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We're Black and Blue All Over:

Good Monday morning to everyone. It doesn't get a whole lot bigger than the first week of organized team activities, or OTAs as we call them in the business, and that's exactly the point we've reached in the NFL offseason.

The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers have scheduled their first OTAs of the spring for Monday, and the Chicago Bears will have one Tuesday. The Minnesota Vikings will open OTAs a week from Tuesday. Over on our NFL Nation blog, we have a comprehensive schedule of all 32 team's OTA schedules.

For newcomers, OTAs are on-field practices without pads or (presumably) contact. Some are open to the media, so expect to see some coverage in the coming days of how your favorite players are performing in jerseys and shorts.

Before we move on to our morning roundup, I want to thank everyone for their feedback to Friday's post on our blog operations. If you missed the post and/or want to share further thoughts about what you like and don't like, by all means hit up the mailbag.

OK, now, continuing around the NFC North:

• Here's a smart analysis of the Bears' negotiations with tailback Matt Forte from Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune. Pompei suggests a fair deal could include about $20 million in guaranteed money.
• In this ESPNChicago.com video, ESPN's Cris Carter says that the ability to "catch the ball and separate" is what makes Bears receiver Brandon Marshall so good.
• Bears linebacker Lance Briggs isn't concerned about Marshall's off-field behavior, writes Vaughn McClure of the Tribune.
• The running back position is one of the storylines for the Lions' first OTA, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Running back Kevin Smith thinks the Lions will have a better running game in 2012, notes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Carlos Monarrez of the Free Press takes a look at some of the young cornerbacks the Lions added this offseason.
• Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel looks at the three young Packers receivers who will vie for roster spots this summer: Diondre Borel, Shaky Smithson and Tori Gurley.
• Keeping receiver Donald Driver on the roster goes "against everything the Packers regime believes in," writes Tom Oates of the Wisconsin State Journal.
• Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "[I] t can be argued [Packers coach Mike] McCarthy is underpaid compared to some of his coaching brethren residing in the exclusive $7 million club."
• The Vikings signed former Bears offensive lineman Levi Horn, notes Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com.
• Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "The Vikings were 3-13 last season. Zygi and Mark Wilf and the entire Wilf family had a lot to do with that because for more than a year no one was in charge at Winter Park. In fact, the coach and personnel director often were at odds. It wasn't until after the season that [Rick] Spielman was given control after a leaguewide search netted, well, Spielman."

We noted last week that free agent running back Ryan Grant had an offer on the table from the Detroit Lions, and subsequent reports suggested Grant would visit the Lions as early as Monday. So I wanted to pass along that ESPN's John Clayton confirmed that Grant did not visit Monday and has no visits scheduled.

Running backs have had an especially difficult time gaining traction in this free agent market, considering the continuing shift toward the passing game. If the Green Bay Packers have interest in re-signing Grant, it appears to be minimal.

Grant has said he would prefer to remain with the Packers, and the Lions have three other running backs in Jahvid Best, Mikel Leshoure and Kevin Smith with whom to compete.

Part of our offseason dialogue has revolved around the relative lack of urgency around the NFC North to bolster what in some cases are some and/or unreliable offensive backfields. It appears at least one of our teams is now taking a post-draft look at shoring up that issue -- at the expense of another of our teams.

Free-agent running back Ryan Grant, who spent the past five seasons playing for the Green Bay Packers, has an offer from the Detroit Lions, according to agent Alan Herman via ESPNMilwaukee.com second cousin Jason Wilde. It's also believed that the Packers have an offer on the table to Grant, who has also visited the New England Patriots but obviously hasn't been blown away by anything he's heard so far.

The Lions' top three running backs all have had health issues that make it difficult to count on them as a primary back. Jahvid Best was lost for the part of the 2011 season because of multiple concussions. Mikel Leshoure is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon and Kevin Smith has historically had trouble staying on the field.

