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(h/t dj3236)
Streaks are a terrible thing. They mean nothing and bringing them up will only just cause them to end.
Last week, the Patriots dismantled the Colts, ending New England's losing streak in Indianapolis, while Andrew Luck ended his streak of throwing head shaking pick-sixes on comeback routes outside of the left numbers.
In reality, the Patriots extended their winning streak over the Colts and the rest of the league, Adam Vinatieri extended his field goal streak, and now the Patriots are rewarded with Lions coach Jim Caldwell's streak of showing no emotions.
Acknowledging streaks aren't the reason for their derailment; it generally happens when a new element is added to the concoction. So with that in mind, let's hope that the Patriots don't do anything to get in the way of Matt Stafford and the Lions' current losing streak against winning teams:
| Year | Date | Opp | W/L | DETP | OPPP | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | TD | Int | Rate | |
| 2009 | 9/13/2009 | @ | NOR | L | 27 | 45 | 16 | 37 | 43.2% | 205 | 0 | 3 | 27.4 |
| 2009 | 11/15/2009 | @ | MIN | L | 10 | 27 | 29 | 51 | 56.9% | 224 | 1 | 0 | 74.3 |
| 2009 | 12/6/2009 | @ | CIN | L | 13 | 23 | 11 | 26 | 42.3% | 143 | 1 | 2 | 41 |
| 2010 | 9/12/2010 | @ | CHI | L | 14 | 19 | 11 | 15 | 73.3% | 83 | 0 | 0 | 86.2 |
| 2011 | 12/4/2011 | @ | NOR | L | 17 | 31 | 31 | 44 | 70.5% | 408 | 1 | 1 | 97.5 |
| 2011 | 1/1/2012 | @ | GNB | L | 41 | 45 | 36 | 59 | 61.0% | 520 | 5 | 2 | 103.8 |
| 2011 | 1/7/2012 | @ | NOR | L | 28 | 45 | 28 | 43 | 65.1% | 380 | 3 | 2 | 97 |
| 2012 | 9/16/2012 | @ | SFO | L | 19 | 27 | 19 | 32 | 59.4% | 230 | 1 | 1 | 78.9 |
| 2012 | 10/22/2012 | @ | CHI | L | 7 | 13 | 28 | 46 | 60.9% | 263 | 1 | 1 | 74.8 |
| 2012 | 11/11/2012 | @ | MIN | L | 24 | 34 | 28 | 42 | 66.7% | 329 | 3 | 1 | 104.2 |
| 2012 | 12/9/2012 | @ | GNB | L | 20 | 27 | 27 | 45 | 60.0% | 264 | 1 | 1 | 74.7 |
| 2013 | 9/15/2013 | @ | ARI | L | 21 | 25 | 24 | 36 | 66.7% | 278 | 2 | 0 | 108.3 |
| 2013 | 10/6/2013 | @ | GNB | L | 9 | 22 | 25 | 40 | 62.5% | 262 | 1 | 0 | 89.8 |
| 2013 | 12/8/2013 | @ | PHI | L | 20 | 34 | 10 | 25 | 40.0% | 151 | 0 | 0 | 60.6 |
| 2014 | 11/16/2014 | @ | ARI | L | 6 | 14 | 18 | 30 | 60.0% | 183 | 0 | 1 | 63.6 |
| Total: | (0-15) | 276 | 431 | 341 | 571 | 59.7% | 3923 | 20 | 15 | 81.2 | |||
| Average: | 18.4 | 28.7 | 22.7 | 38.1 | 59.7% | 261.5 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 81.2 |
That's an 0-fer streak for the ages. This is a streak the Patriots cannot afford to end and one that they should be crossing their fingers to extend.
An important factor? The Lions just cannot generate consistent offense on the road, failing to break 24 points in their past eight such games. Their average of 18.4 isn't scary- except when you account for their #1 ranked defense. The Patriots will need to be on their A-game if they want to win because the Lions defense is very capable of slowing great offenses to below 18 points.
It should be noted that the Patriots are on a 1-7 streak when they fail to produce more than 24 points (with the one victory coming against winless Oakland this year, which everyone mentally counted as a loss anyways). The Patriots can't afford to play the Lions type of game- a stingy, low-point, grinding game- and expect to win. The Lions held the Packers to 7 points in Week 3. A lot has changed since then, but anything is possible.
Stafford would love to cast off the above losing streak and place the Lions in prime position to keep pace with the Packers in the division. The Patriots are hopefully up to the task to keep that streak alive.