The Detroit Lions have beaten the Miami Dolphins for their third win in a row, officially putting them on a winning streak. Thank-you defense!
Hill had a decent game, but it was not as strong as his numbers would make it look. He ended the day completing 53.8% of his passes as he went 14 for 26 and threw for 222 yards. Hill had two touchdowns and no picks. 53 yards of that came when Jahvid Best took a short pass to the right side and sprinted away for a long touchdown. Take away that one play, and you have a mediocre day for Hill. Nothing great and nothing horrible.
With Hill under center, the Lions running game once again was virtually invisible as they totaled only 67 yards on the ground.
It was looking like a sure loss for the Detroit Lions team late in the 4th quarter. Then with 4:37 left in the game, and down by ten points, the Lions started a drive from their own 47 yard line. The entire drive only needed one play as Jahvid Best took the short pass to the house to make the score 27-24 Miami.
Only 50 seconds later, Nick Vasher intercepted Chad Henne and gave the ball back to the Lions at the Miami 36 yard line. Four plays later, Rayner kicked a 47 yard field goal to tie the game 27-27.
33 seconds after that, with only 2:11 left in the game, DeAndre Levy picked off Chad Henne and took the ball in for a defensive touchdown, giving the Lions a 34-27 lead. Then with the Dolphins pushing to come back, the Lions defense held tight, allowing 64 yards on 10 plays. With 19 seconds left, Chad Henne passed to the left sideline but the defense got to the receiver before he could get out of bounds. Before Miami could spike the ball to stop the clock, time ran out and the Lions have won their third game in a row.
12/25/10
Lions vs Dolphins Pregame Week-16
A day after Christmas and the Lions will either give the Detroit fans a reason to cheer, or a reason to wipe more tears. Much of this depends on who Jim Schwartz plays at quarterback.
The Tale of Two Quarterbacks...
Shaun Hill: In the first two drives he may look good, but keep in mind that these are usually the plays that Linehan has scripted to start the game. After those plays run out, Hill always reverts back to a very conservative quarterback who refuses to throw more than seven yards down field. The only time he comes out of that shell is when they are behind and forced to pass down field while the defense is in more of a prevent defense. During the middle 40 minutes of the game, when Hill refuses to throw more than seven yards, the defense will cheat up on the line. This allows the linebackers and safeties to fill any running lanes much quicker.
Knowing Hill will not throw deep, and playing close to the line of scrimmage, the defense only needs to focus on the running game and short routes. Thus the running game is shut down and the passing game is sporadic. For 40 minutes the Lions offense will sputter and drives will end too soon, not allowing the Lions defense to get enough rest.
Then in the fourth quarter, the Lions defense is too tired to get any continuous pressure on opposing quarterbacks and the Lions fall behind. Then the opposing defense will look to protect a late lead, play a prevent scheme, and since the Lions are now playing catch-up, Hill is forced to throw down field. This is when Hill pads most of his throwing stats.
Drew Stanton: Not a very accurate quarterback when throwing the ball more than ten yards down field. The farther he throws the ball, the more he is likely to miss by. So why use him right? For one, you use him because he is "willing" to throw down field. Whether he is any good at it or not, the fact he is willing to throw it down field creates a threat to the defense of being beaten deep. This forces the defense to back off the line of scrimmage a little, causing them to take longer to fill running lanes.
Then there is the fact that Stanton is a decent threat to take off running with the ball on any play. This forces the defense to worry about him keeping the ball, so they cannot simply key on the running backs. Not being able to focus on the Lions RBs, and needing to play back a little, the Lions running backs suddenly find themselves with more room to run. This is why the Lions running game has come to life in the three games that Stanton has started at quarterback.
Since the Lions running game has come to life, it no longer forces the quarterback to throw the ball much, explaining why Stanton has so many less yards per game. The lesser completion percentage simply comes from his incompletions while throwing down field. The incompletions hurt, but the fact that they help open up the running game makes it more than worth it.
Because the running game is working, the Lions have a few more sustained drives in the middle of the game, giving the defense more time to rest. This allows them to still have the energy to pressure a quarterback in the fourth quarter. More sustained drives, a better running game and more pressure on opposing quarterbacks late in games leads to victories.
The Coaches Decision....
Schwartz has already stated that he will not name a starting quarterback until game time Sunday. Though Hill is actually a better passing quarterback than Stanton is, it is Stanton's other tangibles that gives the Lions a much stronger chance for a win.
Yet even if Schwartz does choose Hill to start, there is one reason to hope still. Though Hill is not a running threat, he can become one. Hill is not a bad runner with the ball. He simply doesn't like to run. Just like he does not like to pass more than seven yards. If Linehan would give Hill a few keepers to place him as a running threat, and force him to throw the ball down field some times, he would be a better quarterback to have under center than Stanton.
The problem is that after so many games with Hill as the quarterback, if he was going to start throwing down field, he would have done it by now. I don't believe he will do it and I don't believe he will run much. If Hill is placed under center, the Lions running game will disappear again and the defensive line will once again be too exhausted to pressure the quarterback in the fourth quarter.
The Dolphins....
Miami is 7-7 this season. They have only lost one game on the road and only won one game at home. The Lions are playing in Miami. With the Dolphins home woes, and the road loss streak off the Lions backs, this is prime opportunity for the Lions to win a third game in a row. But the Lions offensive line will have to play well because Miami is one of the better pass rushing teams in the NFL.
The Tale of Two Quarterbacks...
