Don’t kid yourself. I can bet in at least one of your fantasy football leagues you started Detroit’s defense in Week One. And honestly, I couldn’t blame you. An unproven, rookie quarterback thrown into the “Lions’ Den” for the first time, with the spotlight of ESPN Monday Night Football shining directly on him? I’d take the under in points scored every time. But of course, this is professional sports, a place where anything can happen. One day earlier, the former Jet (and Ram, Bengal, Bill, Titan and Texan) QB Ryan Fitzpatrick of all people, singlehandedly shredded the Saints in New Orleans.

After throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown on the first play of his career, it appeared that Sam Darnold was in for quite a difficult indoctrination to life in the NFL. But how quickly the momentum shifted as the Jets went on to score 48 points while making seven-year veteran QB Matthew Stafford look like a confused child wandering the grocery store in search of his mom. He was absolutely lost, throwing five interceptions while Darnold looked like the confident seasoned vet in a dominating 48-17 New York Jet victory.

FYI…Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre also threw a pick-6 on the very first play of his career in 1991.

Now I’m not saying Darnold will become Favre (he might be even better), but it was certainly something to keep my sanity during the game as I scrolled through the Twitter comments.

From that moment on, the rookie from USC was lights out. Wide receivers Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa, and Terrelle Pryor were all on their A-game, continually challenging the Lions’ secondary. And after defensive end Ezekial Ansah went out with the injury, the wheels fell off for Detroit. Running backs Isaiah Crowell and Bilal Powell combined for 162 yards on two touchdowns on the ground, steamrolling everyone in their path.

But the New York Jets defense gets the game ball in this one. Darron Lee, Trumaine Johnson, Morris Claiborne, and Jamal Adams all had interceptions while Leonard Williams and Henry Anderson put constant pressure on Matthew Stafford in the pocket. The night’s biggest play was from the linebacker Lee, who took a Stafford pass to the house for a pick-6 and the Jets first defensive touchdown in 73 games. The last score by  Jets’ defensive player came via an Antonio Allen interception off Tom Brady in 2013.

Come the 4th quarter, the only people remaining were the players…and the Jets fans. Led by Fireman Ed, the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets! chant could be heard ringing from sideline to sideline throughout the empty Ford Field.

If this game proved anything, it’s that the Jets are not the 30th ranked team in the NFL according to ESPN. After getting a few key players back from injury this season and drafting a franchise quarterback, fans of Gang Green will have plenty to cheer for. With a reasonably soft schedule coming up in the Dolphins and Browns, the Jets will have an opportunity to begin the season 3-0, and demonstrate their playoff worth. I think they will do it. Get excited people, this team is for real.