This is definitely the tougher part of our schedule, starting with the Tennessee game.
Looking forward, the seven remaining games include:
Sun, Nov 28 - @ Green Bay
Sun, Dec 5 - vs. Jacksonville
Mon, Dec 13 - @ Arizona
Sun, Dec 19 - vs. Seattle
Sun, Dec 26 - @ Minnesota
Sun, Jan 2 - @ Baltimore
Sun, Jan 9 - vs. San Francisco
I don't think it is reasonable to project that we will suck the rest of the way.
First up, parity is just part of the league now. No game should be assumed, and I would argue that a lot of what has happened is that we "self-coronated' prior to both of these last two games. How can we lose, when we are the best?
I think that is the pressure that has gotten into Stafford's head especially, and it is absolutely something he has never experienced before. The Lions never exactly got around to believing they were going to take the title, and that Stafford was expected to take them to the promised land now that they have added such great pieces of the puzzle.
They should be a lot better going forward. Defensively, Miller will be in better shape and have a better idea of the playbook. Hollins should be coming back soon-ish, and HOPEFULLY, the week off will have led to some discussions with Morris on how the DBs should be playing moving forward.
Offensively, the pain of the loss of Woods will be that much further into the rear-view mirror. I think that really affected them last week especially, and I absolutely believe that, combined with Shanahan being in McVay's head, is what led to the disaster against the Niners. Hopefully OBJ fills some of that Woods gap for the Rams. Allen has also been playing hurt - hopefully he is 100% going into the Packers game, because the league will continue to pick on him if he isn't completely healthy.
I'm won't be super optimistic until they show it, but I can still see a path to four or five wins here. If they can make it five, then a 12-win season definitely gets them into the playoffs, where anything can happen. It likely means the long way to the Super Bowl, because they would be looking at the five seed, but who knows?