Shaun Hill: In the first two drives he may look good, but keep in mind that these are usually the plays that Linehan has scripted to start the game. After those plays run out, Hill always reverts back to a very conservative quarterback who refuses to throw more than seven yards down field. The only time he comes out of that shell is when they are behind and forced to pass down field while the defense is in more of a prevent defense. During the middle 40 minutes of the game, when Hill refuses to throw more than seven yards, the defense will cheat up on the line. This allows the linebackers and safeties to fill any running lanes much quicker.
Knowing Hill will not throw deep, and playing close to the line of scrimmage, the defense only needs to focus on the running game and short routes. Thus the running game is shut down and the passing game is sporadic. For 40 minutes the Lions offense will sputter and drives will end too soon, not allowing the Lions defense to get enough rest.
Then in the fourth quarter, the Lions defense is too tired to get any continuous pressure on opposing quarterbacks and the Lions fall behind. Then the opposing defense will look to protect a late lead, play a prevent scheme, and since the Lions are now playing catch-up, Hill is forced to throw down field. This is when Hill pads most of his throwing stats.
Drew Stanton: Not a very accurate quarterback when throwing the ball more than ten yards down field. The farther he throws the ball, the more he is likely to miss by. So why use him right? For one, you use him because he is "willing" to throw down field. Whether he is any good at it or not, the fact he is willing to throw it down field creates a threat to the defense of being beaten deep. This forces the defense to back off the line of scrimmage a little, causing them to take longer to fill running lanes.
Then there is the fact that Stanton is a decent threat to take off running with the ball on any play. This forces the defense to worry about him keeping the ball, so they cannot simply key on the running backs. Not being able to focus on the Lions RBs, and needing to play back a little, the Lions running backs suddenly find themselves with more room to run. This is why the Lions running game has come to life in the three games that Stanton has started at quarterback.
Since the Lions running game has come to life, it no longer forces the quarterback to throw the ball much, explaining why Stanton has so many less yards per game. The lesser completion percentage simply comes from his incompletions while throwing down field. The incompletions hurt, but the fact that they help open up the running game makes it more than worth it.
Because the running game is working, the Lions have a few more sustained drives in the middle of the game, giving the defense more time to rest. This allows them to still have the energy to pressure a quarterback in the fourth quarter. More sustained drives, a better running game and more pressure on opposing quarterbacks late in games leads to victories.
The Coaches Decision....
Schwartz has already stated that he will not name a starting quarterback until game time Sunday. Though Hill is actually a better passing quarterback than Stanton is, it is Stanton's other tangibles that gives the Lions a much stronger chance for a win.
Yet even if Schwartz does choose Hill to start, there is one reason to hope still. Though Hill is not a running threat, he can become one. Hill is not a bad runner with the ball. He simply doesn't like to run. Just like he does not like to pass more than seven yards. If Linehan would give Hill a few keepers to place him as a running threat, and force him to throw the ball down field some times, he would be a better quarterback to have under center than Stanton.
The problem is that after so many games with Hill as the quarterback, if he was going to start throwing down field, he would have done it by now. I don't believe he will do it and I don't believe he will run much. If Hill is placed under center, the Lions running game will disappear again and the defensive line will once again be too exhausted to pressure the quarterback in the fourth quarter.
The Dolphins....
Miami is 7-7 this season. They have only lost one game on the road and only won one game at home. The Lions are playing in Miami. With the Dolphins home woes, and the road loss streak off the Lions backs, this is prime opportunity for the Lions to win a third game in a row. But the Lions offensive line will have to play well because Miami is one of the better pass rushing teams in the NFL.
12/24/10
Lions Fans Have a Special Christmas this Year
Its been three long years since the Lions have won a road game. It has been three years since the Lions have won back to back weeks. It has also been three long years since the Lions fans have been able to enjoy Christmas after a Detroit Lions victory rather than a loss.
Here we are on Christmas Eve and feeling good as Lions fans. We have stopped the road loss streak, won back to back games, and there is even talk about the possibilities of the Lions ending the 2010 season with a four game winning streak.
It makes for a special Christmas to know the Lions are figuring out how to win games. To know they are doing so while using their third string quarterback, Drew Stanton, and third string running back, Maurice Morris. It makes one wonder what will be in store next season if Matthew Stafford and Jahvid Best can both be at full strength.
For my own personal self, this will be a very special Christmas. A week into December, my wife and I had a mere $150 in our bank account and still had not paid rent. I had a brother I was confident would loan us the money (he has that kind of honor about him to care for family), but I could not find it in me to ask him if I had no way of paying him back. Since I had been out of work since 2008, I just did not see any chance of it.
My wife was having such a hard time with it, that she applied for a small limit credit card, only in hopes of buying her kids some Christmas gifts.
I was praying harder than I have prayed in years. Not for myself, but because I have a family to care for. I asked for others to pray as well. My mother sent out prayer requests.
On the 9th of December I got up in the morning and sat down at my computer. As always, the first thing I do is open my e-mail and hope there will be some kind of reply to one of the many jobs I have applied for. There was nothing. Noticing I had a lot of junk mail building up, I opened the folder to clean it out. I clicked on the "select all" and was just about to hit delete when my eyes fell on a name that looked familiar. The subject was "Possible Opportunity". Still sounded like junk mail to me, but the name was someone I had worked with in the past, though I wasn't sure of the spelling. So I decided it hurts nothing to look.
