Week 14 Preview

Packers @ LIONS

It would not be an unreasonable assumption, given the Lions lost to the Packers by just two points in Green Bay earlier this season, to expect the Lions to turn the tables at home and come away with a victory. But the reality is if the result and Lions performance were surprises at Lambeau it would be quite a shock if this beat up Lions team were to halt their consecutive divisional loss record at 19 and beat the playoff challenging Packers.

Drew Stanton had a fairly good game against the Bears and probably performed better than most, including me, were expecting. But he is the third choice QB for a reason so even when he plays well there is a notable drop off from the two guys ahead of him. We've all been playing a bit of "what if Matthew Stafford" lately when looking at close defeats that might have been victories if our franchise QB had been on the field such has been the general quality of the team. Last weeks Bears loss added "what if Shaun Hill" to the post game analysis so I think with Stafford playing we would have won and with Hill playing we probably would have won. The last two defeats have seen an improvement in the running attack but regrettably still not enough of an improvement for it to change opposition game plans. Our receiving corps are fast catching the D-Line as the best positional group on the team and it would be difficult to argue that they haven't already surpassed the D-Line. The Packers D is a turnover sacking machine so a big game will be needed by our O-Line and Stanton will need to be quick to make the correct decision of whether to stay in the pocket or scramble if he is to avoid being slam dunked to the turf and finding himself joining his QB pals on the sideline with an injury.

With Vanden Bosch lost for the season due to injury and Julian Peterson being largely ineffectual all season there is little veteran presence on the Lions D. The Packers O Line is not the best and the D Line will have to have a great day if the Lions are to prevent Aaron Rogers picking apart our Secondary. The loss of Alphonso Smith for the year provides the opportunity for someone else to step up and claim an interception or two. Suh and Avril may be getting the sacks but it is Williams who probably deserves the most credit for the units success and he will be looking to have a big day against his former team. The D Line has the potential to become legend over the next few years as, with the exception of Vanden Bosch, they are all young and improving and games like this are part of the process of becoming great. It'd be nice if they bash the heck out of Rogers, as they did a with Cutler, because these are the QB's they will be facing for most of their careers and they will not look forward to playing us if they know they're in for a battering.  

Special teams, having already lost Follett, have now lost Ekejiuba to injury and the coverage unit is severely weakened as a result. Logan continues to impress with a consistently decent return game and if it does come down a field goal then there should be no reason to worry about Rayner attempting the kick.

Whilst writing this I almost started to think we had a realistic shot at winning the game, and perhaps we do, but I just can't see it. The two teams are very close statistically and so a close game should be expected but the Lions have yet to find the ability to win these close games and I doubt they'll discover the ability against the Packers who are very much in the hunt for a playoff place. This looks like it will follow the pattern of the season and remain close until the second half when I expect the Pack to pull away.

Prediction:  Packers 28 LIONS 20

Week 13 Preview

Bears @ LIONS

The fine line between success and failure is perfectly exemplified by the differing fortunes of these two teams this season. The Bears got off to a winning start thanks to an official deciding that Calvin Johnson had not completed the process of catching a ball in the End Zone and thus denying the Lions what would likely have been a game winning touchdown. The Bears have managed to accumulate a further 7 wins many of which have been achieved in a similarly unconvincing way as their opening victory. The Lions, on the other hand, have managed to lose a further 8 games, most of which have been in a similarly gut wrenching way as that opening loss to the Bears. So, given the closeness of their original meeting, we should be looking to this fixture with a great deal of optimism shouldn't we? 

