You guys are really mad at the defense?
We know what they are, an average at absolute best unit, it's a minor miracle they've played well three games in a row and this was a road game against one of the better offenses in the league (and who are mostly healthy at that).
The real problem here is that the offense and ST's shit the bed at different times.
The offense was always going to have to carry the load and they put up 9 points in the first half, had an avalanche of penalties and had two extremely sloppy turnovers that are repeats of what we've been seeing for weeks.
The ST's has been shit all year for the most part and this might've been their worst game.
Here's Detroit's starting field position by drive:
own 36
own 47 (kickoff return)
Dallas 42 (offense nearly gave up a safety and then punted)
own 37
own 47 (Ferguson fumble)
own 26
Dallas 14 (INT off Pickens drop)
own 32
own 32
own 41 (kickoff return)
own 49 (kickoff return)
That's half their drives basically starting at midfield or better due to TO's and the weekly terrible ST play. Their average starting field position was pretty much midfield.
Sure, blame the defense for not getting a stop when it was 30-27 or not forcing more FG's but no team built this way (i.e. top tier offense, middling defense) is winning a game on the road when the offense plays like that to start the game, combined with the kickoff unit allowing 3 returns past the 40.
