Throughout their 4-12 season, the Lions maintained they were a far better team than their record indicated. Statistically, they're right. Detroit ranked in the middle to upper part of the NFL in several key categories that proved it possessed the talent to win.
After Detroit's 10-6 season in 2011, GM Martin Mayhew used the limited salary cap space he had to ensure that the core of the Lions team that earned the franchise's first playoff berth this century remained intact. One year later, Mayhew isn't happy with what he calls a "disappointing" 4-12 record. That means several players could be looking for work.
The mantra of most Lions' players during the team's season-ending eight game losing streak was that any individual success they achieved was bittersweet because of the team's unfulfilled 2012 expectations. That said, there were several players whose individual performances during the year made them worthy of consideration for RapidReports postseason honors.
Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith didn't try to cast his team's 26-24 win over the Lions at Ford Field on Sunday as anything more than what it was -- a game that kept his team's slim playoff hopes alive. Those hopes died later in the afternoon when the Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers 37-34 and knocked the Bears out.
It's been over two years since Lions DT Jimmy Saddler-McQueen played in the only game of his NFL career, but he could get the chance to double that total Sunday against the Bears thanks to another D-line injury for Detroit.
Sunday's game may technically be a part of the 2012 season, but the Lions should view their season finale against the Bears strictly as a preamble to 2013.
When Lions' KR Stefan Logan took a knee at his own 4-yard line on a punt that followed a safety late in Detroit's Week 16 loss to Atlanta, referee Gene Steratore told the Ford Field crowd that Logan had surrendered himself on the return. As it turns out, Logan didn't just surrender himself on the play. He also surrendered his job.
