Who Should Lions Fans Root For In Week 5?
By Chris Morgan
Right now, the Detroit Lions are getting a bye at a good time. They are currently off to a surprisingly poor start, sitting at 1-3 after losing two very winnable games.
Detroit needs the chance to get healthy, and they will hope to emerge improved after the bye in hopes of continuing their quest for the postseason. So, this week, Lions fans don't have their team to root for. However, that doesn't mean there isn't plenty of NFL action that will have an impact on Detroit's outlook this season.
The Lions probably need some help for them to make it into the playoffs, which is the goal of every NFL team and their fans. After seeing Detroit in the postseason for the first time in a good long while, Lions fans have a taste for it.
There are several teams likely to be contending alongside the Lions for the playoffs that Detroit fans might want to root against. Let's face it, that's what you are doing. You aren't rooting for their opponent to win, because their win isn't the result they want. What you want is the loss. There's nothing wrong with that. It's just sports.
Detroit's rivals in the NFC North are all in action this week, and they are all playing teams in the AFC, which is a bonus. If an AFC team wins, it doesn't matter for the Lions.
Unfortunately, Green Bay and Chicago look primed to win, as the Packers are facing the Colts and the Bears are taking on the Jaguars. Meanwhile, Minnesota is facing Tennessee, the last two teams to beat the Lions. The Vikings are off to a nice start, but it isn't likely to continue. Detroit will hope it starts this week.
Speaking of teams off to surprising starts, the Arizona Cardinals have inexplicably gotten off to a 4-0 start on the season. They have been quite fortunate, but a couple more lucky wins and they are a legit playoff contender.
Before the season, it was looking like only San Francisco had a chance of making the playoffs in the NFC West, which was fine. Every division needs a winner. Now, one of those teams is looking like a potential wild card team. The Cardinals play on Thursday at St. Louis. You'll want to hope the Rams take that game.
No wild card team looks likely to come out of the NFC South at this point. However, Lions fans may want to root for New Orleans to lose to San Diego anyway. If the Saints keep losing, it will direct pressure off the Lions and keep Detroit from winning the "Most Disappointing Team" discussion.
However, the NFC East is a different story. The Cowboys are on a bye, but the Eagles and Giants are both playing. New York gets to host winless Cleveland, which does not bode well, but Philly has to go to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers. That game could work out in Detroit's favor.
A lot of the teams contending for playoffs spots in the NFC are facing AFC teams, which helps the Lions. What hurts them in the fact most of these teams are going to be favored to win rather easily. Of course, upsets can happen any week. For Detroit's sake, you'll want to root for a few of those to happen while the Lions are at home watching the action, waiting to return in next week.
For more Local Football Bloggers and the latest Lions news, see CBS Sports Detroit.
Chris has been a diehard Detroit Lions fan through the good (Barry Sanders) and the bad (Matt Millen) and that love has led him to take jobs writing about sports, including as a fantasy sports "expert." His work can be found on Examiner.com.
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Chris has been a diehard Detroit Lions fan through the good (Barry Sanders) and the bad (Matt Millen) and that love has led him to take jobs writing about sports, including as a fantasy sports "expert." His work can be found on Examiner.com.
