:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61410791/usa_today_11222191.0.jpg)
A lot can change in one week. An event can drastically alter one’s life, or even a single word can make all the difference in the world.
For the Detroit Lions, a lot has certainly changed in a week. Coming into the season, there was a lot of guarded optimism, but that all dissipated in a matter of 90 minutes or so. The perceived lowly Jets managed to derail the Matt Patricia era just as quickly as it was established.
Of course, 99 percent of this is overreaction. We don’t know if Patricia is a terrible head coach because of 60 minutes of real game play. We don’t know the destiny of this team simply because of the way they played in a single game. But that being said, it’s clear the expectations have drastically shifted from just six days ago. So today’s Question of the Day is:
What do you think the Lions’ 2018 record will be now?
My answer: I’m not moving from my 8-8 prediction at the beginning of the year. Though the team continues to look poor, as it did in the preseason, I think we may have all forgotten just how much of an equalizer Matthew Stafford can be when he’s playing well.
Monday night was absolutely as aberration when it comes to his play, and had he even played an average game for himself, the Lions would’ve been in that game despite getting outplayed everywhere else on the field. That has been the story of the Lions for the past three years, and I honestly don’t see how this team is much of any different from the ones we saw go 9-7 back-to-back.
The only difference is the division appears to be significantly tougher. With a healthy(ish) Aaron Rodgers, an up-and-coming Bears team and a still-dominant Vikings team, it’s going to be tough to see this team get over the .500 mark, but as long as Stafford is behind center, they’ll win at least seven games.
Your turn.
Poll
What will the Lions’ record be in 2018?
This poll is closed
-
6%
0-16
(62 votes) -
1%
1-15
(14 votes) -
4%
2-14
(42 votes) -
8%
3-13
(79 votes) -
18%
4-12
(164 votes) -
15%
5-11
(137 votes) -
15%
6-10
(137 votes) -
8%
7-9
(77 votes) -
4%
8-8
(39 votes) -
6%
9-7
(57 votes) -
6%
10-6
(59 votes) -
0%
11-5
(9 votes) -
0%
12-4
(7 votes) -
0%
13-3
(1 vote) -
0%
14-2
(4 votes) -
1%
15-1
(17 votes)