DeAndre Levy Special to Detroit Free Press

During the season, Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy will express his thoughts in the Free Press aboutfootball and life.

Today, we have a chance to close out the first half of the season on a four-game winning streak. Entering the second half of the season with hopes of improving and playing our best ball in November and December to make a playoff push toward a Super Bowl. We got three straight wins, defending Ford Field, which is something we expect every time we are at home. No matter the opponent, no matter how good or bad their team is currently playing, defending home is a must. Three consecutive wins is hard to come by and felt especially hard these last three weeks, but we got them!

A winning streak following a losing streak for me perfectly highlights Coach Caldwell’s temperament. Three consecutive losses to end September, and three consecutive wins to start October, and his demeanor is unwavering. He’s the same calm Caldwell. That type of leadership is something that rubs off onto players, to not panic, and keep the focus on improving and preparing for the next opponent. Never too high or too low.

We still have much to improve in our play, but we look more settled and are gaining confidence. We’ve got a ways to go but are trending in the right direction. Traditionally, doing well in the second half of the season means playoffs but we know nothing is guaranteed and have to focus on one game at a time. Right now we have a Texans team that’s been playing well at home

“Nothing is guaranteed” is something I’ve especially found to be true as a Lion the past eight years. Like, miraculous game0winning comebacks, unexplainable collapses, last-second Hail Mary’s, questionable game-altering calls, game-winning field goals after onside kicks, or any other dramatic way to end a football game, we’ve been there. Rarely do we experience easy wins or losses, and honestly I wouldn’t have it any other way. No matter how pretty or ugly the battle, scrappy or gritty: a win is a win. And that can’t be taken for granted.

Watching from the sideline the past few weeks probably has permanently altered my blood pressure. It also has given me a newfound appreciation for being a die-hard fan. And made me an even bigger fan of the guys that I work with. So, let me be fanboy for a second on our QB. Stafford is a tough, competitive dude, and it’s been on another level this year. Countless times I remember on the sideline thinking “Get a stop here and get the ball back to Stafford and our offense” and he delivered. More than any QB since 2011. Those stress-inducing final minutes of the game, converted many times into last second victories.

But this isn’t a new revelation. I knew he was tough in 2009 when he came back to the game to throw a game-winning touchdown with a shoulder that sent him to IR the next week. That was the start and doesn’t mention dozens of Mondays and Tuesdays during that stretch where I’d see him in the training room during the week looking like he just walked away from a car wreck and then got hit by another car on the way to the facility. Thinking to myself “there’s no way he’s going to be ready by Sunday,” but sure enough he found a way and probably led another fourth quarter, game-winning drive. We need to keep improving and winning so he can get the credit he deserves at the end of the year.

Way to go No. 9. Beat the Texans!

DeAndre Levy: Conversations must continue beyond fund-raising drive