Grant missed 15 games in 2010 because of an ankle injury but otherwise has been durable in his career. It's fair to assume he would return to the Packers if all things are relatively equal, and he should be close to knowing if that's the case.

» NFC draft analysis: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

The 2012 NFL draft is in the books. Our silly little arguments on left tackles and injured receivers seem so long ago. Oh, the memories….

In a few years, we'll be able to evaluate this draft with a measure of accuracy. For now, let's just consider some immediate highlights and lowlights.

BEST MOVE

The Green Bay Packers fielded arguably the best offense in franchise history last season. Their defense, on the other hand, allowed more passing yards (4,796) than any NFL team that has ever played. So let's award the "Best Move" title to the Packers' decision to deeply supplement their defensive personnel in this draft.

The Packers selected six consecutive defensive players to open this affair, the result of unprecedented maneuvering by general manager Ted Thompson -- who traded up as many times in this draft (three) as he had in his six previous drafts combined. Speaking to reporters in Green Bay, Thompson joked that he is "ashamed" and it was "pathetic" to have given up three of his 11 picks in those trade-ups, but to me that spoke to how seriously the Packers took their defensive slide last season.

Thompson insisted that there was "no intent to do it that way," but that would make for one heck of a coincidence, wouldn't it? Regardless of why it happened, the Packers came away with a pair of pass-rushers/disruptors in linebacker Nick Perry (No. 28 overall) and defensive lineman Jerel Worthy (No. 51) and two defensive backs -- cornerback Casey Hayward (No. 62) and safety Jerron McMillian (No. 133) -- who will have opportunities to compete for immediate playing time.

Worthy, Hayward and linebacker Terrell Manning (No. 163) were the three players Thompson traded up for, giving you an idea of how strongly he must have felt about them. Will this group stabilize the Packers' defense in 2012? It's impossible to predict individual performances, but generally speaking I'll go with this theory: The more the merrier.

MOST SURPRISING MOVE

The Detroit Lions had already used their first-round pick on a future need, Iowa tackle Riley Reiff, when they grabbed Oklahoma receiver Ryan Broyles in the second round. Not only did the Lions already have a deep set of pass catchers, but Broyles is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered last November.

So yes, it was initially surprising to see a match between the Lions and Broyles, even though it was easy to understand how the Lions made the decision. As we discussed at the time, the Lions follow their board in as tightly wrapped-up of a vacuum as any team in the NFL. Although they had significant need at cornerback and safety, they had Broyles rated higher and that was that.

Hopefully, those of you who were angry and didn't buy that explanation were assuaged by the latter stages of the Lions' draft. They chose three cornerbacks -- Louisiana-Lafayette's Dwight Bentley at No. 85, Albion's Chris Greenwood at No. 148 and New Mexico State's Jonte Green at No. 196 -- over their next five selections and finished with six consecutive defensive picks overall.

RISKIEST MOVE

The riskiest move in this draft was one that actually didn't happen. The Chicago Bears did nothing to address their personnel along the offensive line, first in free agency and now the draft.

It's true that a pair of 2011 starters who suffered season-ending injuries, tackle Gabe Carimi and guard Chris Williams, will return in 2012. And the promotion of Mike Tice to offensive coordinator should provide linemen with more help and less one-on-one responsibility than they had in the previous two seasons.

But the bottom line is the Bears have been forced to undergo multiple rounds of midseason patchwork in each of the past two seasons to lessen the punishment on quarterback Jay Cutler. When coach Lovie Smith said last month that he was confident in his current lineup, many of us wondered if he was just covering the Bears' draft plans.

He wasn't, which means the Bears are setting themselves up for another choppy season of personnel changes if their confidence proves unfounded.

FILE IT AWAY

We noted before the draft that the NFC North stood on the precipice of transition from the Black and Blue to the Air and Space division. You could make an argument that all four NFC North teams had a need at running back, especially the Packers and Lions. But as the NFL continues to move toward the passing game, it was reasonable to wonder whether anyone would act on those needs.

