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Schuylkill Ram
I just can't figure out how this didn't happen more regularly for Stafford in Detroit. He must have really been given a poor supporting cast and direction from coaching. The differences for us (Rams) and them (Lions) are just unbelievable!

Actually, you did figure it out. It starts with the ownership, the Ford family. The Lions are their toy. That mentality trickles down to the senior mgt., which in turn trickles down to the players. There is not a deep, serious, commitment to winning. When I moved to Detroit Wayne Fontes was their coach. He was an average coach usually going 8-8. They made the playoffs under him at least once. However the fan base clamored for more. They dumped Fontes and that began a downward spiral. Look at their historic track record over the last 26 years. Not so great. Recently they had a coach, Jim Cadwell I believe, who brought them back up to near average and made the playoffs once or twice. However, he occasionally had some real bad mental lapses. They got rid of him and the downward spiral began anew. Most fans now are jaundiced and pessimistic.

"Why are the Detroit Lions like opposums? Because they play dead at home and get killed on the road."