It was the person I knew from the last engineering company I worked for, over two years earlier. I knew the company was bought out and struggling, so I never bother sending my resume to them. A couple of the guys I worked with who are still there, saw my facebook posting and mentioned me to the manager. He e-mailed me and I started that Monday. A few days later, my wife received that credit card.
Yesterday I received my first check (with overtime), and today we are doing some last minute Christmas shopping.
We were to a place where we were going to face eviction from our apartment, no money to buy any gifts much less pay late bills and absolutely no hope for the future. All we had left was our faith in God, and that I will admit was very limited. Today we have relief with seeing hope for the future, we are getting a few gifts for her kids, paid rent (Thanks to my brother) and just all around much happier.
Some might say it was coincidence. Some may believe whatever they want. If you were here and saw how it all happened, there is no doubt in our eyes that God waited until we could not deny it was him coming through for us. And I will be having one of my happier Christmas's ever.
Putting the recent good things with the Lions on top of that only makes it that much better.
To all the Lions fans out there, and to anyone else who might read this post. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and please, please keep your faith.
Here we are on Christmas Eve and feeling good as Lions fans. We have stopped the road loss streak, won back to back games, and there is even talk about the possibilities of the Lions ending the 2010 season with a four game winning streak.
It makes for a special Christmas to know the Lions are figuring out how to win games. To know they are doing so while using their third string quarterback, Drew Stanton, and third string running back, Maurice Morris. It makes one wonder what will be in store next season if Matthew Stafford and Jahvid Best can both be at full strength.
For my own personal self, this will be a very special Christmas. A week into December, my wife and I had a mere $150 in our bank account and still had not paid rent. I had a brother I was confident would loan us the money (he has that kind of honor about him to care for family), but I could not find it in me to ask him if I had no way of paying him back. Since I had been out of work since 2008, I just did not see any chance of it.
My wife was having such a hard time with it, that she applied for a small limit credit card, only in hopes of buying her kids some Christmas gifts.
I was praying harder than I have prayed in years. Not for myself, but because I have a family to care for. I asked for others to pray as well. My mother sent out prayer requests.
On the 9th of December I got up in the morning and sat down at my computer. As always, the first thing I do is open my e-mail and hope there will be some kind of reply to one of the many jobs I have applied for. There was nothing. Noticing I had a lot of junk mail building up, I opened the folder to clean it out. I clicked on the "select all" and was just about to hit delete when my eyes fell on a name that looked familiar. The subject was "Possible Opportunity". Still sounded like junk mail to me, but the name was someone I had worked with in the past, though I wasn't sure of the spelling. So I decided it hurts nothing to look.
It was the person I knew from the last engineering company I worked for, over two years earlier. I knew the company was bought out and struggling, so I never bother sending my resume to them. A couple of the guys I worked with who are still there, saw my facebook posting and mentioned me to the manager. He e-mailed me and I started that Monday. A few days later, my wife received that credit card.
Yesterday I received my first check (with overtime), and today we are doing some last minute Christmas shopping.
We were to a place where we were going to face eviction from our apartment, no money to buy any gifts much less pay late bills and absolutely no hope for the future. All we had left was our faith in God, and that I will admit was very limited. Today we have relief with seeing hope for the future, we are getting a few gifts for her kids, paid rent (Thanks to my brother) and just all around much happier.
Some might say it was coincidence. Some may believe whatever they want. If you were here and saw how it all happened, there is no doubt in our eyes that God waited until we could not deny it was him coming through for us. And I will be having one of my happier Christmas's ever.
Putting the recent good things with the Lions on top of that only makes it that much better.
To all the Lions fans out there, and to anyone else who might read this post. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and please, please keep your faith.
NFL Gives Lions a Slap in the Face
In Sundays victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there was a questionable call. Josh Freeman threw up a blooper to Kellen Winslow in the endzone. Winslow and C.C.Brown got tangled up and as they separated, Winslow caught the touchdown. It was called back for offensive pass interference. Some Lions fans press that it was a good call because Winslow had a hold of Brown and would not let him turn around to see the ball, then pushed off to get the separation. In my opinion, both players were guilty of infractions. Brown never made any attempt to turn to face the ball. Even if he was being held, if he had tried, his head would have at least tried to look behind him. It never did. Yet Winslow did push off and that was an infraction as well.
The NFL has recently sent the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a letter with an official apology for the call, saying that pass interference should never have been called. .... Really!
After the ridiculous debacle in the first week where the Calvin Johnson game winning touchdown was taken away over a terribly interpreted rule, the NFL did not apologize to the Lions. It stood behind its referee's decision. The fact that on the very next play, there was pass interference as Johnson had a player draped all over him didn't matter. There was no apology for that either.
In Philadelphia, Jeremy Maclin blatantly shoved off of the Lions defender to catch a touchdown and no call was made. It was the difference between a win and a loss for the Lions. No apology for that.
In Green Bay when he Lions needed a first down to be in field goal range to tie it up, Woodson was shoving on Calvin Johnson his entire route. After the ball was thrown, he continued to shove on him. As the ball got to him, Woodson was all over Johnson, and no flag was thrown. A penalty would have given the Lions a first down in field goal range. Yet no apology came from the NFL for the refs mistake.
Against the Giants, Gosder Cherilus was called for illegal formation. The TV analysts went over the replay and could not find any infraction whatsoever. In that same game, Shaun Hill was hit low around the knees, forcing him to fall forward and ended up breaking his arm. No flag for a low hit on the quarterback. Again, no apology from the NFL for two big mistakes by the refs.
