Lions vs Rams Pre-game

As crazy as it sounds, the first game of the season could almost be labeled a "Must Win" for the Lions.

Let us not beat around the bush. The Rams this year, are not a good team. However high some thought of Bradford, he will never be near as good as Stafford is now, much less how good Stafford will be. The Rams lone bright star is their Running Back, Steven Jackson. Stop him and you virtually stop the Rams offense. On the other side of the ball, the Rams defense simply does not have a chance to stop the Lions high powered offense. The Lions will score points. This is not a game the Lions should lose, and a loss here would nearly be an early end to the Lions season.

Yes I know there are sixteen games in a season and one loss is not the end of the world. But one loss can be close to it in the NFL if it happens the right way.

Some say the Lions will win 10 games in 2012. There are many, like me, who predict a step back and a 9-7 season. Whatever you predict, everyone has the Lions beating the Rams. To lose this week, the Lions would be taking a loss where a sure win was expected, and those are not easy to make up for.

The Lions would have a bad loss to start the season and then have to go into San Francisco where they are expected by most to lose. If the Lions start the season off 0-2, I would almost be afraid to read the ensuing articles.

It is a good thing the Lions wont have to worry about that.

Stafford is one of the best QBs in the NFL. I dont care what the experts rank him. He is throwing to the absolute best WR in the NFL in Calvin Johnson. With good WR's like Titus Young, Nate Burleson, and Brandon Pettigrew also roaming the field, their is just too many good receivers for the Rams to cover.  The Lions will be without their only true hope of a good running back this year, with LeShoure serving a two game suspension. They wont need him this week. The Rams defense just isnt good enough to stop the Lions passing game.

If there is a real reason to worry, it would be the Lions defense. I am not a believer that Bradford is good enough to win games that depend on his arm. But then again, he wont face too many secondaries as bad as Detroits.  IF it comes down to a shootout, the Lions should still win, but if there is a way the Rams could possibly pull it out, thats how it would happen. If the Lions secondary cannot even stop Bradford, they will be in for a long year.

I am not even worried about it. Stafford will throw for over 250 yards and two touchdowns, and the Lions will get three sacks to start the season, 1-0.

Lions 27
Rams 17