers and Raiders), including your 1985 and recent Bears teams all did the same...just part of the game...

Joe Greene and Jack Ham were some of my favorites of all time...

Erik Lambert Nov 1, 2011, 5:07pm UTC

Well, Ndamukong Suh fits the bill for Joe Greene for sure. But I don't think the rest of that defense measures up to the Steel Curtain of the '70s. Megatron is worth as much as John Stallworth or Lynn Swann but I'm not sold on Matthew Stafford. He's got great accuracy and a big arm but lives off big plays, which might work once in a while but not enough to win playoff games.

Then there's the running game. Jahvid Best gets hurt too much. Morris isn't a feature back either.

I'm not saying I hate the Lions, Joseph. Even as a Bears fan. This team is very talented but have shown they're undisciplined in crunch time. Mark my words, teams will start to get tired of the constant chatter from Detroit. You'd be amazed how far karma goes in either direction.

The '70s Steelers and Raiders weren't just good because they were intimidating, they were good because they played smart football. Detroit needs to prove to me they can beat a top-tier opponent before I say they're for real.

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Ali Hussein Lopez Nov 1, 2011, 5:00pm UTC

They're good, but they're not that good.

We'll see what happens the second half of the season. When they ran into equally talented teams, they lost.

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Dave Stanley Nov 1, 2011, 7:03pm UTC

They fix their running game, they're scary! I see them as being ALMOST there this year, kind of like the '91 Cowboys or '96 Broncos. They'll make it far, but get disappointed. Then NEXT year, be it a healthy Best or another acquired RB, they make their run, perhaps first of many. Plus, as mentioned, they need to learn how to beat tough teams in crunch time. They're almost there. They're used to the spotlight, just have to get over the hump.

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Paul M. Nov 1, 2011, 8:23pm UTC

Weren't they something like 6-2 in 2005 and still missed the playoffs? Really most of the teams they've beaten haven't been very good.

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2011 NFL Schedule: 6-2 at the bye, are the Detroit Lions for Real?

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