Against the Cowboys, Ndamukong Suh was called for a horse collar penalty. Everyone but the refs saw him grab the running back by his dreadlocks (which is legal). Replay was shown right away and made it obvious there was no horse collar penalty. The refs converged and came away sticking with the horse collar penalty. No apology from the NFL.
When Chicago came to Detroit, Suh again was flagged with a penalty that never occurred. He was chasing quarterback Jay Cutler from behind and gave him a two handed shove in the back of the pads to knock him down. He could have grabbed him, wrapped him up and drove him to the turf, but he chose to simply shove him down. Replays showed it was a two handed shove and you could even see the open palms of his hands as he hit Cutler in the back of the pads. The refs, however, flagged Suh with unsportsmanlike like conduct for hitting the quarterback in the back of the head with a forearm. Did the NFL send an apology for such a bad call? No, they fined Ndamukong Suh $15,000 even though replay showed he never committed the foul.
Over and over the referees have made blatantly bad calls against the Lions or have ignored penalties against the Lions opponents and yet the NFL has not sent even one letter of apology to the Lions for any one of the mistakes. Instead, it chooses to send a letter of apology to the Buccaneers for a mistake on a questionable and very arguable call. To make it worse, it was the Lions who the NFL has continuously ignored who was the Buccaneers opponent. Almost as if the NFL wanted to make it clear that they will support other teams on questionable calls, but ignore the blatant beating the referees have laid on the Lions multiple times this season.
It has been enough to make me wonder, just what did the Fords do to acquire the wrath of the NFL?
The NFL has recently sent the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a letter with an official apology for the call, saying that pass interference should never have been called. .... Really!
After the ridiculous debacle in the first week where the Calvin Johnson game winning touchdown was taken away over a terribly interpreted rule, the NFL did not apologize to the Lions. It stood behind its referee's decision. The fact that on the very next play, there was pass interference as Johnson had a player draped all over him didn't matter. There was no apology for that either.
In Philadelphia, Jeremy Maclin blatantly shoved off of the Lions defender to catch a touchdown and no call was made. It was the difference between a win and a loss for the Lions. No apology for that.
In Green Bay when he Lions needed a first down to be in field goal range to tie it up, Woodson was shoving on Calvin Johnson his entire route. After the ball was thrown, he continued to shove on him. As the ball got to him, Woodson was all over Johnson, and no flag was thrown. A penalty would have given the Lions a first down in field goal range. Yet no apology came from the NFL for the refs mistake.
Against the Giants, Gosder Cherilus was called for illegal formation. The TV analysts went over the replay and could not find any infraction whatsoever. In that same game, Shaun Hill was hit low around the knees, forcing him to fall forward and ended up breaking his arm. No flag for a low hit on the quarterback. Again, no apology from the NFL for two big mistakes by the refs.
Against the Cowboys, Ndamukong Suh was called for a horse collar penalty. Everyone but the refs saw him grab the running back by his dreadlocks (which is legal). Replay was shown right away and made it obvious there was no horse collar penalty. The refs converged and came away sticking with the horse collar penalty. No apology from the NFL.
When Chicago came to Detroit, Suh again was flagged with a penalty that never occurred. He was chasing quarterback Jay Cutler from behind and gave him a two handed shove in the back of the pads to knock him down. He could have grabbed him, wrapped him up and drove him to the turf, but he chose to simply shove him down. Replays showed it was a two handed shove and you could even see the open palms of his hands as he hit Cutler in the back of the pads. The refs, however, flagged Suh with unsportsmanlike like conduct for hitting the quarterback in the back of the head with a forearm. Did the NFL send an apology for such a bad call? No, they fined Ndamukong Suh $15,000 even though replay showed he never committed the foul.
Over and over the referees have made blatantly bad calls against the Lions or have ignored penalties against the Lions opponents and yet the NFL has not sent even one letter of apology to the Lions for any one of the mistakes. Instead, it chooses to send a letter of apology to the Buccaneers for a mistake on a questionable and very arguable call. To make it worse, it was the Lions who the NFL has continuously ignored who was the Buccaneers opponent. Almost as if the NFL wanted to make it clear that they will support other teams on questionable calls, but ignore the blatant beating the referees have laid on the Lions multiple times this season.
It has been enough to make me wonder, just what did the Fords do to acquire the wrath of the NFL?
12/19/10
Lions Get One For the Road
The Detroit Lions beat the Buccaneers 23 to 20 and for the first time in over three years the Lions have won a game on the road. For the first time in three years Detroit has won two games in a row. And they have done it with their third string quarterback.
Drew Stanton was on the mark toady in Tampa Bay as he completed 62% of his passes for 252 yards and a touchdown. In the last minutes of the game, he drove the Lions 58 yards to set up the game tying field goal as time ran out. Then in overtime, he completed his only two attempts as the Lions drove 63 more yards to finally kick the game winning field goal.
As good as Stanton was today, the more impressive thing was that it was the second week in a row that he put together a good drive with the game on the line to pull out a victory. Yet it was not Drew Stanton who was the true hero in today's victory over the Buccaneers. The biggest hero was Maurice Morris.
Morris was practically unstoppable today as he racked up 109 yards on only 15 carries. He also had a touchdown.