The Lions offense looked to have got itself back on track against the Patriots right up until the point Shaun Hill's pass was intercepted in the 2nd half, they'd even finally managed to get a plausible run game going with Maurice Morris cutting through the Patriots time and again. But the interception changed the course of the game and the Lions fell away dramatically in the 4th quarter. A broken finger has denied Hill the chance of redemption and has presented the honour of being the Lions starting QB to Drew Stanton whose most recent contribution was to throw an awful pass that fell incomplete rather than take a sack to keep the clock running late in the game against the Jets. This is Stanton's big chance to make a career for himself in the NFL as neither Hill or Stafford are expected back this season. The Bears defense has improved steadily through the season and former Lions coach Rod Marinelli will be relishing the opportunity to close down the Lions potent offense at Ford Field. If Jeff Backus can remember to block Julius Peppers and the rest of the Lions O Line can provide Stanton with time or Morris with gaps then the Lions could surprise. If the O Line fail to adequately protect Stanton then not only could the scoreboard start to look very ugly but the Lions may well find themselves with Zac Robinson under center.

The D-Line started to show the strain of carrying the D on its shoulders in the 2nd half of the Patriots game and their effectiveness has reduced as minor injuries have taken their toll. It looks like the Lions will be without Vanden Bosch against the Bears this Sunday and his influence could be highlighted by his absence jsut as Avril's was recently. Alphonso Smith will be looking to bounce back from his nightmare game on Thanksgiving Day when Tom Brady and the Patriots decided the Lions CB was the weakest link. Cutler and Martz will be looking to exploit any weaknesses in the Detroit secondary and Smith will need to have a much better outing than his Thanksgiving one. It could be that this is the game that last years rookie studs Levy and Delmas step up and make a game changing play or two as to date each has struggled to have the same impact they managed last year. The Bears have a weak O Line and a QB that is prone to throwing interceptions and if the Lions are to win this game they will need the D Line to rumble through that O Line to sack Cutler or hurry him into throwing incomplete or interceptions.

Logan is one of the leagues better returners and Rayner has proved to be an adequate replacement for Hanson who has now been placed on IR. It's the coverage unit that causes the most concern on Special Teams though and they will need to improve their game against the Bears who are a very dangerous kick return team.

I'd had this game pegged as a Lions win almost since the fixtures were announced and that belief remained until this week. Now though, with the Lions missing a key component of their biggest strength on defense and Drew Stanton as their QB I think victory may be out of our reach. I'm hoping I'm wrong and Stanton is able to lead the team to the victory they should be capable of achieving but unfortunately I can't shake from my mind the end of that Jets game.

Prediction: Bears 31 LIONS 17

Week 12 Preview

Patriots @ LIONS

One of the unexpected benefits of being a Lions fan from outside of the US has been the Thanksgiving Game, especially since it started being televised live, as it has meant I've got to join in the celebrations too. Friends, relatives (especially the wife!) and work colleagues (although I think there's a touch of envy here) all think I am more than a little mad as I take time off to have my own Thanksgiving complete with turkey dinner and all the trimmings. The look on their faces suggests that they think I'm more than a little odd that this celebration is inspired by my love of a team that by and large they have never heard of while the "Really?" I receive when explaining the Lions awful record just about confirms my madness to them. Given the terrible record the Lions have in these games, especially in recent seasons, I'm amazed that I manage to convince myself before the start of each one that we'll win!!!!

The promise of better times ran through us all just a few weeks ago and it was possible then to look ahead to this game with genuine hope. That feeling endured until the last 10 minutes of the Jets game and subsequent road defeats to the Bills & Cowboys have not seen it return. The Lions desperately need a victory to reaffirm that belief in both the fans and, I suspect, the players too. The Patriots may therefore be the perfect opponent for the Lions to be facing as they will not be expected to beat them. There was perhaps a pressure of expectation that this team just wasn't ready for that will be lifted for this game and it may allow the team to play with a little more freedom. A strong showing against the Patriots, even in defeat, may well give us all the boost we need to grab a few victories before the season comes to a close.

