Coach Wayne Fontes is taking a beating from fans and the local media, and he is almost sure to be fired unless the Lions (2-4) turn things around and make the playoffs.
Quarterback Scott Mitchell continues to struggle, leaving questions about the Lions' decision to pay him $11.1 million over three years, including a $5 million signing bonus this year.
In six games, Mitchell has thrown for 1,154 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions.
"I still believe in my ability to play," Mitchell said. "We have the people who are capable of making the plays to win the game, but we just haven't done it. We have to decide how much it means to us and how we want to change the rest of the season."
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Credit a vastly improved defense and the rejuvenation of Jeff George with putting the Atlanta Falcons into an early share of first place in the National Football Conference West with the 49ers at 4-2.
Fans will find out more about them Sunday, when they host the Niners. That is when the defense should get its most accurate test of how far it has come since last year's dreadful effort.
The Falcons have 15 interceptions, and have had two or more in four straight games. They had only 13 last season, when they got off to a 1-5 start.
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Memo to Bills haters who want this team just to walk away from the playoff picture: Forget about it. They are not going anywhere, except perhaps to the Super Bowl for a fifth straight year.
Memo to Seth Joyner of the Arizona Cardinals, who said he wanted to beat a completely healthy Emmitt Smith and his Dallas Cowboys teammates Sunday: Hope you don't require surgery to remove your foot from your mouth.
Memo to the Eagles, one of the NFL's surprise teams at 4-1: We'll see how good you really are Sunday in Dallas.
Memo to New York Jets fans whining about the team's lackluster play in recent weeks: You want to feel better about life? Go talk to Tampa Bay Buccaneer fans, who are facing the likelihood of a 12th straight season of double-digit losses.
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