I've been on the Matthew Stafford bandwagon since he was drafted in 2009. But the "Stafford is a franchise QB" bandwagon was never close to being at capacity for his first 2 seasons, for several reasons.

1. Stafford missing much of 2009 and almost all of 2010 due to shoulder and knee injuries, aka the China Doll Syndrome.

2. Matt Millen's wide receiver fetish formed a large contingent of fans who railed at the Lions for drafting ANY and ALL skill position players, regardless of need or talent, aka they've been Millenized.

3. Those who believe all any team needs is a game manager QB who keeps mistakes to a minimum, aka Trent Dilfer Syndrome.

4. Fans who have been conditioned to think any player acquisition the Lions make is the wrong one, aka they've been Lionized.

5. Losing, aka losing.

It never stops. If you heard any sports talk radio or checked out places like Mlive's Lions forum, you'll still find Stafford haters out there, lurking in the shadows.

Be that as it may, the Lions believed they had their QB of the present and future in Stafford. 2011 has proven their belief to be correct. Why?  Because the numbers never lie.

Via the irreplaceable Pro-Football-Reference.com, here's the top 10 NFL QB's in 2011 by QB rating:

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/20/2011.

Next, top 5 By TD passes:

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/20/2011.

Top 5 in total yards passing:

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/20/2011.

Top 10 in completion percentage:

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/20/2011.

One number really stands out to me. Look at the ages of the QB's listed above. Stafford is the youngest player on every spreadsheet...and it's not even close. The next youngest being the Falcons' Matt Ryan at 26 and the Niners' Alex Smith at 27. Almost every other QB is in what is said to be their prime years, late 20's to early 30's. (2 outliers: 36 year old Matt Hasselbeck sneaks in at 10th in completion percentage, and 34 year old Tom Brady is...well, he's TOM F'N BRADY)

For a kid who is only 23 with one full season as a starter, the numbers are damned impressive. The only QB to have such a good season so early in a career before Stafford is Dan Marino, who in 1984 was the youngest QB to have posted a 4000 yard-30 TD season. At age 23, Marino put up an insane 5084-48, neither of which he ever topped in his Hall of Fame career.

To put Stafford in a historical context, I went with this interesting stat, career 4th quarter comebacks and game winning drives led by QB. Just how are they determined?

4QC: Must be an offensive scoring drive in the 4th quarter, with the team trailing by one score, though not necessarily a drive to take the lead. Only games ending in a win or tie are included.

GWD: Must be an offensive scoring drive in the 4th quarter or OT that put the winning team ahead for the last time.

The player to whom all other Lions' QB's are compared is Hall of Famer Bobby Layne. Playing for one of the NFL's elite franchises (Yes, the Lions were once a team others aspired to emulate), Layne was under center from 1950 until he was traded 2 games into the 1958 season. His M.O., the biggest part of his legend, was the late game comeback win.

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/20/2011.

If my public school math is correct, Layne has 12 comebacks (11 W/1 T) in his 8 full seasons as Lions QB.

Here's Stafford in comparison:

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/20/2011.

Stafford already has 6 comeback victories in 3 seasons, playing for a team only 3 years removed from 0-16. Not too shabby.

Other numbers of note:

• Stafford is the first quarterback in the NFL Super Bowl era to have 2 games with five touchdown passes in his first 23 starts.
• Stafford has already broken the Lions record of most 4+ TD games with 5.
• Stafford became the first NFL QB since at least 1950 to win 3 games in a season after trailing by at least 17 points.
• With Stafford under center, the Lions have set an NFL record of 4 comeback wins after being down 13 or more points.

If Stafford doesn't make the 2012 Pro Bowl, it will be a travesty of NFL justice.

After doing the research, let alone passing the eyeball test, I have come to one conclusion.

Anyone who thinks the Lions need anther QB needs to have their head examined. As long as he stays healthy (2011 is proof he can do so) Matthew Stafford is a franchise QB.

With the Lions now at 9-5 on the season with 2 games left to play, the one question fans are asking is, "How do the Lions clinch a wild card?"

These are the only wild cards I've been dealt over the past decade...

The scenarios follow...