The Patriots have the 31st ranked passing defense in the league so hopefully the Lions make a better job of taking advantage of this weakness than they did when trying to run the ball against the Bills league worst rush defense. The competent efficiency of Shaun Hill may not take advantage of the Pats secondary in the same way a fully fit Matthew Stafford would, but it should be enough to keep the Lions in the game. With Jahvid Best clearly suffering from his turf toe injury Maurice Morris will be responsible for the bulk of the Lions ground game. Hopefully Linehan will have taken a leaf out of his opponents book and worked out a gameplan that makes the most of the strength of his offense, namely his receiving corps. Belichick will look to nullify CJ as does every other opponent but we need to make sure they pay for doing so with Burleson and Pettigrew having big games again.

The effects of a tough season are showing in the reduced effectiveness of the D-Line in the last couple of games or so. This game see's the return of Cliff Avril and it is to be hoped his impact confirms the impression that his absence had much to do with that reduced effectiveness. Putting pressure on Brady will be essential if we are to keep this game competitive. The Lions secondary could well find themselves the surprising stars of the show though if they are able to snare an interception or two as they are more than capable of running back for a TD. 

Special Teams will be looking to have a better game than they managed in Dallas and it is to be hoped that the game is not lost on a Special Teams play. 

With the game still a few hours away I have not yet convinced myself of a Lions victory, although the score is getting closer by the hour. It'd be great if the Lions meet the same Patriots that visited the Browns a few weeks ago but I think we would need to be more than a little fortunate for that particular lightening bolt to strike twice. I think we should prepare for another agonising loss but take heart from an improved showing that reaffirms our improvement this season and restores belief we will win a few more before the season is over. Now what did I do with that turkey baster?

Prediction: Patriots 34 LIONS 28  

Week 11 Preview

LIONS @ Cowboys

Despite the ultimate closeness of the defeat, last weeks loss to the Bills was a real confidence shaker for the majority of Lions fans. Going into this game, against what will most likely be an upbeat Cowboys team, it is important that the Lions players don't replicate the fans mood and instead recapture the belief they were demonstrating earlier in the season. Both teams are 2-7 and, when analysing their stats, are very evenly matched so we could well be in for another close game.

It is to be hoped with a full week of practice and a further week of healing that Shaun Hill resembles the QB that took the field against the Rams as the Lions running game has failed to take off this season. A strong argument could be made for saying the loss to the Bills came down to Linehan and Schwartz sticking with an impotent ground game for too long and that a move to a more pass focussed attack earlier could well have provided the road victory we all craved. Kevin Smith has now been placed on IR and so Maurice Morris, Jerome Felton and Jahvid Best will likely share the load running the ball. The strength of the Lions passing attack and the weakness of the Cowboys pass defense though suggests that there should be matchups for Hill to exploit all game long. If Hill and the receivers click then it is entirely possible that Best ends up with his best running performance as the Cowboys will be loading up to stop the pass and late in the game this could lead to Best breaking a couple of big ones.

The loss of Cliff Avril proved to be more significant than most of us could have expected before the Bills game but when you look back while Suh and Vanden Bosch were gaining the plaudits it has been Avril and Williams that have perhaps had the greater effect. Avril will miss the Cowboys game according to his tweets but will return for the Patriots on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys ground game has been as non-existent as the Lions one has so the D-Line will be looking to collapse the pocket around former Lions QB Jon Kitna. The Cowboys have a formidable group of receivers though and the Lions will need to keep the pressure on Kitna to stop him from making full use of the weapons available to him. If the Lions defense can get on top then look for Kitna to be taking sacks and throwing interceptions. If the Lions aren't getting to Kitna then look for the Cowboys to light up the scoreboard.

With Jason Hanson still out injured the Lions kicking game will not be as strong and impact plays from Special teams will have Stefan Logan in them. Field position could be vital in this game as it has the potential of being a points fest with each defense needing as long a field to defend as possible.

I'm not ready to dispel the good things I've seen from the Lions so far this season or the progress they've made so am going to go against every sensible thought I'm having about this game. Maybe I'm still giddy from Spurs finally gaining an away win against Arsenal but I think after being criticised for losing games and not making the decisions to put the Lions in a position to win that Schwartz is the star of this show. 

