ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell inherited a team that collapsed in the second half of the season a year ago, losing six of its final seven games and failing to win a division title for the 20th straight year.
The Lions are in position again at the halfway point of the season to end that drought. They're 6-2 and have a one-game lead in the NFC North.
But despite rising expectations, Caldwell knows that it's way too early to start talking or even thinking playoffs.
"The halfway point means nothing," he said Monday during his weekly news conference. "They don't give out any halfway trophies.
"This is the time of year, it's November, when you better be at your absolute best because this is when the difference is made."
The Lions take a three-game winning streak into Sunday's game at Ford Field against the Miami Dolphins (5-3), who have also won their last three.
As of today, the Lions are the No. 2 seed in the NFC and would host a divisional-round playoff game in January.
How they fare in the next three weeks, however, could determine how realistic that scenario is for Caldwell's team.
After facing what the coach calls a "red hot" Miami team, the Lions have road trips the next two weeks to face arguably the top team in each conference -- Arizona (7-1) from the NFC, and New England (7-2) from the AFC.
"You can't look too far ahead, particularly not in this business," Caldwell said. "It's a day-by-day business, it's a minute-by-minute business, it's a game-by-game business. We have to keep our guys focused in on that.
"It's the time of year where things can get a little distorted and out of whack if you don't pay attention to the job you have to get done.
"We've got to work on every single facet of our operation. I mean all of it, and we better find a way to get better at it. That's the key. And we better get better fast. We have to get better every single week."
The Lions took a lot of momentum into their bye week, but now they have to figure out a way to regain those good vibes.
It's not easy to do. Some teams lose their edge during the week off.
"When I was younger, I didn't like bye weeks," Caldwell said. "I thought that they got you out of rhythm. You like the rhythm you're in, you're accustomed to a routine.
"Often times, once you do get out of a routine, it's difficult to get it back in. We'll kind of see where we are when we kick that thing off on Sunday."
With so many injured players, including receiver Calvin Johnson, the bye week did give the Lions a chance to get healthier.
"When you look at the other side of it, we needed healing," Caldwell said. "It's given us a chance to get some guys closer to where they should be.
"I think it's of value. I think I can put up with a little bit of my concern about rhythm and those kinds of things."