ESPN's NFL Nation blog:

Green Bay, San Francisco and New Orleans are headed to the playoffs. Atlanta and Detroit already have nine victories apiece, so if each goes 1-1 or better to finish the season, Arizona and Seattle are out.

Atlanta plays at New Orleans and home against Tampa Bay. It's likely the Falcons will win one of those. Detroit plays at home against San Diego and on the road against Green Bay in a game the Packers might not need to win, particularly now that an unbeaten season is out of the question.

Lots of scenarios come into play if Seattle or Arizona finish 9-7 and get some help. Tie games are another possibility to consider.

ESPN's NFC North blog:

The Chicago Bears have NOT been eliminated from the playoffs but would need a series of improbable scenarios to occur to make it.

The Detroit Lions have NOT clinched a playoff spot but are in awfully good shape to make their first appearance since 1999.

After playing with the ESPN.com Playoff Machine, it's clear there are scenarios where the Bears would beat the Lions in a tiebreaker if both teams finish 9-7. That would mean the Bears winning Sunday night at Lambeau Field, among many other things, but it remains mathematically possible.

So this is what needs to happen in weeks 16 and 17 (I think):

Lions win out, finish 2-0 at 11-5: Clinch wild card in week 16.

Lions split, finish 1-1 at 10-6: Clinch wild card in the week they get the win, be it 16 or 17.

Lions choke, finish 0-2 (God forbid) at 9-7: Need one loss each from the Bears, Cardinals and Seahawks in weeks 16 or 17, and the Lions can back in, regardless.

But to simplify things, if the Lions win at home against the Chargers next Sunday, nothing else matters. The Lions will be one of the NFC wild cards.

FYI:  Stafford is over 4K passing yards on the season.

Via Tim Twentyman on Twitter:

Stafford over 4,000 yards on season. He's 2nd youngest to have 4,000 and 30 touchdowns in same season. The youngest was Dan Marino in 1984.

I often forget Stafford is only 23. He's going to get better...and he's pretty damn good already.

Lions start the 4th by converting on 3rd down...but they'll have to do it again.

3rd and 9 from the 21. Stafford's pass is incomplete...and nearly picked. Lions D will have to step up once again. They cannot afford to fall 2 scores down.

Raiders complete a pair of passes, are near midfield. Getting nervous.

FLAG. Avil lined up offsides. I like Avril...but that's fucking dumb. 

Raiders driving, at the Lions' 40. FOX reports Houston is out with a knee. Once again, the football Gods piss injuries all over the defense.

3rd and 8...Corner blitz! Pass is completed, but short of the sticks, Janikowski out for a 51 yard FG attempt. Lions call a TO? WTF? 

It was too many men on the field, Captain.

Welcome to Dumbland. Population: 53 Lions.

The FG is good, Raiders up 6, 20-14. 

Logan tries to make something out of nothing on the KO, slips at the 14. Ugh.

Burleson drops a 1st down pass. ICK.

Stafford overthrows his WR on 2nd down. UGH.

3rd and 10, Stafford holds on to the ball far too long, trying to make something out of nothing...ball stripped. 

Uh...that's not good.

Curry scoops up Stafford's fumble, stumbles into the end zone. TD Raiders. 

27-14 Raiders, 7:47 left. I'm not happy.

Lions start over, down 13 instead of 6.

Young drops an on the money pass. 3rd and 10 from the 43.

Pettigrew converts the 3rd down, 7:10 left.

Johnson is tightly covered, pass broken up at the goal line.

Megatron with the catch at the 20, pulls a Raider DB to the 15. Where has this been?

PETTIGREW. GOAL LINE. DROP. FUCK. THAT'S 3.

Pettigrew at the goal line, gets a hand on the ball, can't haul it in for the TD.

3rd and 10. 4 down territory.

Pettigrew again, finally brings it in, but he's 2 yards short of the sticks.

Brennaman stupidly asks if the Lions should kick a FG. Uh...THEY'RE DOWN 13 WITH 5 MINUTES LEFT.

Billick shuts Brennaman down. "You gotta go for it!"

Raiders take a TO. Brennaman realizes his goof coming back from break.

