Off the top: Glover Quin's weekly media session had the air of a State of Reality address regarding the Detroit Lions, and where they stood in the aftermath of the trade of Golden Tate to the Eagles.
It raised a number of legitimate questions, as would the midseason departure of any veteran starter. Quin's opinion is respected because of his stature – both as a starting safety in his 10th season and his overall perspective on pro football as a game and business enterprise.
What is the impact of losing the team's leading receiver on quarterback Matthew Stafford and the offense?
What does trading a productive veteran of Tate's quality – well on his way to a fifth straight season of at least 90 catches -- for a 2019 draft pick say about the direction of the team for the last nine games, starting Sunday on the road against the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings?
"What the organization wants ... short term, long term – it doesn't matter," Quin said. "We've still got to go out there and play on Sunday. It is what it is. The Vikings aren't going to feel sorry for us.
"How do we know this move doesn't help us win now? All you guys are speculating. How do you know? We haven't played one game.
"Things happen every year, man. The Eagles won a Super Bowl last year. You think they felt that way when Carson Wentz (the quarterback) got hurt? Like, 'It's all over now?' They went out and played. They still won it.
"Things happen all the time. It so happened that it happened to us. You guys read way too much into it."
The reality is that the NFL stops for no one and nothing – injuries, trades, sudden retirements, head coaches being fired or retiring in midseason. The game goes on – always.
The Lions did not get better this week because they traded away Tate. With or without him, the value of this team for this season was going to be defined in the last nine games.
Nothing the defense does or doesn't do has anything to do with Tate. The same for special teams.
The onus falls on the offense to pick up the slack through game-planning, play-calling and performance.
Rookie Kerryon Johnson ought to get more touches – either more carries in the run game, or more targets as a receiver. He's shown that he's capable of carrying a bigger load.
Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. can form a legitimate 1-2 duo at wide receiver. Theo Riddick returning from a knee injury to focus primarily as a receiver. TJ Jones, rookie Brandon Powell or one of the tight ends might be a bigger part of the passing game.
And none of that might work.
Like Quin says, things happen all the time.
Stat to note: Tate's four top receiving games this season were eight catches against the Cowboys, and seven each against the Jets, 49ers and Seahawks. It's purely circumstantial and says nothing about his value, but all four games were losses.
Series history: The Lions have a 6-4 advantage in the last 10 games and had a three-game winning streak snapped in last season's loss on Thanksgiving Day. The Lions are 2-0 at U.S. Bank Stadium, winning 14-7 last season and 22-16 in 2016 on Tate's game-winning TD catch and run in overtime.
2017 look back: Ameer Abdullah ran for 94 yards and a touchdown in the Lions' 14-7 road win in Week 4. Abdullah would have ended the Lions' 100-yard individual rushing drought had he not gone out of the game in the second half with an injury.
Vikings rookie Dalvin Cook went out for the season with a knee injury. He had rushed for 66 yards against the Lions, giving him 354 for the season. He lost a fumble on the play in which he sustained the injury.
View photos from Lions-Vikings matchups in Minnesota through the years.