Prediction: LIONS 44 Cowboys 35

Week 10 Preview

LIONS @ Bills

Sky may well end up regretting not showing this seemingly meaningless matchup as the first game of their Sunday night double-header. The Bills will be looking at the Lions as an opponent that perhaps represents their best opportunity to get their first win of the season while the Lions will be looking at the Bills as the perfect opponent to finally end their road losing streak against. Despite the number of losses both teams have piled up this season they have both been competitive in many, if not most, of those games. It would be a mistake to underestimate either team and despite seeing each other as very beatable I would guess that both are equally aware of the threat they pose.

The Lions will have Shaun Hill back at QB and, after seeing how poorly Drew Stanton performed against the Jets when coming in late for Matthew Stafford, I would imagine this a relief for most Lions fans. Hill proved in the first half of the season to be capable, if not spectacular, and that should be enough against the Bills. The poor Bills run defense represents an opportunity for the Lions ground game to finally get going and we may see a fair bit of the Smith/Best combo both early and late in the game (assuming the Lions have a lead to defend going into the 4th quarter). The Bills have also been giving up a lot of passing yards so the Detroit receiving corps will no doubt be licking their chops at the prospect of a big day. The cold and rain may prove to be more of a hazard for the Lions than the Bills defense.

The Bills offense can point to a reasonable run game and a not too shabby passing game to offer up some food for thought for Schwartz and the Lions D. After being reasonably well contained by the Jets though the Lions D-Line will be looking to feast upon a fairly weak Bills O-Line. I think it is safe to assume that Vanden Bosch will have his guys fired up for this and there is a strong possibility that it is the Lions defense that once again proves to be the catalyst for victory. With DeAndre Levy now back and healthy the run should be better defended so look for Alphonso Smith to add to his growing collection of interceptions.

It could be argued that it was Special Teams that cost us the victory against the Jets as the missed Extra Point saw the game go to overtime. It would be a harsh reflection though and if there is blame for Suh's missed kick then it should lay with Schwartz for initially not calling timeout to then allow either Suh to get some practice in or a two-point try to be talked through. Hopefully lessons will have been learned and Hanson's injury is not too serious.

I'm hoping that I have not underestimated just how well the Bills have been performing recently or how much of an advantage home field is but I'm predicting the Lions bounce back from the heart breaking loss to the Jets and snap their road losing streak while the Bills continue with their search for that first elusive victory of the season.

Prediction: LIONS 35 Bills 24

OTL - WTF?

Jets 23 LIONS 20

Oh come on don't tell me you didn't expect this. Snatching defeat from certain victory is a Lions speciality. Yet somehow, and I'm sure I'm not alone in this, I was sitting with time running out in the 4th quarter wondering if I should change my name to Nostradamus. OK so it wasn't going exactly how I'd expected in my preview but it was pretty close. Then, like one of those awful slow motion moments when you knock some precious ornament over and try, but fail, to catch it before it shatters on the ground, the Lions self-destructed. 

The play call media and fans have jumped on is the 3rd & 6 play coming out of the two minute warning where Schwartz called pass and Stanton threw incomplete, thus stopping the clock when the Jets had no time outs remaining. I'm not going to jump on this bandwagon because I was calling for him to be brave and throw the ball. My choice would have been to throw to a receiver rather than Felton as in these likely run situations I am always reminded of the Gelbaugh to Horton pass from underneath their own posts against the NY/NJ Knights that effectively sent the Monarchs to the World Bowl. Just as running the ball was predictable so was the choice of pass, so the Jets had it covered, if you're going to try the riskier option at least go for the unpredictable. Having chosen to pass though Stanton needed to have enough game management skills to know that taking a knee was preferable to throwing an incomplete pass in that situation. Stanton is our third string QB and so it is difficult to be too hard on him and we can only hope that if Stafford hadn't got himself injured again that he would have shown greater composure in the same situation. 

Julian Peterson getting a stupid 15-yard penalty for an out of bounds hit on the ensuing Jets drive was unforgivable though. He is supposed to be one of the experienced players and veterans should not be making such mistakes. 