In 2009, Morris got a chance to play more when Kevin Smith went down with an injury and he took advantage of it. He was outstanding in all but one game as a starter last year. Yet it was not good enough. When Smith came back from his injury this year, he took over the back-up role behind Jahvid Best and Morris was pushed back to the third string. With Best struggling through two turf toes and Smith once again injured, Morris got the opportunity again this season. He has answered again with the Lions two best running games of the season.
Calvin Johnson was great again as well as he caught ten passes for 152 yards. In overtime he had a leaping grab at the sideline that he caught stretched out and came down with both feet in bounds as he fell out of bounds. It was good to see a quarterback use Johnson's height to his advantage.
Hats off to Drew Stanton and Maurice Morris, for they have moved from the third string nobodies to the starters and have led the Lions to their first two game win streak and first road game in over three years.
Drew Stanton was on the mark toady in Tampa Bay as he completed 62% of his passes for 252 yards and a touchdown. In the last minutes of the game, he drove the Lions 58 yards to set up the game tying field goal as time ran out. Then in overtime, he completed his only two attempts as the Lions drove 63 more yards to finally kick the game winning field goal.
As good as Stanton was today, the more impressive thing was that it was the second week in a row that he put together a good drive with the game on the line to pull out a victory. Yet it was not Drew Stanton who was the true hero in today's victory over the Buccaneers. The biggest hero was Maurice Morris.
Morris was practically unstoppable today as he racked up 109 yards on only 15 carries. He also had a touchdown.
In 2009, Morris got a chance to play more when Kevin Smith went down with an injury and he took advantage of it. He was outstanding in all but one game as a starter last year. Yet it was not good enough. When Smith came back from his injury this year, he took over the back-up role behind Jahvid Best and Morris was pushed back to the third string. With Best struggling through two turf toes and Smith once again injured, Morris got the opportunity again this season. He has answered again with the Lions two best running games of the season.
Calvin Johnson was great again as well as he caught ten passes for 152 yards. In overtime he had a leaping grab at the sideline that he caught stretched out and came down with both feet in bounds as he fell out of bounds. It was good to see a quarterback use Johnson's height to his advantage.
Hats off to Drew Stanton and Maurice Morris, for they have moved from the third string nobodies to the starters and have led the Lions to their first two game win streak and first road game in over three years.
12/18/10
Lions vs Bucs Pregame Week-14
After an ugly but glorious victory against the Packers, the Detroit Lions will not try to do it again in Tampa Bay. A victory would be the Lions first road win since October 28th, 2007. Coincidentally, October 28th and November 4th was the last time the Lions won back to back weeks.
It will be a contest of two extremely different teams. The Bucs offense is ranked 11th in rushing the ball but they are 21st in passing. The Lions are 11th in passing but rank only 27th in rushing the ball.
Against the Packers, the Lions defense was dominating as the Wrecking Crew blew up plays from start to finish. They will have to do the same again for the Lions to win their first road game after 26 straight losses.
Though Jim Schwartz has not named a starter yet, you can count on it being Drew Stanton under center come game time. Stanton has had one good game that ended up a loss and a very bad game in which he drove the team down the field in the fourth quarter to beat the Packers. He is not the prettiest passer in the game, but he is gritty and can sustain drives with his legs. Stanton also has shown he can put it together when the game is on the line and pull out a win.
Stanton's bad game in last weeks victory came against one of the best pass rushing defenses in the NFL. This week he will face one of the worst in the NFL. With extra time to throw, you can expect him to get a little more comfortable in the pocket and his numbers should look up.
It is also my belief that his ability to run with the ball forces defenses to worry about him and not focus solely on the Lions running backs. In turn, it gives the RBs a little more room to run the ball. In the two games Stanton has been under center, the Lions have had their best running games.
The Buccaneers may be 7-5, and because they have won 4 more games than the Lions, most will not pick the Lions to win. I think this is the week the Lions will break that losing streak and win two games in a row. The Bucs have not beaten a good team this year and have been blown out by the Steelers and Saints. The Lions have played plenty of very good teams this year and have not really been blown out by anyone.
DET = 20
T.B. = 17
It will be a contest of two extremely different teams. The Bucs offense is ranked 11th in rushing the ball but they are 21st in passing. The Lions are 11th in passing but rank only 27th in rushing the ball.
Against the Packers, the Lions defense was dominating as the Wrecking Crew blew up plays from start to finish. They will have to do the same again for the Lions to win their first road game after 26 straight losses.
Though Jim Schwartz has not named a starter yet, you can count on it being Drew Stanton under center come game time. Stanton has had one good game that ended up a loss and a very bad game in which he drove the team down the field in the fourth quarter to beat the Packers. He is not the prettiest passer in the game, but he is gritty and can sustain drives with his legs. Stanton also has shown he can put it together when the game is on the line and pull out a win.
Stanton's bad game in last weeks victory came against one of the best pass rushing defenses in the NFL. This week he will face one of the worst in the NFL. With extra time to throw, you can expect him to get a little more comfortable in the pocket and his numbers should look up.
It is also my belief that his ability to run with the ball forces defenses to worry about him and not focus solely on the Lions running backs. In turn, it gives the RBs a little more room to run the ball. In the two games Stanton has been under center, the Lions have had their best running games.
The Buccaneers may be 7-5, and because they have won 4 more games than the Lions, most will not pick the Lions to win. I think this is the week the Lions will break that losing streak and win two games in a row. The Bucs have not beaten a good team this year and have been blown out by the Steelers and Saints. The Lions have played plenty of very good teams this year and have not really been blown out by anyone.