They did not. In fact, not a single running back was drafted in this division through the first six rounds. The Packers declined to take one in spite of a thin backfield led by injury-prone James Starks. The Lions, meanwhile, didn't deem it necessary despite the questionable health histories of Jahvid Best, Mikel Leshoure and Kevin Smith.

Message sent, huh?

Never has the NFC North's transition been more visible than on the final day of the 2011 regular season. On a snowy day at Lambeau Field, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions combined for 103 passing attempts and 1,000 passing yards.

By the time the Packers secured a 45-41 victory, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford had exceeded 5,000 yards passing for the season and Packers backup Matt Flynn had convinced the league he was a starting-caliber quarterback. Where once we could have expected the teams to grind out a classic Black and Blue game, they instead combined for a total of 37 carries. No running back made it to the modest total of 50 yards.

We've spent some time this offseason noting what we could politely call a tilt toward the passing game in both Detroit and Green Bay. We've discussed the Chicago Bears' seeming ambivalence about signing tailback Matt Forte to a long-term extension, and we've pointed out the Minnesota Vikings' uncertainty as tailback Adrian Peterson rehabilitates his shredded knee.

If you looked at this division through a traditional lens, you could consider running back a significant draft need for at least half of the division, if not all of it. But the NFC North's frenzied quarterback acquisitions over the past few years have brought us to a precipice. Are we ready to jump off, once and for all, into the world of Air and Space? Or will our teams step away from that ledge and rebalance their personnel, if not their scheme, to double back on the running game?

As the NFL continues its push toward passing supremacy, it's hard to imagine any NFC North team making anything other than subtle changes. Why take the ball out of the hands Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler or Stafford? And why not give Christian Ponder every chance to take the next step in his development?

This offseason, we've heard the Vikings speak often about seeking more playmakers for Ponder. We've watched the Bears sign Michael Bush as insurance against Forte's possible absence, but otherwise the Bears have worked to fortify their passing game with the acquisition of receiver Brandon Marshall and private meetings with many of the draft's top receivers, from Michael Floyd to Stephen Hill to Alshon Jeffery.

The Lions are the case study here, followed closely by the Packers. Injuries to Jahvid Best, Mikel Leshoure, Kevin Smith and the brain tumor of Jerome Harrison left them little choice but to rely on Stafford's arm last season. They finished 2011 with the second-fewest rushing attempts in the NFL, managed 71 rushing first downs (No. 29 in the league), according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Stafford told reporters this week that "everybody on our team would like to be a little more balanced than we were last year." It's reasonable to think they will be if Best and/or Leshoure are available full-time. But a serious commitment to improve would almost certainly require a draft investment. Best (concussion) has not been cleared for football work, Leshoure (Achilles) is coming back from a serious injury for a running back, and Smith has had difficulty staying healthy throughout his career.

How much do the Lions value that balance? We should find out over draft weekend. Again, most of us would look at their roster and toss question marks all over their backfield. But in 2012, how important is it to have an established and traditional No. 1 running back?

"We want to score as many points as we can," coach Jim Schwartz said at the NFL scouting combine. "Whether you do it running or passing, it doesn't matter. I think you want to try to get the ball in playmakers' hands."

In the end, the Lions might be best-served by pursuing a more modest goal: Being in position to capitalize against imbalanced defenses. Dictating a game on the ground might well be an NFC North artifact.

"If teams take the approach of playing the pass first," Schwartz said, "we should be in the position of having running backs who can make them pay for that."

Yes, there is a more than reasonable argument to be made that you don't need an elite running back when you have elite quarterbacks and receivers. A competent running back who doesn't miss the obvious yards might well suffice.

I don't know if the Lions, or the Packers for that matter, will invest a high draft pick in a running back. None of us do. But is it necessary? Probably not, at least not in our new Air and Space division. Soon we'll know how far off the cliff we've fallen.

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Detroit Lions' contract agreement with Kevin Smith adds to the team's collection of running backs. But I would caution you against assuming that the Lions are done assembling their backfield.

