As you might notice, I couldn't bring myself to include the score in this episode's title. If you're reading this, you know what happened. No need to agitate the wound.

We open the final episode of a once-glorious season with "The Wreck of Ford Field," sung to the tune of "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," setting the tone for the sad discussion to follow.

There are basically two ways of looking at what happened. Either this was it, the window has closed, and the Lions missed their best chance to get to the Super Bowl.

OR ...

This was just one of those games where everything goes right for the opponent and everything goes wrong for the Roar. Not to mention the fact that our defense was staffed mostly by guys who wouldn't be playing if not for the Holocaust the swept through the starting lineup. As Winds of Fury has so wisely opined, the Roar shall return next season once again ready to rumble.

Still, this loss hurts. And now we have to wait until next season to get out from under the malaise of crushed hopes and dreams.

We'll most likely have new offensive and defensive coordinators. Next season's schedule features a gauntlet of playoff teams. And who knows which free agents will return and which shall move on?

Nevertheless, The Roargasm shall return. For now, stay strong, Roar Nation. We'll see you on the other side.