It's do or die...What the? QB DRAW! Stafford gets the 1st down at the 3!

1st and goal, Young catches the back shoulder TD pass just over the goal line! 

Lions down 6, 27-21. 4:59 remaining.

FYI: Stafford just tied Mitchell for the franchise record of most TD passes in one season at 32. 

Bush breaks a couple of tackles, 12 yards and a 1st down. Clock is running.

NEED A GODDAMN STOP.

Lions burn their 2nd TO with 4:07 left.

BUSH. 1ST DOWN. FUCK.

TACKLE SOMEONE DAMMIT!

I'll be forwarding this on to Gunther Cunningham.

3rd and short...Palmer wants it all...

OVERTHROWN!

Did Hue Jackson outsmart himself with the long pass when they were running so well? We'll soon find out...in 2 minutes or so.

But the Lions are pinned down deep, have only 2:14 left and 99 yards to go.

Smith drops a 1st down pass. KILL. ME. NOW.

After a short completion, Lions face 3rd and 2, but it's...

Burleson with the catch at the 19, drive is alive...clock running.

Stafford is hit as he throws...YES! Megatron gets both feet down at the 39!

Fuck, booth review.

Whew, the call stands.

Stafford in the gun...has time....MEGATRON IS BEHIND THE SECONDARY...CAUGHT AT THE 14!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

FUCK. Holding, Backus. Moves the Lions from the 14 to the 24. ARRRRGH.

Stafford wants Megatron in the end zone...FLAG. CALL IT! They do...pass interference, RAIDERS.

Ball at the 6, 0:48 left. 1st down pass to Megatron...incomplete.

0:43...2nd and goal, Stafford throws off his back foot...

TOUCHDOWN MEGATRON!!!

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!! flsdkuitsernv fdgsrdifajr98we573984tvhdf!!!ONE!!!!

I'm channeling my inner Jack Buck: I don't believe what I just saw.

Lions up 1, 27-26, 0:39 left. END THIS GAME.

Excellent coverage, Raiders will start at the 15, 0:35 remaining.

Palmer to Boss at the 28, Raiders TO. 0:27 on the clock. Uh...I can't watch, yet I must.

Palmer to Boss at the 50, and out of bounds. 0:21 left. URGH, I don't feel so good.

Palmer looks...and looks...and looks....AVRIL! SACK! 0:13 left, Raiders burn their last TO. I have no idea how Palmer held onto the ball after Avril dropped an axe handle on his arm.

Incomplete pass...dropped. 0:08 left.

3rd and 13.0:04 left. Hail Mary? NO.

Janikowski is going to try a FG from 65 yards out. He's got the leg to do it. Oh, fuck me....fuck me...fuck me...I'm old enough to remember Tom Dempsey.

Snap...hold...kick...

BLOCKED! SUUUUUUUH!

THE LIONS WIN!

 THE LIONS WIN!

OH MY FUCKING GOD, THE LIONS WIN!

I think this says it all...

I watched Tom Dempsy's 63 yard kick beat the Lions as a wee lad of 8, then I sat and cried. So Dempsey's kick was in the back of my mind the entire time. I was suffering PTSD waiting for Janikowski's FG attempt. I think I had a heart attack, conniption fit and panic attack...all at the same time...on the Raiders' final play.

This is the best I've felt after a Lions win since....I don't know...the 1991 playoff win over the Cowboys? Games like this have been few and far between as a Lions fan!

Beat the Chargers at home next week, and the now 9-5 Lions are in the playoffs. They could also get in with losses by Chicago, Arizona , and Seattle.

I think I need to rest now....

The QB battle is even, almost like the 17-14 score.

Palmer: 17-21-202-1 TD-122.6 rating

Stafford: 15-25-212-2 TD-114.1 rating

But the difference is the Raiders have out gained the Lions 70-13 on the ground. Kevin Smith is playing for the Lions, but it's obvious he's not close to 100%.

Megatron: 4-98-1 TD. It's his best game in...Hell, it's been a while since Johnson has been more than a decoy.

HUGE block leads to a huge KO return for the Raiders....but it's coming back. Why?

BOOM! HEADSHOT!

Head shot on the block = personal foul.