The call I did find strange, and it doesn't seem to have gained much attention, is the choice of rookie sensation Ndamukong Suh to kick the extra point when Hanson went off injured. It's all very well saying he does it all the time in training but in training he hasn't been battling an opposing O-Line like the Jets have. I couldn't understand why they didn't go for a two point conversion if they regarded Suh as their best option to tack on one. The Lions leading by 12 late in the 4th quarter is still no guarantee they wouldn't have found a way to lose but it would have meant the Jets couldn't have got to OT.

Rather than focus on the woe of reality let us instead focus on the wow of what might have been and what might yet be. We have had a genuine chance to win every one of the six games we have lost so far this season, if Stafford had been fit there is every chance we would be 5-3(Bears, Packers & Jets) rather than 2-6, our next two road games are against opponents whose combined win total is less than ours (Bills 0-8, Cowboys 1-7, Lions 2-6) and that can't have been the case for a very long time.

Given our performances so far this season there should not be any games we go into in the remainder of this season where we shouldn't feel we have a chance to win. The fly in this particular ointment is the health of Matthew Stafford as this team is not the same without him. I'm hopeful the injured recover quickly, that the pain of this defeat hardens the resolve and the team starts to fulfil the potential it is showing, so I have no hesitation in saying...

Bring on the Bills.

Week 9 Preview

Jets @ LIONS

This was the game I was hoping would be featured at Wembley this year when we were predicting, this time last year, the likely 2010 matchup(s). It features the top two drafted QB's from the 2009 Draft in our own Matthew Stafford and the Jets Mark Sanchez. Going in to the game it is Sanchez who has received the greater publicity due to the success of the Jets in reaching last years AFC Championship game and the start they have made this season. Stafford, on the other hand, has spent much of his first two years on the sidelines injured while the Lions struggled to a 2-14 record last season and managed to win just one game while he was out injured this season. It'd be great if today's game came down to the performance of the QB's because on a level playing field I suspect Stafford wins hands down. The trouble for Stafford and the Lions is that Sanchez is perhaps one of the weakest links in a very strong Jets side that epitomises it's head coach.

With Stafford back behind center last week against the Redskins we finally got to see the Calvin Johnson we've all been hoping to see. The chemistry between the two is scary good and will continue to develop, which is even scarier for the opposition. Despite their fearsome reputation I have a feeling that the Jets secondary will not be looking forward to facing up to the Lions receiving corps. The lack of a credible ground game still frustrates Lions coaching staff and fans alike but may not be so noticeable as this weeks opponents manage to shut down most teams rushing attacks. The array of receiving options for Stafford could well see the passing game opening up the run game as there is every chance that the Jets risk overloading to stop the pass in the belief they will still stop the run. It may take a while to get going but I do think the Lions will be putting up points on the Jets.

It was the defense though that was the real star of the win against the Redskins and the D-Line in particular. Suh, Avril and Vanden Bosch each picked up a pair of sacks while the fourth member of the group Williams picked up a pair of blockers as he found himself double teamed. Much like on the offensive side of the ball where defensive co-ordinators are left to ponder which poison they'll find most palatable so now opposing offensive co-ordinators and their QB's must decide how to target their resources to prevent the Lions D-Line breaking through. With CB Alphonso Smith proving to be the steal of the season (as well as proving the old adage about round holes and square pegs) interception prone Sanchez better make sure he's not just tossing them up in the hope they'll find their target because Smith is more than capable of both picking and returning for TD's less than perfect passes. The Jets offense strength though lies on the ground and the Lions will need to limit the gains made by the Jets rushers LT and Greene. We may well see what Bobby Carpenter is capable of in this game and we can only hope he has a Smith like impact.

Special Teams will need to get back on track this week after the relatively poor show against the Redskins and find a way of making up for the loss to injury of both Follett and Ekejiuba. Logan has brought some consistency to the return game and Hanson still provides belief when facing Field Goals up to 50 yards at Ford Field.

