FanPost

Had more hope prior to the preseason

End of last season, I looked at the 06-07 schedule, and just off the top of my head thought the Lions could finish .500, and after the opening win against Denver, I had the same thought.

Now, after the Lions stumbled through the pre-season, getting blown out, essentially, in the game that mattered (third week), and then rolling over for the Buffalo Bills (the Bills!) in the last week, the same schedule looks a bit rougher, and the same, no real analysis, just whddaya think the kitties'll do this week looks a little grimmer....

A finish of 6-10 or 7-9, at best, as broken down below the fold....

Week 1: Defending NFC champs, versus the Madden jinx, plus super bowl loser jinx, it's kinda like the Seahawks are battling jinxes, and the Lions are just bystanders in the psychodrama. Seahawks overcome the dram, Lions 0-1 to start the year.

Week 2: Da Bears. In the spaceship. Against Brian Griese (c'mon, who thinks Grossman will hold on to the starting job in Chicago long? Maybe not by week two, which actually gives the Lions a chance, but it'll happen, and sooner rather than later). No dice, Lions 0-2. Fans start calling for Millen's head, call for Bill Ford to turn over the reins of the team to Alan Mulally, as well as the CEO position at Ford Motor Company. and the inevitable nutjob will call in to Stoney and Wojo (do they still have a show together? I've been in Wisconsin the past three years) to suggest Marinelli get the axe too.

Week 3: The Packers....I'm actually excited for this one. Like i said above, I'm in Packers country, and I've made even more rabid packer fan friends over the past year....let the betting begin (for entertainment purposes only, of course, of course). Lions WIN! 1-2

Week 4: Rams....if Seattle stumbles and falls to the various jinxes, it won't be the Cardinals who take up the mantle in the NFC West, if only because, after all, they are the CARDINALS. Given the fact that it sure as hell won't be the 49ers, either, say hello to your 2006-2007 NFC West champion St. Louie Rams. Lions 1-3.

Week 5: The Vikings, what of the Vikings? If you look back at the last few years of Detroit Minnesota matchups, one dominant theme seems to reassert itself, that of the Vikings storming out to a big lead, the Lions catching up, valiantly tying the score late, only to see a huge run by a Viking back taking it to the house breaking little lion fan hearts all over the metro Detroit area (and Windsor, too!). It didn't matter whether that back was Robert Smith, or Michael Bennett, there was an aura of inevitability about it. And so....maybe because it's at the Triple H (although unfortunately, not the one from the WWF) Metrodome, I'll give this one to the boys in Purple and Gold. 1-4

Week 6: The Bills again, and on this game hinges whether the Lions end up mediocre for the season, or worse. Can the Lions beat the Bills? Of course, anyone can. But they didn't do it last week. Then again, last week doesn't count, so, uh, where does that leave us???? As of Sunday, just after that loss, I had this in the loss column. But, after all, I am a Lions fan, one in whose heart hope springs eternal, until crushed by a 41-10 scalping (ooooh, wait, was that politically incorrect?). Either way, that hope has arisen, much like Ernie Harwell's eternal springtime greeting on that first broadcast on a brand new season, and I'm giving this one to the good guys, 2-4.

Week 7: and once more unto the breach to find another victory. Because the Jets absolutely suck, the Lions enter the bye week at 3-4, people are breathing a little easier, there's renewed hope out there, just waiting to be decimated by the hard cold shoulder of reality in the making.

Week 8: bye week....can't lose this one!!!

Week 9: Atlanta Falcons.....helllllooooo Michael Vick....oops, there he goes....and he's scoring another rushing touchdown.....uhhh, I used up all my stupid jokes before the bye week, Lions lose, 3-5, let's move on.

Week 10: 49ers. WE CAN DO THIS! And we will. Even if me or you, WE are not actually on the field in Honolulu Blue and Silver stretch pants. But the kitties can beat the 49ers. 4-5

<and here's where it all falls apart. Between the sheer depressiveness of the crash, and the fact that I gotta head out, the rest will be just mostly W/L thoughts>

Week 11: Cardinals: they might not win the west, but they'll win this week, 4-6

Week 12: Dolphins. Ronnie Brown is the new Robert Smith (see week 3), 4-7

Week 13: Patriots. Let's see, 3 tie SB champs Patriots versus no time SB participant Lions? WHO YA GOT??? 4-8

Week 14: Vikings again, this time at home. Same toss up as in week 3, but with the advantage (?) of the Ford Field edge. (Not having ever been there for a Lions game (saw the BG/Northwestern Motor City Bowl there a couple of years ago), I don't know whether there is a home field advantage. Anyone wanna fill me in?? For argument's sake, let's say it exists....5-8)

Week 15: This is the year. I'm telling you, this is it! The year when we finally take both games from the Packers! And then maybe finally, mortified, Brett Favre will retire and take his carcass back to Mississippi, and people around here will stop deifying the guy who may have been holding the Packers franchise back for the past 4 years. Oh wait, that would be a bad thing.....I'm so confused.....6-8

Week 16: Da Bears, on their way to a second straight NFC Central...errr North crown, clilnches with a pasting of the Kitties   6-9.

Week 17: and unfortunately, Dallas has a playoff id on the line the last week of the season, and they show up to play. Unlike the Lions. Who crash to a 6-10 Finish.

Hmmm, i coulda sworn this little run through was going to end up a wee bit better than the one on Sunday...but i guess not  6 Up and 10 down it is.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pride Of Detroit or its writers.