NFL: Kings of the Jungle?

So, the Lions are undefeated.

It's been a long time since they played a competitive game against the hated Vikings. Even longer since they won. And the mood amongst the poor faithful seems to be on the rise. The Lions aren't exactly setting the league on fire but they're not an embarrassment anymore and they're starting to get recognized as such.

Fans are, of course, elated. That's how low the bar is set with the Lions. Not sucking too bad is cause for a parade down Woodward, I guess. But I still remain unimpressed and wait for them to have a good showing against an established team. It's a long way from the days of Culpepper and Moss in Minnesota, after all.

And, man, was that an ugly game. Lots of turnovers. Even more boneheaded mistakes as the teams competed to see who could give the game away. In the end, in that overtime, it came down to which one made the last mistake as the Vikings turned the ball over at midfield and gave the Lions a short field to work with, leading to an easy and almost guaranteed field goal to win.

Maybe it would have been different had Kitna stayed in the game. He was awesome during that OT, putting his body on the line to will his team to a victory even as he was shaking off that concussion. That's the kind of antics that will really endure you to the Detroit fans, of course. But earlier he was ending drives with interceptions in the endzone. And it doesn't really take much to outduel a rookie quarterback who throws for 4 INTs.

The Lions are an incomplete team. Their defense looks good at times, bent and broken at others. But what they really lack is the strong running game they need to score at will. You can go pass wacky all you want and put up the insane numbers that make you look good. But if you can't run then you're in trouble in the red zone when the field shortens and those routes you've spread open to march down the aren't there. You have to be able to pound the ball and the Lions just don't seem able to yet.

Still, exciting game. A nail-biter. One the team would have dropped the last few years, for sure. They're getting there. Slowly, but clawing back towards being a decent team again. I just think it's not a time to abandon all reason and precedent to be giddily optimistic.

Because, if the question is asked; are the Lions for real? The answer has to be no. Teams that are for real don't commit five turnovers or go 4 for 13 on third down conversions. We'll see what happens next week when they get the Eagles coming off a short week. Although, since they're getting it handed to them on Monday Night as I type this, maybe they're not a good test after all.

Also, apparently Calvin Johnson's nickname is Megatron now. I'm not sure whether to be impressed or disgusted.