This should be a win for the Jets and represents, perhaps the first real benchmark test of how far the Lions have come, given the inconsistency of the NFC this year. Maybe I'm still suffering from the virus that I picked up Wembley weekend or maybe I shouldn't mix beer and medicine but I'm going to go for a Lions win. I think the belief of the team at home, along with the support, is starting to become a real advantage and I also think that with each passing game the team is getting noticeably better. The Jets are likely to be in the Super Bowl  mix at the end of the season but this week it'll be the Lions looking like the better long term prospect for success.

Prediction: Jets 20 LIONS 24

Week 8 Preview

Redskins @ LIONS

A number of us will be following this game via our phones or the Wembley scoreboard as we will be at the International Series game watching the Broncos taking on the 49ers. For those of us at Wembley the nightmare scenario will be the Lions handing out another beating (a la St Louis Rams) while the 49ers & Broncos serve up a stinker in the rain. 

As the Redskins were one of the two opponents we managed to beat last season we should feel reasonably confident about doing the same again this season. Before we put this one in the bank though we need to add a note of caution, these Redskins are better than last season's team. The Lions are also improved and their win/loss record this season could, and perhaps should, be much better than the 1-5 it is. It is also worth noting that this will be only the third game the Lions have played at home this season.

Coming off the bye week it is to be hoped that the injury niggles have cleared up and Schwartz and his coaches have managed to find a way to minimise, if not eliminate entirely, the dumb penalties that have been perhaps the single biggest reason why we have not had more than one win. There are 10 games remaining in this season and this game offers the opportunity of making a statement about how the remainder of this season will go. To hand out another beating similar to what they gave the Rams will send a message even to the likes of  the Jets and Patriots that Ford Field is no longer the place to come looking for easy victories but the place where you're glad to be going home from and hoping never to return,

Stafford looks like he's back and we, along with the Lions organisation no doubt, will all be hoping he survives the game. Hill did an adequate job while Stafford was on the sidelines but you've got to believe that we would be at least two victories better off had Stafford stayed healthy. The trio of Pettigrew, Scheffler and Burleson may see a lot of action early and Best should see a lot of short passes too as the Redskins are susceptible to RB's receiving the ball. It'd be nice if the Lions could finally get some sort of ground game going too but I'll settle for the O-Line not giving up any sacks to allow Stafford to find his targets.

The consistency of the D-Line and the improved play of the secondary have the defense looking to be a more formidable proposition now. The Redskins have not been lighting up the scoreboard so far this season but McNabb is still a QB that deserves respect. The loss of Follett for the season may be offset by the return of Levy and the introduction of new addition Bobby Carpenter to the linebacking trio where Peterson has picked up his game. 

I'm not convinced that this Redskins team is as good as it's record suggests (much like the Rams) and think that the Lions are better than their record suggests so am reasonably confident that this will be win number two of the season for the Lions. The form of the NFC teams has been very patchy this season with no real stand out team as yet and so I think that the Lions should beat all their remaining NFC opponents at home.

Prediction: Redskins 20 LIONS 31

Week 6 Preview

LIONS @ Giants

After an indifferent start to the season the Giants have become serious playoff contenders with two emphatic victories in their last two games. It seemed like the Giants D were sacking the Bears Jay Cutler every time he took a snap a couple of weeks ago while last week they went into Houston and shut down the Texans Arian Foster led run attack which had done so much damage, and scored many fantasy points, previously. This game should therefore be an easy one to put in the W column for the Giants before they move on to divisional foe the Cowboys in Dallas next Monday night. But, as Lee Corso says on College Gameday, not so fast my friend.

These Lions are not the push over they once were and whilst I am not expecting them to beat the Giants I am prepared to say that if the Giants don't bring their A game they may well find themselves involved in the upset of the week. 