Raiders shrug off the flag, and convert 3 straight of 1st downs. Lions' corners are giving 10 yard cushions, Raiders taking it.

FLAG. Offsides. That's six.

Harris is officially out of the remainder of the game for the Lions. It never ends.

Raiders at midfield, facing 3rd and 3...and convert. NO! Raiders flagged for the pick play, interference called. No, Nate Burleson has not changed teams.

3rd and 13 instead of 1st and 10. Raiders get 10 on a short pass, and will punt.

Lions find themselves at the 18, 3rd and 4. Young catches a short pass for 4...loses it on a move...and gets it back. The kid is going to raise every one's blood pressure with moves like that.

Smith gets 15 between the tackles, the Lions' best run of the day. 

FLAG! But it's on the Raiders, in the neutral zone. Lions moving the ball, slowly it may be.

FLAG! Holding, Raiders. Of course, Brennaman had thought it was a great defensive play.

3rd and 4 at the Raiders 48. Stafford misfires, thanks to a big rush, missed an open Megatron.

Earlier in the game Brennaman claimed Graham's punts don't bounce, but short kick hits at the 30, and bounds all the way to the 7. That showed him, huh?

Lions face 3rd and 2. Stafford finds Megatron crossing the middle with a 2 yard yard pass...who then adds 21 in YAC! Lions at midfield!

Beast personified.

2nd and 10...BLITZ...SACK. Stafford loses 11. UGH. 

3rd and forver, Stafford overthrows Megatron. Would have been short, anyway. Promising drive was killed off by the Raiders sack. 

But a nice punt by the Aussie, Ben Graham, pins the Raiders at the 5.

FYI, as noted by @Freepsports on Twitter, the TD pass was Stafford's 30th of the season. The only other Lion to throw more was Scott Mitchell in 1995, with 32. A record which could be broken this afternoon.

FLAG. But it's on th Raiders for illegal formation. Finally.

Brian Billick: "No room for knucklehead penalties." Indeed.

But there is room for Heyward-Bey, who gains 35 on the Lions' secondary. GOD DAMN....

Word on Twitter is Kevin Smith is "agitated," Graham is bitching at the long snapper, Mullbach. Not a good sign.

Palmer to Moore has the Raiders in Lions' territory.

Heyward-Bey breaks a tackle on a slant route, then outruns the Lions' defense to the end zone.

To quote Ralphie in A  Christmas Story, "FUUUUUUUGE."

Raiders take a 14-7 lead.

Save for the big play to Johnson, the Lions' offense has been unimpressive. Stafford needs to keep pace, if not out pace, Palmer.

Not bad numbers for Stafford, 10-18-148. But Palmer is picking the Lions apart, 10-12-159-1 TD. That happens when you aren't pressured and the secondary treats receivers like Superman treats kryptonite.

1st and 10 from the 31, pass to Young loses 2. Pettigrew drops what should have been a 1st down throw. Screen pass to Smith gains all of 3, Lions forced to punt. 

Ralph Wiggum demonstrates Scott Linehan's game plan

The defense steps up, Wright makes an excellent open field tackle on 3rd down to force a Raiders 3 and out.

FOX gives us an Al Davis tribute as we get a shot of an ancient looking John Madden.

Think Madden knows he's the name,
if no longer the face, of a video game franchise?

That's more like it, Megatron with the catch near midfield. This the best he's looked in weeks.

It's a late 4:05PM start for us in the eastern time zome, as the Lions are in the Black Hole of Oakland to take on the Raiders.  The Lions could make a huge playoff statement today by beating the Raiders. By huge, I'm mean HUUUUGE.

Raiders defer, Lions receive...and Stefan Logan catches a swing pass out of the backfield, and sprints for 20 yards, to the 40! Niiiice. 

Lions face a 3rd and short, but a pass deep misfires.

Lions procedure on the punt. FLAG.

That's 1 penalty and counting. 

It's official. Packers lose! Hear that? It's the '72 Fins popping the corks on their champagne.

Raiders run a reverse, get a 1st down near midfield. GRRRR.