Detroit Lions center/guard Graham Glasgow (60) and Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018 in Minneapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Damon Harrison (98) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018 in Minneapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay (19) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018 in Minneapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) intercepts a pass during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018 in Minneapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) celebrates a pass breakup during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018 in Minneapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) fumbles the ball as he is tackled by Detroit Lions free safety Glover Quin (27) and strong safety Miles Killebrew (35) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Minneapolis. The Lions won 14-7. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (92) deflects a Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) pass-attempt in the first half of an NFL football game in Minneapolis, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 14-13. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, left, runs from Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway (52) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Genevieve Ross)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson catches a touchdown pass in front of Minnesota Vikings safety Jamarca Sanford (33) during the second half an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Detroit Lions safety Louis Delmas (26) runs after a fumble recovery followed by Minnesota Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin (23) during their NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010 in Minneapolis.(AP Photo/Andy King)
Detroit Lions running back Kevin Smith, center, runs against Minnesota Vikings' Madieu Williams (20) and Kevin Williams (93) in the first quarter of their NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy King)
Detroit Lions running back Rudi Johnson runs for yardage in an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Charles Gordon, left, keeps an eye on Detroit Lions wide receiver Roy Williams as he pulls in a pass from Jon Kitna for a first down in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Detroit Lions linebackers Boss Bailey, top right, and safety Daniel Bullocks (27) tackle Minnesota Vikings running back Artose Pinner, center, after a 9-yard gain during NFL football action in the first quarter in Minneapolis, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Detroit Lions quarterback Joey Harrington (3) drops back for a pass under pressure from Minnesota Vikings defensive end Erasmus James (99) during the first quarter in Minneapolis, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Detroit Lions running back Kevin Jones (34) evades Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chris Claiborne (55) as he runs for a 12-yard gain during the first quarter in Minneapolis, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Detroit Lions quarterback Joey Harrington (3) looks for a receiver in the first half against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday Oct. 13, 2002, in Minneapolis. Harrington finished with 25 completions on 41 attempts, and 309 yards passing. The Vikings won, 31-24. (AP Photo/Paul Battaglia)
The ball bounces away from Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss (84) with Detroit Lions defenders Robert Bailey, left and Ron Rice moving in on the play during the second quarter Sunday, Jan. 2, 2000 in Minneapolis. Rice came up with an interception on the play. The Vikings beat the Lions 24-17. (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Herman Moore celebrates after his game-winning touchdown on a pass from quarterback Scott Mitchell in the final seconds of the game against the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis, Sunday, Dec. 14, 1997. The Lions beat Minnesota 14-13. (AP Photo/Paul Battaglia)
Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders runs for short yardage during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Sept. 1, 1996, in Minneapolis. The Vikings went on to beat the Lions 17-13.(AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid)
Detroit Lions Dick LeBeau (44) reaches for Minnesota Viking's Bob Grim (27) who missed pass on goal line from Viking quarterback Gary Cuozzo in first half of National Football Conference game on Sunday, Nov. 15, 1970 in the Twin Cities, Minneapolis. (AP Photo)
Detroit Lions Mike Lucci (53) dumps Minnesota Viking Ball carrier Bill Brown for a 2-yard gain in first half of NFL game in Twin Cities at Minneapolis, on Sunday, Nov. 12, 1967. Minnesota and Detroit tied, 10-10. (AP Photo/RW)
Vikings' Thielen, chasing Megatron: A 100-yard receiving game by Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen would give him the record for most consecutive games with at least 100 receiving yards.
Thielen is currently tied with retired Lions star Calvin Johnson, who had eight straight in 2012, the season he also set the NFL record for receiving yards in a season with 1,964.
Johnson had 1,128 yards in his eight-game streak, which ran from Games 8-15. His streak ended with 72 yards in a season-ending loss to the Bears. Thielen has 925 yards in the first eight games of this season.
Thielen was not in the mood to talk about the record after last week's loss to the Saints because of a costly fumble.
The Vikings were in the red zone with a 13-10 lead late in the first half when Thielen fumbled after a reception. Marshon Lattimore's recovery and long return put the Saints in position to score a touchdown and take the lead.
"I think I've said this every week for eight weeks in a row -- 100 yards don't mean anything unless you're winning games, unless you're helping the team win," Thielen told reporters. "I didn't do that tonight. You can't make mistakes in this league and win, especially in a critical situation when you have the ball in the red zone."
Prediction: With or without Tate, this figured to be a tough game. Minnesota's passing game is one of the league's best, and the Lions have struggled against lesser quarterbacks than Kirk Cousins. Don't expect the Lions to fold, but getting some injured players back helps the Vikings.
Pick: Vikings 26, Lions 20.
