Maybe it was the heady feeling of blowing out the Patriots in a game no one will remember in five minutes.
Or maybe, the Lions are just conditioned to play undisciplined football.
A week after talking about their three personal foul penalties against the Browns, the Lions were talking again, after committing five against the Patriots.
Coach Jim Schwartz actually did something this time, benching defensive end Willie Young after he was flagged for taunting Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
“We didn’t want any more personal fouls,” Schwartz said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “We had enough of it. We had enough of it after two.”
Of course, Schwartz did not bench defensive linemen Nick Fairley and C.J. Mosley, or tight end Joseph Fauria or linebacker Rocky McIntosh, which might be part of the problem.
“We pride ourself on playing tough, but there’s always a limit and we respect that limit and we’re always going to respect that limit,” defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said. “So individuals as well as the defensive line, we’ve got to really manage ourselves but at the same time be accountable as a unit.”
Young wagging a finger in Brady’s face was dumb, but until the Lions actually show some accountability instead of talking about it, there’s no reason to think the trend will reverse itself.