DET = 20
T.B. = 17
12/12/10
Lions vs Packers Pregame Week-14
The Packers will face the Lions here in Detroit this time and both teams have a point to make. The Packers will want to prove that the Lions not as good as they looked when they gave the Packers a run for their money in Green Bay. The Lions want to show that they almost beat the Packers for a good reason and that can only be proven with a win.
Aaron Rodgers has shown the NFL that he is one of the top quarterbacks again this season and is in the top-5 of quarterbacks in Yards, Touchdowns and QB Rating. Rodgers is third in the NFL with an 8.1 yard average per attempt. The question then, is how will the Lions counter this?
As usual the Detroit Lions will come after the opposing quarterback with their great defensive line, but how long will that last? When will the Wrecking Crew grow too tired to put any real pressure on Rodgers? Will it be in the third quarter or fourth? Will Gunther give them help and start blitzing more late in the game, or will he do what he usually does and leave them fending for themselves? Without help from the blitz late in games, the Lions defensive line often grows too tired to get to the quarterback and this only allows that QB to relax in the pocket as he waits for plays to develop. The Lions back seven on defense simply is not good enough to cover for any length of time.
As much as pressuring Rodgers is a key to the game, there is one that is even more important. How will that Lions use Drew Stanton this week? Will he continue to dink and dunk and never throw down field? If so, the Lions are in real trouble. The Packers defense will play in tight, cheat on the line of scrimmage and take away more running room as well as receivers routes. Drives will stall out quicker and the Lions defensive line will be on the field too much, growing tired to quickly.
Maurice Morris and Jahvid Best looked as good as any Lions running backs have this year. Can they improve on last weeks play? Or was that a fluke, where they will revert back to the dismal production of the ten games prior to that?
Quite frankly, there are not too many who give the Lions even a remote chance of beating the Packers this week. I am one of the few and believe me, I only give them a remote chance at best. In the end, I expect more conservative play calling by both coordinators, the usual weekly screw job by the refs and an upset from eating too much while watching the game.
G.B. = 34
Det. = 27
Aaron Rodgers has shown the NFL that he is one of the top quarterbacks again this season and is in the top-5 of quarterbacks in Yards, Touchdowns and QB Rating. Rodgers is third in the NFL with an 8.1 yard average per attempt. The question then, is how will the Lions counter this?
As usual the Detroit Lions will come after the opposing quarterback with their great defensive line, but how long will that last? When will the Wrecking Crew grow too tired to put any real pressure on Rodgers? Will it be in the third quarter or fourth? Will Gunther give them help and start blitzing more late in the game, or will he do what he usually does and leave them fending for themselves? Without help from the blitz late in games, the Lions defensive line often grows too tired to get to the quarterback and this only allows that QB to relax in the pocket as he waits for plays to develop. The Lions back seven on defense simply is not good enough to cover for any length of time.
As much as pressuring Rodgers is a key to the game, there is one that is even more important. How will that Lions use Drew Stanton this week? Will he continue to dink and dunk and never throw down field? If so, the Lions are in real trouble. The Packers defense will play in tight, cheat on the line of scrimmage and take away more running room as well as receivers routes. Drives will stall out quicker and the Lions defensive line will be on the field too much, growing tired to quickly.
Maurice Morris and Jahvid Best looked as good as any Lions running backs have this year. Can they improve on last weeks play? Or was that a fluke, where they will revert back to the dismal production of the ten games prior to that?
Quite frankly, there are not too many who give the Lions even a remote chance of beating the Packers this week. I am one of the few and believe me, I only give them a remote chance at best. In the end, I expect more conservative play calling by both coordinators, the usual weekly screw job by the refs and an upset from eating too much while watching the game.
G.B. = 34
Det. = 27
12/6/10
Lions Lose Another Close One Against Chicago
With just over nine minutes left in the game, the Detroit Lions held a 20 - 17 lead over the Chicago Bears. They were giving up a long drive to Chicago, but the Lions were still playing with passion. Then the refs once again pulled the old screw over the Lions gig and made up a penalty that was never committed to send the Lions team reeling, to eventually lose 24-20.
With 9:06 left in the game, and the Lions trying to hold onto a lead, Bears quarterback, Jay Cutler felt the pressure and tucked the ball down and ran with it. He was clearly past the line of scrimmage, making him fair game to be tackled so long as he didn't slide feet first. Ndamukong Suh made chase and ran him down from behind and gave Cutler a two handed shove to the ground. Granted, it was a hard shove, but it was a legal hit as he hit him with open palms to the back of the shoulder pads and shoved him forward to the ground. The refs however, called unsportsmanlike conduct, saying Suh hit Cutler with a forearm to the back of the helmet. So instead of having 2nd and 2 yards to go at the Lions 14 yard line, the Bears had a 1st and goal at the Lions 7 yard line.
Before that ridiculous penalty, the Lions were giving up yards, but they were still playing with aggression. After that penalty it was as if all wind left their sails and the next play resulted in the Bears go ahead and game winning touchdown. It seems as if ever game has one really bad call by the refs that replay reveals never happened. The bad calls always seem to come at critical times for the Lions.
Still it was not the screw job by the refs that cost the Lions this victory. It was the Lions coaches inability to adapt.
After three quarters of football, the Lions had a 20-17 lead and had only allowed 199 total yards of offense to the Bears. Then the Bears made some adjustments and began throwing quick slants, mostly to Earl Bennett. In only two drives in the fourth quarter, the Bears amassed 108 yards, scoring a touchdown in the first drive and running the clock out in the 2nd drive. The Lions however had a total of 4 yards in the entire 4th quarter.