You could see it coming as soon as Palmer released his pass, Michael Bush gets BIG yards on a screen, 17 yards to the Lions' 35. Come the fuck on... Even worse, Harris is down for the Lions, who are already down Delmas at safety. Special teams ace John Wendling in, as Harris leaves the field.

Can you say...concussion? Harris can't.

4th and 5 at the Lions 24...Raiders make like they are going for it, then take a TO.

Raiders ultimately do decide to go for it. Palmer wants it all...OH SHIT...

AHHHHHH!

Wright falls down, Moore is wide fucking open!

OVERTHROW!

Lions dodge what should have been 6.

But the Lions do nothing on their next possession, go 3 and out. Another SLOW start for the Lions' offense.

Raiders handoff to Reece...looks innocent...nut much like the Joe Webb run last week, no Lions are to be found, and he's all the way to the Lions' 20.

That's holding, GOD DAMMIT!

Looking at the play again, Heyward-Bay held...

Schwartz throws a challenge flag...and wins! Reece stepped out at the 50. But the Lions give it back, as Avril is busted for a horse collar tackle on a sack of Palmer.

That's two.

Houston called for illegal contact.

That's three.

Tulloch makes it four on another horse collar tackle. God damn...

Lions are badly fooled on a reverse, Murphy strolls in for 6.

It's called not biting on the fake. Discipline, the Lions' lack it.

7-0 Raiders, as the Lions have them the vast majority of the yardage on PENALTIES. 32, to be exact.

Obligatory...

Lions offense needs to get their asses in gear.

To find out anything Lions, you need to be following the former Detroit News writer now working for the team, Tim Twentyman, on Twitter. He has today's inactives:

Twentyman adds a little more info when giving the Lions' inactive list.

After the roster carnage of the past few weeks, it's refreshing to see the Lions are starting to get somewhat healthy.  After missing much of the secondary, it's 3/4 back, just missing Louis Delmas. But Harris has shown to be a capable replacement. 

Kevin Smith in the backfield is a big addition...as long as he can last longer than the few plays he did against the Saints. Matthew Stafford and the Lions' offense were as potent as they have been all season against the Panthers with Smith finding holes both on the ground in the passing game.

We have proof some things never change...like the Black Hole in Oakland. Proof supplied by, of all people, Jim Schwartz!

The Raiders fan's reaction to the Detroit team bus reminds me what the late, great Don Meredith said about an Oilers fan dlipping him the bird, "They're number one in the nation!" 

Everything is breaking the Lions way this afternnon. The Bears and Gaints are losing late in their respective games. The Lions could find themselves taking control of the wild race, along with Falcons, 2 games up with 2 games to play...if they can knock off the Raiders.

The 13-0  Packers are also losing to the Chiefs. If the Pack goes down to defeat, it wcould make week 17's game at Lambeau Field all but meaningless for Green Bay.

The Lions found themselves in a similar situation when playing the Saints, when it appeared no one wanted to win a wild card...and neither did the Lions. They may have another opportunity, rare in the NFL .

Keep you fingers crossed, knock on wood, whatever it takes...

I've reached my limit on all things Tebow. An ESPN headline and a Sports Illustrated photo manipulation have sent me over the edge.

ESPN clubs you over the head with a religiously punny headline.

Nice crucifixion imagery, SI...

Studies? Who was studied? Broncos fans? Gator fans? Born-again Christians? Rick Perry? I know. Skip Bayless!

I agree Tebow has become a phenomena. His religious views, and the effect his views have n how fans feel about him, is playing just as big a part in his popularity as his on-field heroics. But the over the top genuflecting over a QB whose numbers are more comparable to Tarvaris Jackson than Aaron Rodgers is getting ridiculous. If we must genuflect, it's should be toward the Denver defense, who have been the true hero of this 8 game run. For that matter, a shout out has to go to he Bears' Marion Barber who did all in his power to make Tebow look like the next coming of...well, let's not go there.

Without the Bronco defense coming up big at very opportune times, Tebow would be talked about as he was after the Lions took him to the woodshed. That being a backup talent who is getting lucky. The Lions had the perfect game plan. Take away the running game, make Tebow a pocket passer, and force him to beat you with his arm. He couldn't do it. Not for 4 quarters. 

