TL-TwoWinsAway

I really like the way the passing offense is functioning right now. They're giving Hockenson a number of chances to get comfortable while taking frequent deep shots (which I feel benefits Stafford's skillset, and which has been lacking). The struggles in the running game are holding us back considerably. (Watching Cook get stopped on that 2nd and goal, just to shake the tackler and get into the end zone, was exactly what I haven't seen a Lions' running back do in quite some time.) His blend of speed and strength, combined with the run blocking, will make you guys dangerous in the playoffs.

Perfect. We're on the same page.

Cool. So you agree that Prater is one of the best distance kickers in NFL history?

Quick note on this: there has been some debate as to what it means to "tuck the ball away". I was watching the BAL-SEA game, and Metcalf was said to have "tucked the ball away" once he lowered it against his waist and forearm and had it gripped in his hand. It appears that Hockenson did just that during this play. (I'll re-post the Hockenson catch video. Just looking for discussion on the new rule.)

Refreshing to get beat by a team that's playing really well. You guys have got a good defense and plenty of weapons on offense. Good luck this year.

I am so relieved to have lost legitimately. The Vikings clearly outplayed us. Credit to them.

There is absolutely no reason why the refs blew that play dead. Griffin wasn't running clear at the QB after jumping early. That's a free play every single time. Unbelievable.

It's pretty incredible.

Ha! That video is priceless.

Incredible! Both are great, but that second video is just awful. The NFL needs to consistently let "potential fumbles" run their course. (They did it correctly in the DET-KC game this year, where Kerryon fumbled into a pile while extending the ball over the goalline. Everyone but one KC defender stopped moving, believing that the ball was dead. He returned it for a TD. Those plays need to stop being blown dead.)

I'm of the belief that, just like players and coaches, officials are a human element that both influence outcomes and deserve to be criticized when they make mistakes. Anyone else have any great videos of poor officiating?

You: "I'm not sure how well they'd be able to move the ball, because they had trouble in the second half." Me: "That's largely due to increasingly conservative play." You: "They were equally conservative in both halves." Me: "So... you... agree that they're lack of production is likely due to conservative play, and they wouldn't have played that way with 1:30 left, down by 1?" That's my entire point. Outside of a few big plays, they weren't overly productive in the first half either, because they didn't need to force anything as the game moved forward. They clearly wouldn't have played like that down by 1 late in the game.

You need to move it back farther. The entire point was that their lack of second half yards was a byproduct of conservative play and wouldn't be an accurate comparison to how they'd play with 1:30 left, down by 1. That was this entire conversation.

So, you agree with my point all along: the Lions were playing conservatively for most of the second half, which makes these drives irrelevant to how they would have played with 1:30 left, down by 1. Took a while, but we got there.