Week Three: Detroit Lions (1-1) @ Baltimore Ravens (1-1)

[slothfacekilla]

Fair play to SF then that went right over my head 😂

[lordstanley]

The December 11, 1977 win over the Baltimore Colts is one of my first football memories. Riding in the backseat of our car with Bob Reynolds on the play by play. Meaningless, for the Lions, late season game but the Lions blocked a put with under 20 seconds to go and recovered it for a game-winning TD. Go to the 5min 20s of this video. 

 

[Sports_Freak]

48 minutes ago, RedRamage said:

I heard someone once say that fans of mediocre teams are the ones who really life and die with the wins and losses of their teams, and I think that's pretty accurate.

If your team is bad... well, who cares if they lose? It's to be expected. And if they win? Well, that's a fluke, not a sign of sudden turn around.

If you're team is good, then wins are to be expected and losses can be tolerated because they're rare and you know your team will bounce back.

It's only when your team is in the middle that each win or loss can mean the start of a trend and therefore has much more meaning.

I ran @Sports_Freak's comments through ChatGPT and it said there's a 97.3% certainty that they were sarcastic.

That one is correct. My point is you can't argue with artificial intelligence, it's like arguing with yourself. Asking Grok if it's sure about an incorrect answer?

[RandyMarsh]

PFF gave Sewell a 98.7 grade, it's the single highest grade for a tackle in the 20 years of their grading. 

[MichiganCardinal]

28 minutes ago, RandyMarsh said:

PFF gave Sewell a 98.7 grade, it's the single highest grade for a tackle in the 20 years of their grading. 

It's okay, but we strive for perfection in this organization, so maybe he can try to do better against Cleveland.

[MichiganCardinal]

NSFW warning

Edited yesterday at 01:13 AM by MichiganCardinal

[HugoD]

On 9/23/2025 at 12:06 PM, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I've tried over the last few years to be a more glass half full fan and it is tough. It is especially tough with the Lions because they have almost no history in my lifetime of being any good. So I can't say I am a positive fan by any means when it comes to the Lions, but I am trying to be. I am trying to give them the benefit of the doubt and believe they're going to be the ones who come in, punch the other team in the mouth, and win it.

Funny you say that; I was thinking about this and came to the conclusion that much of us Lion's fans, especially the long timers amongst us, suffer from a sort of PTSD.    I admit to those thoughts, but in general I try to look at the good.  I mean, you have to acknowledge the truth about what's not good, but you also need perspective.  Plus, optimism supposedly leads to better health!

Having said that, realism is always OK, the the constant irrational negative statements from "some" folks is tiresome.

 

[Mr.TaterSalad]

21 minutes ago, HugoD said:

Funny you say that; I was thinking about this and came to the conclusion that much of us Lion's fans, especially the long timers amongst us, suffer from a sort of PTSD.    I admit to those thoughts, but in general I try to look at the good.  I mean, you have to acknowledge the truth about what's not good, but you also need perspective.  Plus, optimism supposedly leads to better health!

Having said that, realism is always OK, the the constant irrational negative statements from "some" folks is tiresome.

 

I for sure had (maybe still have) PTSOL that causes me to lean more negative. I've always loved the Lions and have never rooted for anyone else. They have been my team, even when I am negative and down on them. After being burnt so many times as a fan, with so many false promises and crazy moments that you'd have to see to believe, it is hard to stay loyal. However, we all did just that. It's just that some of us, even though we were loyal, turned into habitual naysayers and negative fans.

When you're an overly negative, glass half empty fan, people will look at you and wonder why are you even still a fan. People even make comments to us naysayers about finding a new team to root for and to stop watching the Lions. But it's because we care so much and invest so much time and emotional energy into this team that we are so passionately negative. Unless there was a strategic reason for tanking or getting a coach/GM fired, it's not as if those of us negative fans (T&P, myself, others on the negative end) wished for the Lions to lose week in and week out. It's just that I think we refused to keep being homers. We refused to believe they were actually, sustainably good, until they could prove it for a full season or more. The constant negativity we feed ourselves turns us into cynics and skeptics sometimes. 

Now, I've made an earnest effort to grow and mature beyond the fan I was. To recognize and celebrate the great things this franchise has been doing the last 3 years To actually just shut up and have fun when watching the Lions play. The person who spent years hating on Matt Stafford and wishing he would get traded so the Lions could rebuild is largely gone. But I still have lingering bouts of PTSOL and in games like the one against Baltimore, it makes me assume they will lose. Every dominate Lions performance, like they had on Monday Night, causes me to feel a little bit more reassured with each and every win.

Edited 23 hours ago by Mr.TaterSalad

[RandyMarsh]

As expected the game drew monster ratings, 2nd highest "regular" MNF game of the past 20 seasons trailing only the SB rematch of Eagles/Chiefs in 2023 and 4th highest MNF total(Lions/Cowboys in 2023 was 2nd). Regular means true Monday Night Football game not a Holiday game that may not have been on Monday night but was played under the Monday Night Football banner.  Also highest rated week 3 MNF matchup in NFL history. 

Edited 19 hours ago by RandyMarsh

[Jimbo]

This is a great post and very similar to how I feel and felt being a Lions fan my whole life.

