What's the point in piling on the Detroit Lions right now?
Is it necessary?
Besides, I don't think I can jump high enough to get on that pile, under which lies a football team flirting with a perfectly futile season.
We're living in a new America. It's all about change.
Don't you remember the election? It was on all the Web sites.
Let's consider the beer mug half full.
To be fair, the Lions are going through a rough patch right now.
But let's not focus on the fact they've lost 16 of their past 17 games. How about that victory over Kansas City last December? Remember that one?
Sweet.
And it's not like the Lions have always been lousy. They were great under Bobby Layne back in the Brylcreem days of the 1950s. Maybe a little dab would do ‘em some good today.
It's not like the Lions are trying to lose. They signed quarterback Daunte Culpepper recently in hopes he could help them. They lost their first game with Culpepper as their quarterback, but it's not like a guy can step right in and do the things Dan Orlovsky was doing.
Here's another good thing about the Lions – their losses aren't nearly as lopsided on the road as they are at home. So they've got that going for them, which is nice.
And they're playing here in Week11:
DETROIT at CAROLINA: I'm guessing the Panthers will be a little better than they were at Oakland last week. Panthers 34, Lions 13.
DENVER at ATLANTA: Like mustard stains on a white shirt, the Falcons refuse to go away.
Falcons 30, Broncos 20.
OAKLAND at MIAMI: As the great Cliff Clavin would say, “It's a well known fact that when teams from the west coast come east, they almost never win. Something about crossing the international date line screws up the offenses.” Playoff-thinking Dolphins 33, Raiders 10.
SAN DIEGO at PITTSBURGH: See above. West coast teams go 0-14 on the east coast.
Steelers 34, Chargers 20.
CHICAGO at GREEN BAY: This is why God created bratwurst. And spicy mustard. And beer.
Packers 24, Bears 20.
BALTIMORE at NEW YORK GIANTS: The Giants are going to lose one or two more games this season. Just not this one.
Giants 29, Ravens 14.
HOUSTON at INDIANAPOLIS: Another meeting in the classic Sage Rosenfels-Peyton Manning rivalry. Colts 41, Texans 21.
NEW ORLEANS at KANSAS CITY: In case you haven't noticed – and if you have, you need to get outside more – Chiefs' quarterback Tyler Thigpen has thrown 124 consecutive passes without an interception.
I know what you're thinking – who's Tyler Thigpen and when did he replace Len Dawson? Thigpen is the quarterback in this game not named Drew Brees.
Chiefs 27, Saints 21.
PHILADELPHIA at CINCINNATI: I hope I'm wrong, but here's the upset special. Bengals 27, Eagles 26.
MINNESOTA at TAMPA BAY: Let's think of something nice to say about the Vikings. Hmmm … Adrian Peterson is really good. They beat the Panthers earlier this season. For a team with Gus Frerotte as the quarterback, they're not bad. Their coach, Brad Childress, looks a lot like the guy who was on ‘Evening Shade' with Burt Reynolds years ago.
However: Bucs 32, Vikings 20.
ARIZONA at SEATTLE: Is Kurt Warner a Hall of Famer? He'd get my vote.
Seahawks 31, Cardinals 28.
ST. LOUIS at SAN FRANCISCO: The who cares game of the week. 49ers 26, Rams 17.
TENNESSEE at JACKSONVILLE: The boys in Miami will have to keep the champagne on ice a little longer. Unbeaten Titans 29, Jags 24.
DALLAS at WASHINGTON: Just when you think the Cowboys are finished …
Cowboys 32, Redskins 21.
CLEVELAND at BUFFALO: Living proof the NFL isn't just about getting television ratings.
Bills 28, Brady Quinn 21.
Last week: 9-4 (counting two games I missed because the teams weren't playing each other. I hate when that happens.)
Season: 85-57.
@Nyx.CommentBody@