Dominic Raiola upset with people writing off Lions

At 4-5, the Detroit Lions' playoff hopes are fading. The website MakeNFLPlayoffs.com lists Detroit's chances at a postseason run at 11.5 percent. Even so, Lions center Dominic Raiola isn't happy with people dismissing his team:

"I think what makes me upset more is people are writing us off because of whatever. But then the Saints are 4-5 and they're right in the hunt. How the (bleep) does that work out? I don't know. Whatever. We're 4-5, too. So they're basically writing us off."

Last season, the Lions made their first trip to the playoffs in 11 years, bowing out in the Wild Card round against the New Orleans Saints. Hoping to build on the momentum, Detroit got off to a rough start this season, compiling a 1-3 record before their bye in Week 5. Even though the Lions have struggled, Raiola thinks his team has been unfairly written off:

"It's disrespectful. I mean, whatever though. I feel like we've got to prove it though. We've got to start winning national TV games, we've got to start winning big games. Like this is a big game. We've got to start winning those I think to be talked about in the same (breath as the) 4-5 Saints. They're 4-5 just like us, but we want to be talked about like that we've got to start winning games."

If the Lions want to make the playoffs, they need to start winning. Next up for Detroit is a crucial NFC North contest against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Kickoff from Ford Field in Detroit is set for 1 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised on FOX.