When you look at it, Smith, Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure have all dealt with injuries of various types in the past few years. Smith struggled last season with an ankle injury, Best (concussion) is awaiting medical clearance to resume football activities and Leshoure ruptured his Achilles' tendon in training camp last summer.

Even with Smith's return, it's worth noting the Lions have put some heavy early draft work into Oregon running back LaMichael James. Coach Jim Schwartz attended his pro day earlier this month, and James also visited the Lions' practice facility.

Could the Lions draft a running back in the top half of the draft for the third consecutive year? We don't know, of course, but their history suggests not to rule it out.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We've lumped the Green Bay Packers into TebowWatch primarily because of some positive comments made two years ago by coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson. But citing a source, Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com reports the Packers truly have legitimate interest in acquiring Tebow and are doing their due diligence on him and the potential trade market.

As Wilde points out, Thompson tends to be methodical and might not be willing to move quickly if other teams approach the Denver Broncos to pull off a trade soon. But it apparently is not something that has been written off inside the Packers' offices.

There is no reason not to at least discuss Tebow for a backup position, considering the Packers' tenuous situation behind starter Aaron Rodgers. Matt Flynn's departure leaves former No. 3 quarterback Graham Harrell as the presumed No. 2, but it's fair to consider all options before making that promotion. A backup quarterback is expected to find a way to win games if pressed into duty, and if nothing else, Tebow has shown he can do that.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Newly re-signed Jarrett Bush said he only wanted to leave the Packers if he were offered a starting job elsewhere, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Free-agent center Jeff Saturday, who visited the Packers earlier this week, is scheduled to visit the Broncos, notes AFC West colleague Bill Williamson.
• The Packers have some interest in free-agent linebacker Manny Lawson, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com looks at the Broncos' acquisition of Peyton Manning through the lens of the Minnesota Vikings' 2009 pursuit of Brett Favre.
• The Vikings signed fullback Jerome Felton, a former Detroit Lions draft pick whom they tried to claim on waivers last season. Mark Craig of the Star Tribune has more.
• Receiver/return man Ted Ginn Jr. is the latest free agent to visit the Vikings' facility. Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press traces the team's recent history with free-agent receivers.
• The Lions re-signed linebacker Ashlee Palmer, notes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Richardson also notes the Lions are trying to re-sign running back Kevin Smith.
• Lions defensive lineman Andre Fluellen has re-signed, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press: "Rather than chase big-name additions or marginal talent upgrades, general manager Martin Mayhew spent the last week ensuring the core of last year's wild-card team would remain intact."
• Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher on the acquisition of receiver Brandon Marshall, via ESPNChicago.com: "The only thing I worry about is him getting suspended. The NFL is pretty harsh on stuff like that. That's one thing I worry about, is him missing time."
• Bears coach Lovie Smith was at the Texas pro day to work out linebacker Keenan Robinson, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

Our friends at Football Outsiders have put together a series previewing each NFL team's offseason needs, using their unique statistical analysis to support their assertions. Football Outsiders' work requires an Insiders subscription to view in full, a contradiction that always elicits a giggle from NFC East colleague Dan Graziano. But I'm authorized to provide you a snippet from each of our teams. Herewith:

Chicago Bears: Most everyone has the Bears pegged to pursue wide receivers in free agency and/or the draft, and Outsiders doesn't discount that possibility. But based on its analysis of the Bears' 2011 season, offensive tackle should be the Bears' top priority. Left tackle J'Marcus Webb allowed 10 sacks and was "among the worst [left tackles] in the league." The Bears' running game, meanwhile, was stuffed for a loss or no gain on 24.1 percent of its runs, a "catastrophic" figure blamed mostly on poor run blocking.

Detroit Lions: Like the Bears, Outsiders thinks the Lions need to upgrade their offensive line more than anything else. Based on Outsiders statistics, the Lions had the second-worst run-blocking offensive line in the NFL in 2011. Center Dominic Raiola and right guard Stephen Peterman were particularly to blame. Outsiders' analysis suggested that running backs Jahvid Best and Kevin Smith actually had above-average seasons based on the yardage available to them.

