In honor of the late, great Joe Falls, it's a Fish Fry Friday.
The task was pretty obvious. If the Lions were going to turn their season around in a hurry, they needed to win all of their three straight home games.
By doing so, it will wipe out the three-game losing streak they had after winning the opener in Indy. And a three-game win streak would also put them back in the mix of competing for a playoff spot.
The Lions (3-3) won the first two games. Game 3 is Sunday at Ford Field. Washington comes in and will prove to be a big test. After all, DC's team is 4-2 and rolling with a four-game win streak.
For the Lions to win, QB Matthew Stafford will have to prove that his turnaround is real, he can measure up against quality opponents. Stafford will go up against a stingy defense.
Washington hasn't allowed an offensive touchdown in its last seven quarters.
Meanwhile, Stafford - who will be playing in his 100th career game - has thrown seven touchdowns in the last two games - both won on Matt Prater field goals.
In the process, Stafford has also completed 75% of his passes and didn't throw an interception in either game.
Still, this is the game the Lions need to win for fans to think they are legit, not just able to beat the also-rans.
Over the years, the Lions simply haven't won many games of this caliber. Honestly, it could be the season, the tipping point.
The Lions close the season with a tough schedule. That's why a home win over a good team can go a long way.
Tigers go cheap
Tigers GM Al Avila used the words "younger and leaner." What he left out was cheap.
That's where the Tigers are heading this offseason. Winning in 2017 is still the goal, but only if they can win for less money.
After the 2016 season blew up in their faces - Detroit had a $200-million payroll and failed to make the playoffs - the Tigers are looking to cutback, spend less on talent. Better yet, they are willing to part with talent if it will reduce the payroll.
Give Avila credit. He has clearly signaled to fans - and other MLB teams - the Tigers are out. They will no longer be the mid-market team spending cash like a big-market team.
And you can't blame them. In the last decade or so, they have spent a billion dollars and have nothing to show for it. Worse, a team like Kansas City, in the division and spending a lot less, won a World Series last season.
This year, Tigers' owner Mike Ilitch has to watch another Central Division foe, spending way less than his team, make it to the World Series. The Indians, who won the division, had the 22nd biggest payroll out of 30 MLB teams.
The Tigers were fourth - only behind the Dodgers (first), Yankees and Red Sox.
Those days of trying to win at all costs are over.
"We want to get younger," Avila said on Tuesday. "We want to get leaner. We want to run the organization without having to go over the means of the organization."
Interesting.
Is this new way of doing business have to do with the fact that the Tigers attendance continues to go down?
After all, the Tigers packed in fans while they were spending big money to get some of the best players in the league.
Maybe, the Ilitch family has simply given up and realizes that they won't be able to deliver that championship their father so desperately wanted.
By cutting back, it will mean that the Tigers will have to part with a major player or two. Trimming fringe players won't make a dent in the payroll. Stay tuned and be ready to say goodbye to JD Martinez or Miguel Cabrera or Justin Verlander.
MSU needs a win
To say the least, Michigan State needs a victory badly.
The Spartans have lost four straight games for the first time under coach Mark Dantonio. MSU is 2-4, 0-3 in the Big Ten.
State hits the road, trying to beat Maryland (4-2, 1-2. The Terrapins have been blown out in their last two games, both losses to Big Ten teams.
A loss to Maryland will turn heads.
PARKER'S PRO PICKS: Washington beats Lions, 24-21.
