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The Detroit Lions defense did enough to win yesterday in Green Bay, says one NFL scout.

(AP Photo)

Remember last week when analysts proposed the idea that Reggie Bush was playing like the MVP of the Detroit Lions?

It's fair to say that what went down Sunday in Green Bay proved that theory false. We now know what it looked like when Detroit was forced to play without Reggie Bush (a 27-20 win at Washington, Calvin Johnson caught 7 passes for 115 yards). And know we know what happened without Calvin Johnson (a 22-9 loss at Green Bay, Reggie Bush had 13 carries for 44 yards).

The Lions' offense scored its fewest points by far this season against Green Bay. But the Lions' defense came away with positive reviews. Russ Bolinger, former NFL offensive lineman and scout, told the Detroit Free Press: "Allowing only two field goals at Lambeau Field after the first two quarters of play should be considered a success for any defense in the league."

Have you been compartmentalizing Detroit's loss to Green Bay? Do the positives outweigh the negatives enough to keep you encouraged?

Without Calvin Johnson to worry about, the Green Bay defense had a few extra bodies to stop Reggie Bush.

NATIONAL VIEWS

--ESPN.com: "Detroit's offensive line had been formidable this season, had blocked well for the run and the pass and had kept the Lions' quarterback, Matthew Stafford, pretty clean," wrote Michael Rothstein. "Until Sunday, when Stafford was sacked more times in one game than he had been in the previous four combined."

--NFL.com: Kevin Patra says that "Without Megatron in the game, Matthew Stafford looked like a 3-year-old child does when you take away his blankie. Stafford didn't have much help, but he didn't make the receivers he did have any better."

--ESPN.com: Michael Rothstein points out that while rookie tight end Joseph Fauria was a star on the rise early, his role and overall snap count have dwindled since Week Three.

OPPOSING VIEWS

--Packersnews.com: Eric Goska suggests it was Detroit's inability to penetrate the red zone that ultimately doomed them. "Call it the pink zone," Goska writes. "On an afternoon when NFL officials tossed pink penalty flags in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it only makes sense that the red zone should sport a different name during October.

"Color aside, the Lions made but one trip inside the Packers' 20-yard line at Lambeau Field. Though they came away with a touchdown, it was too little, too late."

--Wisconsin State Journal: Tom Oates says it wouldn't necessarily have mattered if Calvin Johnson had played yesterday. "But as great as Johnson is -- and he's inarguably the best wide receiver in the NFL -- he wouldn't have helped the Lions' defense stop the Packers' suddenly effective ground game Sunday at Lambeau Field," Oates writes.

LOCAL VIEWS

--Detroit Free Press: Columnist Jeff Seidel writes that the Detroit Lions without Calvin Johnson is like "taking Mick Jagger out of the Rolling Stones and watching the rest of the band perform acoustically."

--Detroit News: Some people aren't concerned because Johnson's injury doesn't appear to be long term. But Detroit News writer Bob Wojnowski is concerned. He says Detroit's dependence on Johnson is downright alarming.

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