Green Bay Packers: We all know the Packers need more pass rush; Outsiders ranked them last in the NFL in its adjusted sack rate (ASR) in 2011. Outsiders' analysis suggests the pass rush would improve if the Packers focus their upgrade efforts along the defensive line, giving it better push up front but also opening up lanes for linebacker Clay Matthews.

Minnesota Vikings: Perhaps "the worst secondary in the league." That should tell you all you need to know. Here's one of many sobering statistics from 2011: Cornerback Cedric Griffin allowed an average of 10.5 yards on every pass thrown in his direction, and teams had a 38 percent success rate against him. Both totals were among the bottom five of all cornerbacks in Outsiders' statistical study.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune checked in with the family of Dave Duerson as the first anniversary of his suicide approaches. According to Pompei, the family has found a measure of peace after a Boston University study determined Duerson suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain disease linked to head trauma.

Alicia Duerson, his former wife, said the revelation brought some "closure" to questions about Dave Duerson's intent. His son, Tregg, said: "I understand why he did it now."

Duerson, the former Chicago Bears safety, shot himself through the heart on Feb. 17, 2010, asking that his brain be donated to the Boston University study.

Catching up on the weekend in the NFC North:

• Brad Biggs of the Tribune has playing-time figures for every Bears player in 2011.
• The wife of former Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris died at 29, according to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times. Ashley and Tommie Harris, who have two children together, were married in January.
• From the Associated Press: "Green Bay Packers linebacker Erik Walden has reached a deferred judgment agreement to resolve a disorderly conduct-domestic abuse charge without pleading guilty. Defense attorney Steve Richards said Walden has agreed to perform 50 hours of community service and continue counseling."
• Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "Clearly, the Packers aren't hurting for money, so was it really necessary to raise ticket prices for the third consecutive year?"
• Packers receiver Donald Driver appears willing to take a pay cut to remain with the team in 2012, according to Kareem Copeland of the Press-Gazette.
• The Star Tribune's assessment of the Minnesota Vikings' stadium drive as the second full week of February begins: "[I]nterest in getting a stadium deal done this session has perceptibly waned at the State Capitol."
• Detroit Lions defensive players are hoping that a full offseason together will help build chemistry, writes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
• Lions running back Kevin Smith is a free agent but wants to return in 2012, according to Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Monarrez wonders if the Lions might pursue Tennessee Titans cornerback Courtland Finnegan in free agency.

It sounds like the Detroit Lions were fortunate not to have lost one or more starters during what was reported to be a frightening practice collision.

Running back Kevin Smith and tight end Tony Scheffler were running pass routes on different parts of the field. Neither saw the other and they ran into each other at significant speeds. Smith appeared to get the worst of the collision, but coach Jim Schwartz told reporters neither player was injured and both returned to practice.

"Certainly don't expect those," Schwartz said, "but, hey, that's why we wear helmets. You know, I'm glad there's not some new rule that you're not allowed to wear helmets … because we might have a couple broken jaws that we're dealing with right now."

The Lions added cornerback Alphonso Smith (foot) and safety Chris Harris (back) to their injury report. Both players were limited in practice. Cornerback Aaron Berry (shoulder) and safety Louis Delmas (knee) both practiced as well.

» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Arrow indicates direction team is trending.

Final Power Ranking: 8
Preseason Power Ranking: 16

Biggest surprise: The Lions didn't think enough of tailback Kevin Smith to offer him a contract this summer. They had drafted bruising tailback Mikel Leshoure in the second round and planned to pair him with 2010 first-rounder Jahvid Best. Smith went home, worked out and waited by the telephone. Leshoure ruptured his Achilles tendon in training camp, Best was sidelined by a pair of concussions and the Lions brought Smith in for a look-see during their bye week. They signed him on Nov. 7, he made his season debut six days later and has provided the Lions a credible backfield presence ever since. Smith produced 535 yards from scrimmage, scored seven touchdowns and is expected to start Saturday night's wild-card playoff game at the New Orleans Saints. I'm not sure that many people thought any of that was possible five months ago.

