Not to take away from JCruize's nice message, but I too wanted to give a quick shout out to all my fellow PODers and give my best to you and your families during this holiday season.

In a strange way, the people who frequent this site have become a sort of "family"... albeit, a dysfunctional one sometimes.  We are all connected by a common thread and are able to be a big part of each other's lives on a daily basis.  Many of us have gotten to know each other on a more personal basis (as personal as you can get without ever having met) and have shared in some good times and bad.  This all aside from the centralized theme, which is of course, the Detroit Lions.  Not to get too sentimental, but the site has become a little more than that for me and I sense the same from some of you.  For me in particular, this site is a place of therapy... both personally and as a Lion's fan.  That is a good thing, in my opinion.  Not to say that we are all best friends and will be getting together soon for a spirited night of S'mores and Kumbaya, but it's been fun getting to know a little more about many of you other than the fact that you love the Lions.

I know many of us have had rough years.  To those, my heart goes out to you during this time and my prayers are with you and yours during what can be a difficult holiday season.  As many know, I have had one of those rough years and certainly the holidays can bring out the emotions in even the most hardened of us.  Know that I am doing well and I am very anxious to wake up in the morning and see the look on my beautiful children's faces as they see what Santa has in store for them.  Watching that childish glee and innocence, always brings back memories of my childhood and the happy times our family had back then and the new memories we continue to make. 

We will be missing an important member of our family tradition tomorrow morning, but her spirit will surely be there, smiling down upon us.  That gives me a peace through a time filled with tremendous sadness and bittersweet nostalgia.  For those of you having to endure these same emotions tomorrow, I am praying for you.  My prayer is that your holidays are filled with the memories that make you smile and count your blessings for the time that you spent with those loved ones.  I pray that you are able to put aside the pain and sorrow and cherish the memories that you will carry forever.

Have a safe and Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas,

Andrew 

Anyone got any thoughts on Richie Incognito, the C/G that was just cut by the St.Louis Rams today?  No doubt the guy is a bit of a headcase and was voted by The Sporting News as the 'dirtiest player in the league', but he's still a pretty decent player from what I've heard.  When healthy he's been a starter.  With all the injuries and the revolving door at LG, would he not be worth a look?  Typically, I'm usually the first to speak out against the headcases.... but the reality of our talent level has to make him more appealing.  What do you guys think?

More photos » by Gail Burton - AP

11 days ago: Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford watches from the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, in Baltimore. Stafford was injured in last week's game. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

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I'm going to have to take a bit of a mulligan for today's version of MMM.  I am home from work nursing not only my own illness, but both of my little ones' as well.  In fact, you'll have to forgive my lack of posting in general lately as it seems that life as a single, working father as finally caught up with me.  Our new über-hectic schedule, complete with two hours of commuting each day to drop and pick up kids at sitters and pre-school, combined with cooking, cleaning and oh yeah, my other full-time job (the one that pays my bills)... and I think you get the picture.  Actually, I am going to use this time to say that I've had fun writing MMM this year, but I simply don't have the time to do a regular column anymore.  I will still try to post when I can, but Monday mornings are just becoming increasingly more difficult to try to push out content worth reading.  So with that, today will be the last of the MMM series.  Maybe by next year, circumstances will change and I can resume writing it if there is still a desire to read it.

As for yesterday's game... three words... "What - a - mess!"  I think Sean's summary of the game yesterday was spot on.  In my opinion, Kevin Smith was the only bright spot in a complete and utter drubbing at the hands of a mediocre 6-6 team.  We played better against the Saints and Vikings... teams with a combined 24-2 record.  I feel that the official race for the highest draft position has begun.  With Stafford hopefully back next week, that should at least make the last three games entertaining and worth watching (although, the two home games will most likely be blacked out).  After watching our defensive line get shredded yesterday, it's now about trying to get Ndamukong Suh in next year's draft.  Both St. Louis and Tampa Bay got a thorough beating yesterday, so it doesn't look good.  Right now, there are four teams in the running:  St. Lous (1-12), Tampa Bay (1-12), Cleveland (2-11) and Detroit (2-11). 

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More photos » by Tony Tribble - AP

18 days ago: Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz yells to his team during the first half of their NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Tribble)

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Okay, so four games have gone by since my last post.  Doesn't seem like that long, but it has been.  I apologize for my lack of presence on the site lately, but when you take a two week vacation, you then have two weeks worth of work stacked up that you have to dig out of when you return.  That sometimes makes vacations not worth taking.  What a ridiculous world we live in.  Absolutely zero work/life balance out there.  Everyone is just work, work, work.  Does no one care about their families anymore?  Sorry, just venting a little.  As you can tell, my initiation back into work the week after my vacation was less than pleasant.  And forgive me for complaining, because I know that I am supremely blessed to even have a job in this unforgiving economy, let alone a good job.  It's just that with all the happenings of this year that have shaped my life's current perspective, I wish to spend a little more time with my family and a little less time with the triviality of my company's finances... especially around the holidays.  Whew... okay, I feel better.  Let's say we talk a little football, eh?

Because I'm playing a little catch-up, this week's edition of MMM might be a little longer than usual.  I'm not going to go into a ton of detail for any one of the past games, but more or less just sum up where we are as a team at this point in the season and talk about where we need to go from here.  I'll finish it up with some specific thoughts about the Bengals game.