 

I will say I am a little different because during the Patricia time I simply became Lions free.  It was actually kind of relief that I just didn't have to put my time into this team any more.  I watched them but was more concerned with my fantasy team than them winning, I just didn't care.  With the Spielman, then Campbell, then Holmes hires, I was intrigued although the deep wounds kept me Lions free.  It was in the 2022 season against the Bears that kind of had me put SOL in the past.    It was that season and game that I just felt something different that I couldn't explain.  It was just that weird confidence I had in the whole team from bottom to top of the organization.  Was I cautious, for sure.  The Thanksgiving game against Buffalo gave me some PTSOL although it didn't last long.  For someone to be abused in relationships for years, its not just one nice gesture that's going to give you hope all of sudden.  I just felt like, OK the complete incompetence could be gone and we actually had some people that I could trust to make decisions.  After the SF conference championship game or the Wash game, I was heart broken but it only lasted for one night because I now have faith in this organization top up.  Will it result in a SB, no guarantees and that is OK.  If I had to guess or make a bet they will win at least one in the next 5 years I would take that bet in a heartbeat.

 

16 hours ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I for sure had (maybe still have) PTSOL that causes me to lean more negative. I've always loved the Lions and have never rooted for anyone else. They have been my team, even when I am negative and down on them. After being burnt so many times as a fan, with so many false promises and crazy moments that you'd have to see to believe, it is hard to stay loyal. However, we all did just that. It's just that some of us, even though we were loyal, turned into habitual naysayers and negative fans.

When you're an overly negative, glass half empty fan, people will look at you and wonder why are you even still a fan. People even make comments to us naysayers about finding a new team to root for and to stop watching the Lions. But it's because we care so much and invest so much time and emotional energy into this team that we are so passionately negative. Unless there was a strategic reason for tanking or getting a coach/GM fired, it's not as if those of us negative fans (T&P, myself, others on the negative end) wished for the Lions to lose week in and week out. It's just that I think we refused to keep being homers. We refused to believe they were actually, sustainably good, until they could prove it for a full season or more. The constant negativity we feed ourselves turns us into cynics and skeptics sometimes. 

Now, I've made an earnest effort to grow and mature beyond the fan I was. To recognize and celebrate the great things this franchise has been doing the last 3 years To actually just shut up and have fun when watching the Lions play. The person who spent years hating on Matt Stafford and wishing he would get traded so the Lions could rebuild is largely gone. But I still have lingering bouts of PTSOL and in games like the one against Baltimore, it makes me assume they will lose. Every dominate Lions performance, like they had on Monday Night, causes me to feel a little bit more reassured with each and every win.

 

Edited 6 hours ago by Jimbo

[HugoD]

21 hours ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I for sure had (maybe still have) PTSOL that causes me to lean more negative. I've always loved the Lions and have never rooted for anyone else. They have been my team, even when I am negative and down on them. After being burnt so many times as a fan, with so many false promises and crazy moments that you'd have to see to believe, it is hard to stay loyal. However, we all did just that. It's just that some of us, even though we were loyal, turned into habitual naysayers and negative fans.

When you're an overly negative, glass half empty fan, people will look at you and wonder why are you even still a fan. People even make comments to us naysayers about finding a new team to root for and to stop watching the Lions. But it's because we care so much and invest so much time and emotional energy into this team that we are so passionately negative. Unless there was a strategic reason for tanking or getting a coach/GM fired, it's not as if those of us negative fans (T&P, myself, others on the negative end) wished for the Lions to lose week in and week out. It's just that I think we refused to keep being homers. We refused to believe they were actually, sustainably good, until they could prove it for a full season or more. The constant negativity we feed ourselves turns us into cynics and skeptics sometimes. 

Now, I've made an earnest effort to grow and mature beyond the fan I was. To recognize and celebrate the great things this franchise has been doing the last 3 years To actually just shut up and have fun when watching the Lions play. The person who spent years hating on Matt Stafford and wishing he would get traded so the Lions could rebuild is largely gone. But I still have lingering bouts of PTSOL and in games like the one against Baltimore, it makes me assume they will lose. Every dominate Lions performance, like they had on Monday Night, causes me to feel a little bit more reassured with each and every win.

Oh, there's no doubt that I still have some PTSOL, which has been well earned over the 55 years or so I've been a fan. We all have to some degree or another.  FWIW, not referring to your comments at all when talking about irrational negativity (I should have been more specific, but it's really only one or maybe a few posters) Not that I'm the arbiter of such things, but I think it's just normal of fans who are emotionally invested to get PO'd about certain plays and point things out.  I just get tired of the grade school level stuff from a very small few.

[HugoD]

4 hours ago, Jimbo said:

This is a great post and very similar to how I feel and felt being a Lions fan my whole life.

 

I will say I am a little different because during the Patricia time I simply became Lions free.  It was actually kind of relief that I just didn't have to put my time into this team any more.  I watched them but was more concerned with my fantasy team than them winning, I just didn't care.  With the Spielman, then Campbell, then Holmes hires, I was intrigued although the deep wounds kept me Lions free.  It was in the 2022 season against the Bears that kind of had me put SOL in the past.    It was that season and game that I just felt something different that I couldn't explain.  It was just that weird confidence I had in the whole team from bottom to top of the organization.  Was I cautious, for sure.  The Thanksgiving game against Buffalo gave me some PTSOL although it didn't last long.  For someone to be abused in relationships for years, its not just one nice gesture that's going to give you hope all of sudden.  I just felt like, OK the complete incompetence could be gone and we actually had some people that I could trust to make decisions.  After the SF conference championship game or the Wash game, I was heart broken but it only lasted for one night because I now have faith in this organization top up.  Will it result in a SB, no guarantees and that is OK.  If I had to guess or make a bet they will win at least one in the next 5 years I would take that bet in a heartbeat.

 

 

Very well said. Really sums up how I feel as well.