Biggest disappointment: Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh appeared set for superstardom after a rookie season that included 10 sacks, a Pro Bowl invitation and first-team All-Pro nod. He was one of the NFL's most visible public pitchmen during the offseason, appearing in television commercials and countless national interviews. But Suh ended his second season in a much different place, thanks to a year-long debate on his aggressive play and a poorly-timed stomp of Green Bay Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith on Thanksgiving Day. Worse, Suh's play slipped and he finished the season with four sacks and 36 tackles. You can't always judge a defensive tackle by such statistics, but Suh's peers limited him to alternate status in Pro Bowl balloting. Suh has some on- and off-field repair work to do this offseason.

Biggest need: Smith's emergence aside, the Lions will have to take a hard look at their backfield this offseason. Best's history of concussions will make it difficult to depend on him for the long term. Early indications are that Leshoure will be ready for training camp, but he suffered a serious injury that will at least need to be tested before he can be considered a reliable contributor. So will the Lions prioritize this position for the third consecutive offseason? It's not out of the question. Meanwhile, general manager Martin Mayhew and coach Jim Schwartz will have to take a hard look at left tackle, where veteran Jeff Backus is headed for unrestricted free agency. Will they try to ride Backus, 34, for a few more years? Or do they look for his replacement?

Team MVP: Calvin Johnson had one of the best seasons for a receiver in NFL history, catching 96 passes for 1,681 yards and 16 touchdowns. The only receiver to match that across-the-board production in a single season was Randy Moss for the Minnesota Vikings in 2003. But Johnson needed someone to feed him the ball, and Matthew Stafford elevated himself into the upper tier of NFL quarterbacks with a monster season that was more responsible for the Lions' success than any other single factor. A late-season surge pushed Stafford to a stunning 5,038 passing yards, fourth-most in NFL history. Most important, he started all 16 games and was the calm backbone behind four comebacks from deficits of at least 13 points.

Breakout: The least-discussed member of the Lions' starting defensive line might have had the best season of them all. Left end Cliff Avril finished with 11 sacks, forced six fumbles and scored two defensive touchdowns on returns. A pending unrestricted free agent, Avril made himself some money -- from the Lions or someone else -- this season. The Lions would surely like to have him back but have a fair amount of money tied up in their defensive line, from Suh to 2011 first-rounder Nick Fairley to veteran defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch.

After the Detroit Lions' 45-41 loss to the Green Bay Packers, here are three issues that merit further examination:

1. Kevin SeifertThe Detroit Lions take their turn in the examination room after losing to the Packers.
   Professional athletes and coaches often take great pleasure in pointing out the "critics" who "didn't think we had a chance" to win a given game, league or championship. So I predict the Lions will have an absolute field day Saturday night if they beat the New Orleans Saints. There appear to be very few people, critics or otherwise, who are giving the Lions a realistic chance in this game. For one, they're the biggest underdogs of wild-card weekend, according to the early lines. Meanwhile, our friends at AccuScore ran 10,000 of their patented digital simulations. The Saints won nearly 80 percent of those games by an average score of 36.9-25.6. And finally, the Lions' own Twitter feed suggested a hashtag of #shocktheworld. You get the picture. It's a ready-made, no-assembly-required motivational tool for coach Jim Schwartz.
2. There are scores of moments we could discuss out of Sunday's wild game. I'll share one that caught my eye, along with a bit of a follow-up. Receiver Calvin Johnson uncharacteristically went bonkers after Kevin Smith's five-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. Johnson is the gentlest giant you will ever meet, but he ran directly toward Packers cornerback Jarrett Bush and demonstrably got in his face. What set him off? When you watch the replay, you see Bush deliver a tough shoulder-to-helmet hit on Smith after he crossed the goal line. The hit was hard enough that it cracked Smith's helmet, according to Tim Twentyman of the Lions' web site, who posted a photograph of it on Twitter. If the Lions and Packers somehow meet in the playoffs, I'm guessing Johnson will remember the episode.
3. It was fair for Schwartz to point out the officiating calls and the replay issues that went against the Lions because he never, to my knowledge, blamed the loss on them. The Lions lost because their previously stingy pass defense allowed a historic day to their opponents' backup quarterback Schwartz continued that mantra Monday, noting that the Lions' secondary was "poor." With that said, I thought Schwartz brought up an important side effect of the new rule this season that requires a review of every scoring play. Officials have seemed more likely to rule a touchdown when encountering a potential scoring play, knowing they can always rescind it via replay. If they rule the play anything other than a touchdown, it is not automatically reviewed. At the very least, you would have thought that to be the case with Titus Young's apparent score in the second quarter. The "its-a-touchdown-if-it's-close" trend didn't extend to the Lions on that play, and that was unfortunate.