Despite what fans may think, NFL coaches are smart guys. They will figure out Tebow, and ultimately shut him down. I mean, if the Lions can...

In 2011, Tebow is 7-1 as a starter, using the rarely used script of "suck for 3 quarters, play respectably in the 4th while the opposition implodes" (aka Marion Barber'ed). I'm sorry, but getting Tebow'ed just isn't going to win games over the long run.

The first thing that comes to mind with Tebow, reminding me how fleeting NFL fame can be, is "Slash."

Kordell Stewart was the flavor of the NFL month in the early part of the 00's. After making the Pro Bowl in 2001, Slash was going to revolutionize the quarterback position. Hell, he was going to revolutionize football!

Didn't happen.

The NFL caught up to Stewart, as they do with any system QB. He was done as a full-time starting QB in 2002, an afterthought by 2003, out of football after 2005.

The revolution never came.

The NFL has seen QB's come and go who looked great for short periods, even entire seasons, only to be exposed as fraudulent, lucky, gimmcks, system QB's or some combination thereof.

Don Majkowski.

Jeff Blake.

Steve Bono.

Derek Anderson.

Vince Young.

There's plenty more...

All NFL franchises have had QB's who were good to great for a time, only to disappoint over the long run. Even the Lions have had their fair share of QB's who burned out after a brief flame of brilliance.

• Scott Mitchell, thanks to his great 1995 season, holds nearly all of the franchise's single season passing records.
• Charlie Batch was the anti-Mitchell, was over .500 his first 2 seasons as a starter (all of 2 games over, but it's the Lions, after all)
• Erik Kramer was a world beater in the 1991 playoffs.
• Eric Hipple had the best QB debut I've ever seen (Monday Night Football against the Bears on 10/19/81: 336 yards passing, 6 TD's, 2 rushing, 4 throwing).
• Gary Danielson took the Lions to the playoffs (Had a 5 TD passing day against the Vikes late in 1978, a winning record as a starter for 2 seasons). 

Though fans desperately wanted it to happen, none of them were a savior.

Much the same can be said with offenses. This 2+ year old Dan Pompei headline  is laughable now: "Dolphins’ ‘gimmick’ offense is here to stay." The Miami Dolphins' Wildcat offense, smoking hot 3 years ago, is nothing more than a blip on the radar today.

The run and shoot put up some crazy numbers, but was shot down. Steve Spurrier's college passing scheme was laughed at, then run out of the NFL. The same will ultimately happen with the modified option the Broncos are running with Tebow under center.

Gimmicks are never "here to stay" in the NFL. Which is why the rush to make Tebow the face of the NFL is too much, too soon, too over the top.

Honestly, Tebow-mania really reminds me of the George Blanda-mania of 1970. In one of the most remarkable stretches in sports history, the 43 year backup QB/PK, playing in his 21st season, came off the bench in 5 consecutive games and did the following...

Via Raiders.com:

On October 25, 1970 against Pittsburgh, Blanda came off the bench to throw three touchdowns and kicked a field goal to lead the Raiders to a 31-14 victory.

The next week in Kansas City, he kicked a 48-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to tie the Chiefs at 17.

The following Sunday, Blanda came off the bench to throw a touchdown pass to tie Cleveland at 20, then kicked a game-winning 52-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to earn the Raiders a 23-20 win.

The magic continued the next week when Blanda threw a touchdown pass late in the game to defeat Denver, 24-19.

The streak culminated with a 16-yard field goal with seconds remaining to beat San Diego, 20-17.

Those 5 games were enough to win Blanda the NFL Player of the Year award. Does that sound familar?

But Blanda's luck ultimately ran out. So will Tebow's. In the NFL, it always does. Luck is not a sustainable offensive game plan.

 Whatever you want to call what Tebow has, be it force of will, the will to win, God is on his side...that's all well and good. But you can't just will the ball into the hands of your receivers, either. A career completion percentage of 48.9 gives me major doubts about the "will" thing working long-term. Accuracy trumps all, even God.

Tebow could turn into a serviceable starter, or more likely, a reasonably serviceable backup. But 8 games does not a career make. And it definitely shouldn't make Tebow the NEXT BIG THING, despite what loons like Skip Bayless would have you believe.