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More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

about 1 month ago: Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford leaves the field after throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown by Seattle Seahawks' Josh Wilson in the fourth quarter during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 32-20. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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First of all let me say, regardless of the loss, it was good to see Lions football on my TV again.  Because of the blackout and bye week, it had been three weeks since I'd seen a game.  I'll always enjoy game day - even if it ends in a loss.  There is nothing like that hopeful feeling that always seeps in, even when you know the likely outcome.  That said, no matter how long they lose, I will never get used to it.  Each one brings the same frustration, just new circumstances.  Monday mornings after losses are for level-setting and re-adjusting expectations.  So what am I feeling today?  Well, I think that this team is what it is... that being a very bad roster that is really counting heavily on its young players to save the day.  So when the rookies shine, the Lions shine.  When they don't, well... the Lions look miserable.  That's why we get such stark contrasts, not only week to week, but sometimes quarter to quarter.  Rookies are inconsistent at best.  When the Lions get a few lucky breaks and a little momentum, things can look good.  That can be deceiving, though.  The bottom line is that every team can look good when the opponent is making mistakes, but only the good teams rebound and sustain play into the fourth quarter.  

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I had hoped to wake up this morning in a less foul mood, but nope... still seething.  My anger and frustration is at a number of levels for a number of reasons.  Sure, a lot of it comes from the fact that the Lions actually lost this pitiful game, but that's not the sole reason I am angry.  There is no typo.  I purposefully changed the title of my post from the Monday Morning Microscope to the Monday Morning Telescope.  You see, in order to use the phrase "put something under a microscope", you have to be able to examine something closely.  And in order to examine something closely, the first step is to actually be able to SEE WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT!  Ahem... sorry.  As you can see, I am fuming over not being able to watch the game yesterday.  No, I couldn't even get the grainy, pathetic internet stream to work on my computer.  I was left listening to the radio and following the POD play-by-play.  Not that I don't enjoy some aspects of those elements, but it is hardly the environment for me to be able to really "get into the game".  Since I can't give my opinion on the game because I haven't seen it, this is going to turn into a mini-rant... so please indulge me for a moment if you have one to spare.

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More photos » by Tony Ding - AP

2 months ago: FILE -- This is an Oct. 11, 2009, file photo showing Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz talking into his headset microphone as he walks the sidelines in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Detroit. Schwartz might be tempted to rest banged-up quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Calvin Johnson for Detroit's next game at Green Bay because both players would get an additonal week to get healthy with an upcoming bye. (AP Photo/Tony Ding, File)

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The bye week is always a time for reflection.  It seems the Lions always have an early bye week, but nonetheless, it offers up an opportunity for the first part of the season to simmer a bit and allow us to digest what has happened.   The Lions went 1-5 over their first six games.  Pretty much what I expected and I think I can say that most here had that same set of expectations.  It was a tough schedule for any team, but the fact that the Lions came into the season lacking an identity, made it all the tougher.  We saw some steady progress through the first few weeks, but the Packer's game left a big gash under an already black eye and the bye week has given the wound two weeks to fester.  Knowing what we know now about the 2009 Detroit Lions, can we say that they have an identity yet - aside from perennial loser?

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More photos » by Jim Prisching - AP

2 months ago: Detroit Lions' Daunte Culpepper (11) limps around the field after getting hurt against the Green Bay Packers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. Culpepper left with a right hamstring injury Sunday during Detroit's first possession of the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers after coming up limping on a 5-yard scramble. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)

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I'm all about context.  As a finance analyst, my job is about more than just the hard, cold data at the end of the day.  It's about the environment and circumstances that drive that data to be able to properly measure and analyze it.  Now, I refuse to sit here this morning and make excuses for the extraordinarily shoddy play by the Lions yesterday, but I do think a little context is needed. 

This is a wounded team right now.  Yesterday was a perfect storm of injuries, mental lapses, environment and yes, unquestionably poor play in every phase of the game.  But what this really shows - glaringly, I might add - is our lack of depth.  For a team coming off the season it had last year, there is no room for injuries when it comes to your few, real playmakers.  As we have seen, once these guys are out, we are not even competitive.  So the end result was that for the first time this season, I can say that there was no progress made.  Yesterday was a step backwards.  This regression occurred on a number of levels and it's really tough to gauge its full impact on the team and the season.  I'll get into this a little deeper....

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More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

2 months ago: Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson stands on the sidelines with his leg wrapped during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009. Johnson was injured in the first quarter and did not return to the game. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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 So let's try and put the Steelers game in perspective, shall we?  Yes, they are the reigning Super Bowl champs.  Yes, we were expected to lose and we did.  But that is not the end of the story.  This was supposed to be a complete drubbing, but it wasn't.  We actually gave this team a scare at the end.  Of course, it was more like your 5 year old son walking up to you in broad daylight and going "Boo!", but it was a scare nonetheless.  If you really want to be frank, we played the Steelers much better than the Chargers did, with or without their 4^th quarter run.  We did this while missing many of our best players.  Our number one quarterback, wide receiver, right tackle and defensive end - all of which are pretty darn good - sat helplessly watching from the sidelines Sunday.  And we still kept the game close.  For the fifth week in a row, I see positive signs from this team.

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More photos » by M. Spencer Green - AP

2 months ago: Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, foreground, walks the sidelines with a taped knee during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009. Chicago won 48-24. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

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So back to reality, eh?  The Lions started by giving us one of their best offensive halves of football yesterday, but then followed it up with one of the worst second half collapses we've seen in some time.  Frustratingly, the Jekyll and Hyde charade shows us that the only true consistency with the Lions is that they are predictably inconsistent.  Something happens to this team mentally during the half and Schwartz better get a bead on it quick.  It's his job to manage the overall productivity of this team and his smarts better come up with a way to light a fire after halftime. 

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