Nate Burleson thinks Lions are 'back where we need to be'

After a tumultuous offseason and a frustrating start to the 2012 campaign, Detroit Lions receiver Nate Burleson is confident that his team is back to playing with the high level of intensity it displayed throughout much of last season.

The veteran receiver told Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press that the Lions allowed their numerous arrests and incidents from the offseason to spill over into the regular season and affect their play on the field. Only now, Burleson says, have things finally started to get back to normal.

"The perception of this organization started to change," Burleson said. "I think everybody took it in their own hands to be better men off the field, and that followed us a little bit on the field. But I think we're back where we need to be."

The Lions currently sit alone in fourth place in the NFC North after six weeks, but still control much of their own destiny with five games remaining against divisional opponents. This week's Monday Night Football showdown with the division-leading Chicago Bears will be a true litmus test for Burleson and the Lions however, and it remains to be seen if a Week 6 win over Philadelphia will actually be the kickstart for which this team has been looking.