The time will come whenTebow makes us all look smart or dumb, depnding upon your point of view. We aren't there yet. Not even close.

Preparing for Sunday's game, I did a Q and A with Levi Damien of Bloguin's Oakland Raiders blog, Thoughts from the Dark Side. Levi's answers to my questions are below, and click here to read my answers at TFDS. 

TWFE: The Raiders fans base has a Ndamukong Suh-like reputation, especially the infamous Black Hole. Is the reputation deserved, or overblown, much like Suh's dirty player rep?

Thoughts from the Dark Side: As far as Suh is concerned, being a dirty player is not a reputation. Reputation suggests it is assumed. It is a fact he is a dirty player. We have seen it. But overblown? Maybe. That is what the media does in today’s age of instant information and 24 hour news outlets.

The Black Hole is a hostile environment to be sure. The entirety of O.co coliseum is a hostile environment for that matter. I can’t speak to how dirty they may be but I will say that the fan of the opposing team would have to be a complete idiot to sit in that section. And to wear the other team’s colors may not have a death wish but certainly a serious injury wish.

TWFE: Al Davis built the Raiders franchise from nothing, but had become a running joke over the past decade. How has the death of the Raiders owner and NFL icon affected the fans and team?

TFDS: Well, like any iconic figure, the fans and everyone else recognized his contributions to the game of football.

There were a lot of extremely angry fans with relation to Al Davis due to his unwillingness to bring in a general manager. And many questioned his draft picks and inflated free agent contracts. But no one ever questioned his will to win. And before most criticism of him, came some variation of the words “Al Davis has been integral to the game of football as we know it…”

This season, the death of Al Davis has brought the fans together to honor his memory. It is a fan base that has had to defend him from a lot of disrespect and hatred from other fans. So a lot of fans, while enjoying the many well-deserved tributes in the media, feel like other fans and media outlets have not earned the right. It is like being part of a close family. Only Raider Nation is allowed to criticize him and therefore only Raider Nation can truly honor him.

TWFE: Former head coach Tom Cable's anger management issues had been a bit of a joke around league. Has rookie head coach Hue Jackson been an improvement over the fired Cable?

TFDS: In some ways he has. In other ways not as much. Cable was a no nonsense, blue collar guy and it was a quality his players greatly respected. That is why there were so many angry players when Cable was fired. But outside of that quality, he was not really an NFL head coach. The position is demanding enough as it is without him taking on duties like offensive coordinator for which he was not suited.

Hue Jackson has a lot of frills and you can tell he relishes the stage that being an NFL head coach gives him. He wears suits that you might see an NBA draft pick wearing as he takes the stage to hold up his new team jersey. And his demeanor is that of a politician.

He is a master at talking for a long time without really saying anything. He has moved up the ranks as a hot young coach and he has the swagger to go with it. He is a smart coach and I suspect once he has a season under his belt, he will put his feet back on the ground.

TWFE: Middle linebacker Rolando McClain was arrested 2 weeks ago on firearms charges. After losing 2 games in a row, putting the playoffs at risk, some blame McClain for the slump. Is it deserved, or are there underlying factors for the last 2 losses?

TFDS: He is part of it but you can’t rest the blame solely on his shoulders. Much of the blame goes to the coaching staff. The entire defense has taken a step back under defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan. The defense is confused and I think they lack a lot of confidence. Hue Jackson didn’t handle the McClain situation well. He talked to McClain, believed every word Rolando said and let him play a few days later in Miami. The message was sent that discipline is not a priority.

The one thing this defense lacks more than anything is discipline. They miss assignments almost constantly and several different Raider defenders have uttered the phrase “do your job” in the past two weeks. I have my hunch that Aaron Curry may be the player to whom that statement is mostly directed, but he is by no means alone in that.

TWFE: Carson Palmer had "retired" from the NFL...or more correctly, retired from the Bengals. The Raiders sold out a big part of their future to trade for Palmer, a 2012 1st round pick and a conditional 2013 2nd round (or a 1st, depending upon a playoff win) selection. Palmer has started the last 6 games, going 3-3. His stats are middling, at best (throwing 4 picks against the Packers didn't help). Has Palmer met your expectations, or were you hoping for more from the former Pro Bowler?