And here is one issue I still don't get:

A number of you lit me up Sunday and Monday for not paying the proper respects to quarterback Matthew Stafford's historic 520-yard day, one that made him one of four NFL quarterbacks ever to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a season. I'll admit the milestone caught me off-guard. When a quarterback enters Week 17 with 4,518 yards, as Stafford did, I'm generally not charting his push to 5,000. On the other hand, I'm not sure what else you want me to say about him. I know there is some frustration among fans that Stafford didn't make the Pro Bowl. But in training camp, we agreed that he was ready to break out as a top-tier quarterback. In December, we noted that he was on the brink of breaking most of the Lions' franchise passing records. And a few weeks ago, we broke down Stafford's calm in pressure situations. I think Stafford's breakout season has been appropriately covered around here but appreciate the feedback nonetheless.

After the Detroit Lions' 38-10 victory over the San Diego Chargers, here are three issues that merit further examination:

Kevin SeifertFollowing their big win against the Chargers, the Lions take a seat in the examination room.
1. What the Lions have done this season might seem to be a standard expectation for every NFL team, but it is exceptional relative to the Lions' history. You already know they have earned their first playoff berth in 12 years. The 2011 season also brought the Lions' first 10-win season in 16 years and only the eighth 10-win season since the franchise moved to Detroit in 1934. If the Lions defeat the Packers next Sunday, it will be their first season of at least 11 victories since 1991 and only the third since the Detroit relocation. Coach Jim Schwartz has spoken often about getting the team to a point where accomplishments are expected rather than celebrated. But I'm sure you realize how unique this season has been.
2. I don't think there's any question the Lions should be pushing for a No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs, allowing them to bypass a wild-card trip to the Superdome to play the New Orleans Saints and instead leaving them to play at the winner of the NFC East (either the Dallas Cowboys or New York Giants.) The Saints are undefeated at home this season, handed the Lions a 14-point loss there earlier this month and have the NFL's hottest quarterback in Drew Brees. At the bottom of this post is an updated version of the chart we introduced early Sunday morning. There are now eight relevant final-week scenarios for the Lions. As you can see, the No. 5 seed is not a lock, win or lose Sunday at Lambeau Field. But the Lions can only do their part, and that is doing their best to win Sunday. They should be motivated and feel great incentive to beat the Packers, who might rest at least some of their key starters.
3. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has pretty much cleared the single-season passing records for Lions history. We laid out the parameters earlier this month, and Stafford has eclipsed most of them. With a week left to play, he has set new records for completions (385), attempts (604), yards (4,518) and touchdowns (36). If he maintains a completion percentage above 63.28, he'll set that record as well. His percentage currently stands at 63.74. The one unattainable record: Dave Krieg's mark of a 101.7 passer rating. Stafford is at 96.6. Regardless, I think the football world is now fully aware of what we've been discussing for months: Stafford is one of the NFL's top quarterbacks.

