Doug Karsch: Losing Football? Or Lost Football Games?

Let's revisit our expectations.

I think it's easy to lose perspective once games start being played. Both Michigan and the Lions had exceeded expectations through a month and a half of the football season -- and both lost this past weekend. For some, that led to a referendum Monday on talk radio and on message boards.

Let's rewind the tape -- it's the beginning of September: Where did you think Michigan and the Lions would be?

For Michigan, predictions varied anywhere from 5-7 to 9-3. And then the Wolverines got off to a 6-0 start, exceeding what many thought would happen in the first half of the schedule. The loss to MSU was ugly, but predictable - MSU was favored after all.

MSU has the veteran team with the stability of the same system -- Michigan has a smaller team, not ready to compete for the Big Ten title. Sure it's never easy to accept a loss -- but keep the bigger picture in mind: Hoke teams showed in individual games there would be no quit - and the same thing should apply to this season.

These Wolverines won't lie down. They are not out of the Big Ten title hunt (which was not a realistic goal to enter the season) and they still have their Rivalry game looming at the end of the year. There is so much left to play for that a loss to the defending Big Ten Co-Champions should not be reason to push the panic button.

For The Lions -- this is life in the NFL for the big boys -- sometimes you lose! The Packers did it six times a year ago before going on a playoff run and winning the Super Bowl. In fact, after six weeks a year ago the Packers were 3-3. The Steelers were 5-1 just like our Lions and those Steelers lost two of their next three. We're looking somewhat precarious at 6-3.While the Lions are improved -- they are not so improved that a loss is stunning. It is expected. San Francisco is a solid team, not some chumps. You could argue the Lions are not as good as their record indicates -- you could, but I won't do that. The Lions are a respectable NFL outfit -- and before the season -- that was goal of which achievement was not guaranteed.