Once again, the Lions opponents made adjustments and the Lions had no answers. Once again, there were no apparent adjustments made by the Lions coaches.
Most of the Lions fan-base expected a loss this week. Most believed it would be because the Lions third string quarterback, Drew Stanton was under center. But the loss is to be laid at the feet of the lack of adjustments and in game coaching rather than Drew Stanton.
Stanton completed 66.7% of his passes while going 16 of 28, for 178 yards. He threw one touchdown and did not turn over the ball. Stanton also ran the ball in for another touchdown. Though his yards were not a lot, he had a very solid game and one that far outdid most fans expectations. He showed poise in the pocket while under pressure and most of his throws were on target and on time. Without a doubt, Stanton played well enough to deserve another game under center while Stafford and Hill heal up.
After taking a week off, Jahvid Best was back in action and finally began to look more like his real self. Best had nine carries for 65 yards, one of which was a 45 yard scramble late in the first half.
With 9:06 left in the game, and the Lions trying to hold onto a lead, Bears quarterback, Jay Cutler felt the pressure and tucked the ball down and ran with it. He was clearly past the line of scrimmage, making him fair game to be tackled so long as he didn't slide feet first. Ndamukong Suh made chase and ran him down from behind and gave Cutler a two handed shove to the ground. Granted, it was a hard shove, but it was a legal hit as he hit him with open palms to the back of the shoulder pads and shoved him forward to the ground. The refs however, called unsportsmanlike conduct, saying Suh hit Cutler with a forearm to the back of the helmet. So instead of having 2nd and 2 yards to go at the Lions 14 yard line, the Bears had a 1st and goal at the Lions 7 yard line.
Before that ridiculous penalty, the Lions were giving up yards, but they were still playing with aggression. After that penalty it was as if all wind left their sails and the next play resulted in the Bears go ahead and game winning touchdown. It seems as if ever game has one really bad call by the refs that replay reveals never happened. The bad calls always seem to come at critical times for the Lions.
Still it was not the screw job by the refs that cost the Lions this victory. It was the Lions coaches inability to adapt.
After three quarters of football, the Lions had a 20-17 lead and had only allowed 199 total yards of offense to the Bears. Then the Bears made some adjustments and began throwing quick slants, mostly to Earl Bennett. In only two drives in the fourth quarter, the Bears amassed 108 yards, scoring a touchdown in the first drive and running the clock out in the 2nd drive. The Lions however had a total of 4 yards in the entire 4th quarter.
Once again, the Lions opponents made adjustments and the Lions had no answers. Once again, there were no apparent adjustments made by the Lions coaches.
Most of the Lions fan-base expected a loss this week. Most believed it would be because the Lions third string quarterback, Drew Stanton was under center. But the loss is to be laid at the feet of the lack of adjustments and in game coaching rather than Drew Stanton.
Stanton completed 66.7% of his passes while going 16 of 28, for 178 yards. He threw one touchdown and did not turn over the ball. Stanton also ran the ball in for another touchdown. Though his yards were not a lot, he had a very solid game and one that far outdid most fans expectations. He showed poise in the pocket while under pressure and most of his throws were on target and on time. Without a doubt, Stanton played well enough to deserve another game under center while Stafford and Hill heal up.
After taking a week off, Jahvid Best was back in action and finally began to look more like his real self. Best had nine carries for 65 yards, one of which was a 45 yard scramble late in the first half.
12/4/10
Lions vs Bears Pregame Week-13
The Detroit Lions will host the Chicago Bears this Sunday in a rematch of the most controversial game of the season in the NFL.
Everyone remembers the first game of the season. When Calvin Jonson made a terrific catch in the end-zone to win the game, only to have the refs call it incomplete. Since that debacle, the two teams have gone in two different directions. It was as if that particular call by the refs have sent the two teams reeling into the positions they are in now.
The Lions, by the letter of the law, should have won that game, but instead took a loss on a bad interpretation of the rule. Before that game, the common belief was that the Bears were looking like a sorry team and the Lions were up and coming. Since that call, the Bears have gone on to continue winning and are now 8-3 and in first in the NFC North division. The Lions however, have continued to have horrific calls and no-calls by the refs as they lose games they have a chance to win. Now the Lions are once again in the cellar with a 2-9 record.
That interpretation of the "Process" rule did something to the NFC North. As if the teams were planets that were knocked out of orbit because of some asteroid storm that passed through. The Bears, who were supposed to be terrible are leading the division. The Lions who were expected to show a lot of improvement, once again have only two wins. Brett Favre in Minnesota has been terrible. The Packers seem like the one team that has been effected the least.
Sometimes however, things have a way of coming full circle and this weekend that circle can be completed. A win by the Lions would, in a strange way, be placing white out on that first week and correcting an error that should have never been made. It could give the Lions some of the confidence back that they have lost in what has been a messed up season. It could be the trigger to send the Lions into a strong surge to end their year so they can actually come into next year with some confidence. But in all honesty, the odds are stacked against the Lions chances for a win.
If both teams had all of their starters healthy, it would be a different story. I would easily choose the Lions to beat the Bears, regardless of the records. But the Lions have taken hits in the worst way. They are once again without the help of their franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford. Their speed demon of a running back, Jahvid Best, is fighting two cases of turf toe. Outside Linebacker, Zack Follett is gone for the season and now defensive leader, Kyle Vander Bosch is injured and will not play. Those are some very big hurdles to jump when you are still on your heels from being spanked in the fourth quarter by Tom Brady on Thanksgiving and on national TV.