The multi faceted Lions offense will face a stiff test in the Giants defense which has really clicked into gear the last couple of weeks. It is to be hoped that Hill avoids the beating Cutler took and Best scampers for more yards than his fellow rookie Foster managed for the Texans. With Calvin Johnson still an injury doubt the onus  for a successful offensive performance from the Lions may well fall on the twin tight end threat of Pettigrew and Scheffler. This game will be a major test for the Lions offensive line and they will need to contain the dominating Giants D line to give the Lions offense a chance to produce. 

If the Lions fail to generate any offense then this game could get ugly very quickly as the Lions D is not yet at the level where it can dominate an opposition (last weeks shut down of the Rams became easier as the Lions pulled away on the scoreboard). The Giants offense will try and establish the run and if the Lions can stop that there is every chance they can rattle the younger Manning brother into throwing the odd interception and taking a sack or two. 

Special teams will need to continue the good work of recent weeks and healthy return yardage may well be a vital aspect in ensuring reasonable field position for the Lions offense. If the game is close then Jason Hanson is still about as reliable a kicker as there is in the NFL so the Lions will have no need to fear if the game comes down to a field goal attempt with time expiring.

I'm going to say the Giants don't make the mistake of underestimating a rapidly improving Lions team and win what turns out to be quite a close game but I'm hoping they do have one eye on next Monday and the Dallas Cowboys and so allow the Lions the chance to pull off a shocker.

Prediction: LIONS 24 Giants 31

 

Validation

Rams 6 LIONS 44

You could have forgiven Schwartz and his team if they had run round Ford Field after this game with a banner proclaiming "we told you we were better than our record suggested". This was about as emphatic a statement as it is possible to make in a game of football as the Lions dominated in all three phases of the game.

There was no hint of what was to come in the first quarter when the Lions failed to capitalise on the rather bizarre Rams decision to begin the game with an onside kick. Fortunately the Rams offense seemed to be struggling to get going too and as they kicked off at the beginning of the 2nd quarter they must have been cursing themselves that two trips to the red zone had resulted in just the field goal they ended the 1st quarter with. Stefan Logan's record equalling return for a TD not only ignited the crowd but the team also seemed ignited and their self belief seemed to grow with each subsequent play. As the belief grew so the mistakes seemed to diminish and there was a confidence in the play of the Lions that has not been seen in quite some time.

Much credit to Schwartz and his coaching staff for sticking to their beliefs when the wind of opinions blew against them these past few weeks. This victory was a reward for that dogged belief of the coaching staff as much as it was a reward for the fans that have suffered through the years of lop sided defeats. Now that the game is consigned to history let us not diminish in any way the magnitude of the result. Yes a victory was expected by most Lions fans but not in the manner it was delivered, that was beyond most of our wildest dreams. It is also true to say that the Rams are not the sternest of oppositions but pre-game there were a number of analysts stating that the Rams had the edge (albeit slight) in talent from the coaches through the offense and defense right down to special teams. 

The offense benefited from the return of Burleson and he was able to demonstrate why Linehan was so keen to add him to the mix. When Stafford returns at QB the offense could really begin to take off and by the seasons end it could well be as good as any in the NFL. Hill is proving to be the able backup we believed him to be and everyone seems to be settling in nicely around him but Stafford will bring an extra dimension once he returns. That return is looking likely to be after the bye week when the Redskins come to Ford Field.

The defense was rewarded for the admirable displays they'd put up in the previous four games in which they'd always kept the Lions in the game. Against the Rams they just got better and better shutting them out of the end zone for the entire game and keeping them off the scoreboard for the entire second half. The D-Line was dominant as predicted but the performance of the secondary was an unexpected bonus and given their youth could well develop into more a strength as the season progresses. The linebacking group continue to struggle but they are getting nicked up and have yet to achieve consistency in the lineup as a result of the injuries.

Special teams provided the spark that lit the fire in this game and the value of even an ok Special Teams unit can never be under estimated in the NFL. It was nice that Logan returned one all the way after his muff against the Vikings.

