Detroit Lions: The Silver Lining After a Frustrating 2019 Season

Well, the frustrating 2019 season is finally over for the Detroit Lions.  The silver lining to a terrible, nauseating year is securing the third pick in the NFL draft.

Yesterday the Detroit Lions gave the Green Bay Packers all they could handle with the cheese heads still needing a win to notch a first-round bye.  In the end, Green Bay won at the final whistle thanks to the leg of kicker Mason Crosby.

For Crosby, it’s his second buzzer-beater, so to speak against the Lions this season.  In Green Bay, the Lions were hosed of a victory due to some of the worst officiating one will ever see in a lifetime.  As time expired, Crosby drilled a chip shot and followed it up with a Lambeau leap send Detroit fans amongst others into a social media rage that won’t be forgotten for years to come.

Sunday, Crosby was able to do the same minus the leap, of course.  Ford Field had been Crosby’s kryptonite just a year ago as he missed a total of five field goals, nearly costing him his job but had rebounded with a very solid season in ’19.

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As the Lions jumped out to a 17-3 halftime lead, social media started to erupt in disappointment feeling Detroit would once again win a meaningless game at the end of a season, hurting their draft position along the way.  Crisis adverted as a regressing Aaron Rodgers found a way in the second half to get the Packers in position for the 23-20 last-second victory.

Yes, a regressing Aaron Rodgers.  As good as he is, and has been throughout his career, the future Hall of Famer is simply not the same player at 36 years old as he once had been. Sure, he’s still a tremendous talent, but he hasn’t thrown 30 touchdowns now in three straight years.

Watching Green Bay struggle yesterday, it just amazes me that the team managed to finish the season with a record of 13-3.

After an optimistic start to the season starting 2-0-1, it was a steady downhill slide.  Matthew Stafford excelled, throwing 19 touchdown passes in the first eight weeks of the season before the broken back issue resurfaced, ending his year.

Kerryon Johnson also missed eight weeks due to a knee injury.  He did return and look very good yesterday against the Packers.  Perhaps Detroit will try and pair Kerryon with Bo Scarbrough, who played well enough to earn himself a role next season.

Ty Johnson finally flashed that mix of burst and power in week 17.  The trio may remain in place next year, allowing the Lions to address many of their other needs up and down the roster.

The week 17 loss guaranteed Detroit would be picking no higher than third in the draft.  All of Detroit became Washington fans for about three hours. If the Redskins were able to beat Dallas, the Lions would pick second in the 2020 NFL draft.

It didn’t happen.  Dallas won.  It’s just another reason to hate Dallas. Detroit will pick third.