Did I mention that Shaun Hill is out as well and the Lions will face the Bears with their third string quarterback, Drew Stanton? Though in all honesty, I do not see that as such a bad thing. Its not that I am so high on Stanton, but I am no longer a believer in Shaun Hill. In several starts, Shaun Hill has simply shown no desire to throw the ball more than seven yards down field. Some believe he does not have the arm to do so, but that is not true. The proof is in the fourth quarters when he does it while playing from behind almost every game. Hill's best playing time, consistently has come in the last ten minutes of the game. If he would show that aggressiveness throughout the entire four quarters, the Lions might have a much better record. But after watching him play more in fear of making a mistake rather than aggressively game after game, I just do not see the Lions having a chance to win with him under center.
So in comes Drew Stanton. Is he a great quarterback? Not right now, that is for sure. But he still gives the Lions a slightly better chance of winning than I think Hill does. Stanton will be more willing to throw down field and trust Calvin Johnson to come down with the ball. On plays when the line cannot stop the rush, he is more likely to pick up a first down with his legs. Yes he will make some mistakes. Especially this weekend which will only be his second start in 4 years. But in all honesty, Matthew Stafford did not look good in his first two starts either.
Likely, the Lions will not win this one and the NFC North division will not have its planets back in orbit. But I do not think it will be a blow out by the Bears either. I do not think Stanton will be horrible this time around and I think the Lions running game will continue to look as it did against the Patriots. But I do not think Gunther will be aggressive enough to help his defensive line out with the blitz and the linemen will once again become exhausted by the fourth quarter, giving up a late score and erasing the Lions chance of a victory again.
Detroit - 20
Chicago - 23
Everyone remembers the first game of the season. When Calvin Jonson made a terrific catch in the end-zone to win the game, only to have the refs call it incomplete. Since that debacle, the two teams have gone in two different directions. It was as if that particular call by the refs have sent the two teams reeling into the positions they are in now.
The Lions, by the letter of the law, should have won that game, but instead took a loss on a bad interpretation of the rule. Before that game, the common belief was that the Bears were looking like a sorry team and the Lions were up and coming. Since that call, the Bears have gone on to continue winning and are now 8-3 and in first in the NFC North division. The Lions however, have continued to have horrific calls and no-calls by the refs as they lose games they have a chance to win. Now the Lions are once again in the cellar with a 2-9 record.
That interpretation of the "Process" rule did something to the NFC North. As if the teams were planets that were knocked out of orbit because of some asteroid storm that passed through. The Bears, who were supposed to be terrible are leading the division. The Lions who were expected to show a lot of improvement, once again have only two wins. Brett Favre in Minnesota has been terrible. The Packers seem like the one team that has been effected the least.
Sometimes however, things have a way of coming full circle and this weekend that circle can be completed. A win by the Lions would, in a strange way, be placing white out on that first week and correcting an error that should have never been made. It could give the Lions some of the confidence back that they have lost in what has been a messed up season. It could be the trigger to send the Lions into a strong surge to end their year so they can actually come into next year with some confidence. But in all honesty, the odds are stacked against the Lions chances for a win.
If both teams had all of their starters healthy, it would be a different story. I would easily choose the Lions to beat the Bears, regardless of the records. But the Lions have taken hits in the worst way. They are once again without the help of their franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford. Their speed demon of a running back, Jahvid Best, is fighting two cases of turf toe. Outside Linebacker, Zack Follett is gone for the season and now defensive leader, Kyle Vander Bosch is injured and will not play. Those are some very big hurdles to jump when you are still on your heels from being spanked in the fourth quarter by Tom Brady on Thanksgiving and on national TV.
Did I mention that Shaun Hill is out as well and the Lions will face the Bears with their third string quarterback, Drew Stanton? Though in all honesty, I do not see that as such a bad thing. Its not that I am so high on Stanton, but I am no longer a believer in Shaun Hill. In several starts, Shaun Hill has simply shown no desire to throw the ball more than seven yards down field. Some believe he does not have the arm to do so, but that is not true. The proof is in the fourth quarters when he does it while playing from behind almost every game. Hill's best playing time, consistently has come in the last ten minutes of the game. If he would show that aggressiveness throughout the entire four quarters, the Lions might have a much better record. But after watching him play more in fear of making a mistake rather than aggressively game after game, I just do not see the Lions having a chance to win with him under center.
So in comes Drew Stanton. Is he a great quarterback? Not right now, that is for sure. But he still gives the Lions a slightly better chance of winning than I think Hill does. Stanton will be more willing to throw down field and trust Calvin Johnson to come down with the ball. On plays when the line cannot stop the rush, he is more likely to pick up a first down with his legs. Yes he will make some mistakes. Especially this weekend which will only be his second start in 4 years. But in all honesty, Matthew Stafford did not look good in his first two starts either.
Likely, the Lions will not win this one and the NFC North division will not have its planets back in orbit. But I do not think it will be a blow out by the Bears either. I do not think Stanton will be horrible this time around and I think the Lions running game will continue to look as it did against the Patriots. But I do not think Gunther will be aggressive enough to help his defensive line out with the blitz and the linemen will once again become exhausted by the fourth quarter, giving up a late score and erasing the Lions chance of a victory again.
Detroit - 20
Chicago - 23
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