There are steps up the ladder, the one the Lions have just started to climb.

There is the process of hitting rock bottom. The Lions did that with an 0-16 season in 2008.

There is stepping onto the first rung, which the Lions did when they hired Jim Schwartz as head coach, drafted Matthew Stafford to be their franchise quarterback and struggled through a 2-14 learning experience of a season in '09. There was 2010 when the Lions came close in many of their early-season losses, but finished by winning their final four games.

And this season's 5-0 start was another step up, but there was a slip — the losses to the 49ers and the Falcons. Steps back.

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