NFL.com: Lions most vulnerable reigning champ in '25

[Zanary]

There's another side to that though. When you're in dogfights every week, you use everything you've got. You show everything in your arsenal. Teams who have an easier go can keep a few aces up their sleeve for the playoffs. Or so I tend to think.

Yes and no. Dogfights don't necessarily keep teams from bringing on specific plays/formations for a given week. As tough as our division is, the prep for the Lions won't necessarily be the prop for the Browns...or vice/versa. The opponents will still have their own strengths/weaknesses to game plan for.

The really big truth is: we're ALL going to be learning about our new QB, and the offense's persona with him at the helm.

[StickierBuns]

Its not usually rocket science: good teams do certain things well when they need to. Run for a first down on 3rd and short....make FGs....don't turn the ball over....protect their QB so he can pass the football....put pressure on opposing QBs....keep the other team from scoring every trip into the red zone. Its not the exotic stuff that usually wins ballgames, that's more complimentary. Good teams are disciplined and well coached. They don't hurt themselves very often.

So in 'dogfights', its usually who makes the least amount of mistakes. And who very consistently make 2-3 very important plays more than the opponent in crucial situations.

[medaille]

I like that it battle hardens you in a certain sense. Only thing I don’t like, is that the league always puts those divisional games at the end of the season where it feels like you could have a repeat of last year, where your last game is so emotionally intense that you could end up with a let down come the first playoff game.