And here is one issue I still don't get:

This isn't a new topic around here, but I'm still not sure how significant it is that the Lions haven't had a productive running game this season. Saturday, running backs Kevin Smith and Maurice Morris combined for 71 yards on 20 carries, and through 16 weeks the Lions have the fourth-lowest total of rushing yards in the NFL (1,423). They also have the second-fewest attempts (341). So part of me thinks their running game should be written off as a smart afterthought considering how explosive their passing game is. But you also wonder whether they'll be hampered in the playoffs -- potentially in cold and/or foul weather sites in New York, Green Bay or San Francisco -- by being so invested in the passing game. The Lions know that in an ideal world they would benefit from balance, or else they wouldn't have spent high draft choices on Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure in the past two years. They've adjusted without it, and they'll have to hope they can carry that formula into the playoffs.

Getting inside the NFC North's Friday injury report:

Chicago Bears: Receiver Devin Hester tweaked his ankle this week and is questionable for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks. Defensive lineman Henry Melton (shin) is also questionable and unlikely to play.

Detroit Lions: Cornerback Aaron Berry (shoulder) and defensive end Lawrence Jackson (thigh) are doubtful and not expected to play Sunday at the Oakland Raiders. Safety Louis Delmas (knee) is questionable, but his status is less clear. Also questionable are linebacker Justin Durant (hamstring), defensive lineman Nick Fairley (foot), running back Kevin Smith (ankle) and cornerback Eric Wright (hamstring). Smith and Wright seem to have decent chances to play. Cornerback Chris Houston (knee) is probable and should play.

Green Bay Packers: The Packers ruled out defensive lineman Ryan Pickett (concussion), and won't take him on their trip to the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend. Linebacker Desmond Bishop (calf) was also ruled out, but linebacker A.J. Hawk (calf) is probable. The Packers will make game-time decisions on two running backs: James Starks (ankle) and Brandon Saine (concussion). If neither can play, the Packers will go with Ryan Grant and John Kuhn as their running backs for Sunday's game. Guard Josh Sitton (knee) appears to be a go, but is technically listed as questionable. Meanwhile, the Chiefs confirmed that Kyle Orton will start at quarterback for them, his second start against the Packers this season. Orton also started in Week 4 while playing for the Denver Broncos.

Minnesota Vikings: Every player on the 53-man roster, except cornerback Chris Cook, will be available for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. That includes running back Adrian Peterson, who has missed three consecutive games because of a high ankle sprain. Coach Leslie Frazier said that Peterson's snaps could be limited depending on soreness.

Sifting through Thursday's news bits:

Chicago Bears: There were two big news stories Thursday at Halas Hall. We've covered the arrest of receiver Sam Hurd. We should also note that running back Marion Barber conducted an interview with two reporters Thursday. Via the Chicago Sun-Times, this is what Barber had to say about his late-game mistakes last Sunday in Denver: "My thoughts on it is getting to this next week and just preparing as much as I can to be ready for this game of course."

Detroit Lions: It's going to be tough for safety Louis Delmas (knee), cornerback Aaron Berry (shoulder), linebacker Justin Durant (hamstring) and defensive lineman Nick Fairley (foot) to play Sunday at the Oakland Raiders. All missed practice Thursday for the second consecutive day. Cornerback Eric Wright (hamstring) also missed practice. Cornerback Chris Houston (knee) was again a limited participant, and running back Kevin Smith (ankle) also got some practice work in.

Green Bay Packers: The Packers had no changes in their injury report. Running back James Starks (ankle), defensive lineman Ryan Pickett (concussion) and running back Brandon Saine (concussion) all sat out practice. Guard Josh Sitton was a limited participant for a second consecutive day.

Minnesota Vikings: Things continue to look good for tailback Adrian Peterson (ankle) to return after a three-game absence. Peterson told reporters Thursday that he will play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. Receiver Greg Camarillo (concussion) returned to practice Thursday, and it appears the Vikings will have all players available for Sunday's game.