Finished: 2nd Place in the NFC North; Lost in Wild Card Round
2012 Draft Position: 23rd
Preseason Ranking: 22
Week 1: Defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 27-20
Ranked - 13
Everybody expected the Lions defense to be strong, but if the offense continues to show flashes of brilliance, Detroit's drought of terrible losing seasons may be at an end.
Week 2: Defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 48-3
Ranked - 2
Detroit's defense was solid last season and showed signs of greatness. The offense, too, showed flashes of inspiration last year. It looks like everything is finally coming together for the Lions in 2011. I can’t remember the last time the Lions were undefeated this late in the season. Could this mean their annual Thanksgiving Day game (against Green Bay this year) might actually be something worth watching?
Week 3: Defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 26-23
Ranked - 2
Note to self: Get Megatron two touchdowns against the Cowboys this week to shut Cris Carter up. Signed, Mathew Stafford.
Week 4: Defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 34-30
Ranked - 3
How great would it be if the undefeated Detroit Lions faced off against the undefeated Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day? Even better would be if these two teams met in the final game of the season with a combined 29-1 record to battle for the division title. Stranger things have happened. The league should not be concerned that Detroit has started 4-0 after two impressive comeback victories. The league should be concerned that the Lions suddenly believe they can beat anybody, no matter what.
Week 5: Defeated the Chicago Bears, 24-13
Ranked - 2
It's been 55 years since the Lions have been undefeated this deep into the season. Calvin Johnson is nigh unstoppable. If they can get by San Francisco and Atlanta unscathed, there should be nothing stopping them from going into their Thanksgiving Day matchup against Green Bay perfect.
Week 6: Lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 25-19
Ranked - 5 Indiana Jones Style Recap
Aaron Rodgers: Surely you don’t think you can escape from this season into the playoffs with a division title?
Matthew Stafford: That depends on how reasonable we’re all willing to be. All I want is the championship.
Clay Matthews: And if we refuse?
Matthew Stafford: Then your Thanksgiving Day game will have no victory prize.
[Meanwhile, back at Lions heaquarters, Coach Schwartz bickers with the media relations staff]
Coach Schwartz: I told you not to be premature in your communiqué to the media. Football is not an exact science. It does not deal out undefeated seasons easily.
Matt Barnhart, Lions Director of Media Relations: The media members are not patient men. They demand constant reports. You led me to believe-
Coach Schwartz: NOTHING! I made no promises of an undefeated season! I merely said it looked favorable. Besides. With the information in my possession, my lineup calculations should have been correct.
Week 7: Lost to the Atlanta Falcons, 23-16
Ranked - 7
Two losses in a row and now an injury to Matthew Stafford. Will he ever be able to complete a full season without getting dinged up?
Week 8: Defeated the Denver Broncos, 45-10
Ranked - 4
The roar is back on track! The Thanksgiving date with the Packers will keep people glued to their TVs instead of running for turkey when Detroit plays. Quite a change from the last 50 years.
Week 9: BYE WEEK
Ranked - 4
The Turkey Day battle with Green Bay looms on the calendar, but the Lions cannot afford to overlook the Bears after what Chicago did in Philadelphia last Monday.
Week 10: Lost at the Chicago Bears, 37-13
Ranked - 8
With the undefeated season long gone, Detroit now has to scramble just to keep up in the division.
Week 11: Defeated the Carolina Panthers, 49-35
Ranked - 8
The Lions have a franchise-defining game against the Packers lined up for Thanksgiving. Win, and all bets are off. Lose, and the Lions fall back into the NFC's Wild Card quagmire.
Week 12: Lost to the Green Bay Packers, 27-15
Ranked - 9
Really, Suh? You lost your balance? I often drive my foot hard into the ground when trying to regain my balance, too.
Week 13: Lost at the New Orleans Saints, 31-17
Ranked - 8
The most undisciplined team in the NFL continues to self-destruct.
Week 14: Defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 34-28
Ranked - 10
Stupid penalties again kept the Lions from a blowout win over the Vikings - but the missed face mask call at the end of the game may have saved their undisciplined season.
Week 15: Defeated the Oakland Raiders, 28-27
Ranked - 9
The Lions are playoff bound if they can get past either San Diego or Green Bay the final two weeks of the season.
Week 16: Defeated the San Diego Chargers, 38-10
Ranked - 8
Do they travel to New Orleans, New York or Dallas? It all depends on how much of a fight Green Bay decides to give them.
Week 17: Lost at the Green Bay Packers, 45-41
Ranked - 8
The Lions go from facing Matt Flynn and his 6 TD performance to facing Drew Brees and his record-shattering season. That doesn’t look good for them on paper.
Wild Card Round: Lost at the New Orleans Saints, 45-28
Final Ranking: 10
Tomorrow, the 2011 Pittsburgh Steelers...
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