The Detroit Lions didn't have to take the field to win on Sunday, sitting back and enjoying the implosion of the Green Bay Packers. What a difference two weeks in the NFL season can make. Rewind just a matter of days, and the Packers were the league's favorite team while the Lions were poised for regression after dropping the first game of the season in frustrating fashion. One dominating win over the Chicago Bears and a loss to the Cleveland Browns later, and the division standings look far different.
While the Lions still have to take care of business on Monday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens, this is a great step in the right direction. While the Packers still hold the current tiebreaker, it really doesn't matter this early on in the season. Detroit can match Green Bay's record with a Monday night win and put itself firmly back in position as division favorites. A position that they shouldn't have been demoted from based on an off-game in Week 1.
Lions Benefit from Green Bay Packers Embarrassing Loss to Cleveland
For the Packers, this is hopefully a part of a slide; if you can lose to the Browns, there isn't any question you can lose to any roster. While this appeared to simply be a game where the Packers took their eye off the ball against what they deemed to be an inferior team, the Lions have to hope that it speaks to deeper issues that will open the door further.
Chicago and Minnesota both appear to have issues at quarterback and defensive concerns. Unless things change drastically in the next weeks of the season, this is a two-team race, making even a Week 3 game against the Browns incredibly important in the big picture.
Even deeper than divisional race is the importance of having a first-round bye and being the NFC's top seed. Losing to Cleveland suggests a team that doesn't have its eye on this goal, opening the door for the Lions to continue to chase the Eagles in what is going to be a heated race over the next three months.
Detroit fans will enjoy the loss but turn their attention to the frustrating task of attempting to slow down Lamar Jackson and an incredibly loaded Ravens' roster. No question, this has a chance to be a Super Bowl preview and a game that Detroit now must win to take advantage of Cleveland's surprise upset.