TFDS: He has played well for the most part. If you remove his first two games when he was still getting settled, and of course that disaster last week, he had four pretty good games.

The loss in Miami was not on him. The Dolphins have a good defense and they were a matchup nightmare for the Raiders. Palmer had no time to throw and the running game was stuffed as well. The Raiders paid too much for Palmer, there is no doubt. But they really had no choice in the matter. The injury to Jason Campbell happened just days prior to the trade deadline and Palmer was the only proven guy out there. If they hadn’t gotten him, they would have had zero chance at the playoffs this season. Kyle Boller couldn’t even handle the starting job for one half against the Chiefs and Terrelle Pryor is a rookie who had just come off suspension.

They overpaid to try and save their season and got a top tier quarterback who is still relatively young in the process. Whattya do eh?

More evil thoughts from a Raiders fan are after the jump...

The Detroit media is up in arms over Ndamukong Suh's refusal to go in-depth answering questions about his suspension and car accident. They were expecting an apology, and didn't get one.  They were expecting a comment on the Portland wreck, and didn't get one. They were expecting a mea culpa, and didn't get one.

Paula Pasche of The Oakland Press posted a snippet of Suh's reluctance to talk,along with video.

Q: Any thoughts about the whole incident and how things unfolded?

Suh: “It is what it is. Like I said I’m looking forward to playing Oakland and getting back on the field.”

Q: What did you learn?

Suh: “Like I said I’m looking forward to getting back on the football field.’’

Q: What was it like watching your team play without you?

Suh: “It was a situation that I had to deal with, I dealt with in the best manner I know. I look forward to playing against Oakland and joining my team.”

Suh then made his weekly appearance on WXYT's Hacks Yelling at Each Other Show Valenti and Foster show. It didn't go well. Here's the pertinent quotes from the cringe worthy interview, via WXYT's Twitter feed:

Suh on WXYT: "You are not getting a lot out of me because of the questions you are asking. I'm looking forward to playing football."

Suh: "Its not the Suh Show". Valenti: "But that is what the last 2 weeks have been". Suh: "Not because I made it that way"

Valenti and Foster to Suh: "Did you apologize to your teammates?" Suh: "Things that are in-house, stay in-house".

Valenti and Foster to Suh: "Did you talk to your teammates"? Suh: "Whether or not I did.. that stays in-house".

Suh, tired of the questioning about the suspension and accident, finally hung up.

In summation, Suh spent the day dodging media questions and hung up on on the hack hosts on WXYT. Not a bad afternoon's work. In other words, despite Suh's insistence he's moved on from the incidents of the last two weeks and everyone else should as well, Detroit ended up with a metric shit-ton of media generated DRAMA!

Of course Suh would have been better served if he had issued an apology that meant nothing and wasn't sincere. Apparently that's what everyone wants. A polite sound bite.

I don't blame Suh one bit for clamming up, especially about the Portland incident. Everyone is forgetting there could be expensive legal issues involved with the car wreck. Suh's passengers were injured, lawsuits could be in the making, so there is no way should he talk about it. Even Lionel Hutz would agree...even if Jerry Sandusky's lawyers wouldn't. 

If the law talkin' guy doesn't think Suh should talk...

For a player whose image has taken a large hit, rehabbing it doesn't seem to be a priority for Suh. In fact, I don't think he cares about his reputation one way or the other.

One thing has become obvious over the last few weeks. Ndamukong Suh has an extremely prickly personality, and  consistently refuses to talk about his personal life. Being reticent to open up may cost him in the long run when it comes to endorsements or becoming the face of the Lions and NFL. But it's possible he doesn't care for the adulation and attention. Going by today's events, I'm convinced of it.

But in the end, it's all about what happens on the football field, not off of it. Suh hanging up on a radio station and not giving the media what they wanted to hear will all be forgotten if he plays well. If the Lions beat the Raiders, it'll be hard to find a fan who is upset Suh didn't apologize.

Fans have very short memories. Want proof? Look at the latest Pro Bowl balloting...and see who leads all defensive tackles.