Being a trendy pick in the NFL preseason is usually more of a curse than a blessing. Remember the 49ers in 2010? How about the Texans of 2009? Don’t look now, but this year’s trendy pick, the Detroit Lions, actually appears capable of not only realizing expectations but exceeding them.
Sunday’s 48-3 destruction of Kansas City is testament to why the Lions (2-0) might be the NFL’s best growth stock. Detroit forced six turnovers and got four touchdown passes from quarterback Matt Stafford in recording the most lopsided regular-season win in franchise history, prompting this from coach Jim Schwartz:
Recommended Stories
“We can play better,” he said.
Why is Detroit — the only team from the NFC never to go to a Super Bowl — now an emerging force? One reason is general manager Martin Mayhew. The former Redskins cornerback took over for Matt Millen after the 2008 season, and his first decision was a beaut: He traded wideout Roy Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for their picks in the first, third and sixth rounds of the 2009 draft. After two unproductive years in Dallas, Williams departed via free agency.
Mayhew would have had a hard time screwing up the No. 1 pick overall in the 2009 draft (Stafford) and the No. 2 in 2010 (Ndamukong Suh). This year both could be headed to the Pro Bowl. Stafford has seven touchdown passes so far. On Sunday, Suh had a sack and two quarterback hits, one that produced an interception, as Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel had a paltry 44.5 rating.
There are many more weapons. In 2010 first-round pick Jahvid Best, taken No. 30 overall, the Lions have one of the NFL’s fastest and versatile backs. Wideout Calvin Johnson might be the best in the game. Helping deflect attention are receivers Nate Burleson, who had seven receptions for 93 yards, and 2011 second-round pick Titus Young, who had five catches for 89 yards Sunday.
Are they real or Memorex? We’ll have a better idea about the Lions after games at Minnesota and at Dallas the next two weeks.
– Kevin Dunleavy