It's amazing how much better the world seems after a victory like this one and in this instance it is even better, because all those notions we have had that the Lions could finally be putting together a team that will compete in the NFL for the next decade, have received a great big validation stamp. But before we dream of future Super Bowl glories there is an improving New York Giants team to be faced but with our increasing confidence and our own improving performance we should have no fear in saying....

Bring on the Giants!!!

Week 5 Preview

Rams @ LIONS

I seem to remember going into the corresponding fixture last year being similarly optimistic of a Lions win only to find myself scratching my head afterwards wondering how we'd managed to lose to what had to be considered one of the few weaker teams than us. But lose we did (in what turned out to be the Rams only win of the season) and one season on I am trying to temper my optimism for a first Lions win of the season by remembering how it all went wrong last year.

This years Rams arrive with a 2-2 record and a young rookie QB getting rave reviews for his performances so they deserve our respect. The Lions are off to an 0-4 start so on the face of it there shouldn't be so much optimism that this is the game the Lions will break their duck in the W column. My optimism stems from an examination of the games played so far and my belief that if the teams had played each others schedules the Rams would likely be 0-4 while the Lions would be 3-1 or even 4-0. When you throw in the fact the Lions have played three of their first four games on the road while the Rams have played three of their four at home you might start to recognise where my optimism is being fuelled. 

The final step for demonstrating the improvement to the team that I believe Schwartz has made to the Lions is in the Win column and this game is the first real test of that improvement. The performances so far have left a feeling of what might have been as they have been, essentially, better than may have been expected while the games and results have been close enough to allow for the belief that the Lions had legitimate shots at winning each. There is, apparently, widespread belief among the playing staff that so far this season they have beat themselves, been unfortunate with officials call and played close games on the road which will go the other way when they play at home. For the confidence within the team to remain high a win against the Rams is vital as it will validate their existing belief that they are better than their record has thus far indicated. 

For me the key to a Lions victory will be putting in a mistake free version of this seasons performances which may be easier said than done. Linehan and Hill seem to have finally got themselves on the same page with the offensive game plan and I would expect to see the same well balanced attack they put out against the Packers. The return of Burleson offsets the likely loss of Schefler and there is every chance we get to see in this game why the Lions were so keen to snap him up when free agency opened. The biggest threat for the defense is likely to be Stephen Jackson and limiting his yardage is going to come down to the back seven bringing him down when he does break through the D-Line. Preventing him from making large single gains should mean he is restricted to having just an ok day. Further improvement from the secondary could well go towards making this a most uncomfortable day for rookie QB Sam Bradford as I'm sure Ndamukong Suh is desperate to renew a Big 12 rivalry with the Oklahoma alum. Special Teams showed up big in the Packers game and I'm hoping, if faced with a similar situation to last week, that Schwartz shows more faith in Hanson's ability to kick the big ones.

I've reached the end of this preview and not managed to talk myself out of the belief that this will be the Lions first victory of the season so it's time to pour out a cold beer and get ready for the game.

Prediction: Rams 24 LIONS 37

Cheesed Off!!

LIONS 26 Packers 28

I apologise for the delay in posting and the lack of game preview for this one but I was rebuilding my staircase last weekend and so was unable to find sufficient time to write anything. The delay in posting this though does allow for calm reflection rather than an immediate post game hair pulling rant.

The 2010 Lions are maddening for the most confusing of reasons. Take this game for instance. They pretty well wiped the floor with the Packers on virtually every game measurable apart from two, points total (admittedly this is the most important measurable in any game) and penalties (13 for 102 yards against 3 for 31 yards). Once again they went into a game with few, if any, believing they were capable of winning and yet come out of it with most believing they had a real shot at winning the game and many believing they should have won it. Is it fair to be angry that they didn't complete a job I felt them incapable of doing before they undertook it? Is it right of me to be mad at them for raising my expectations due to their improved play only for them to eventually fall short of the new level of my expectation? I'm sure I'm not alone in wondering.

I'm going to restrict my negative comments to the decision to punt from the Green Bay 37 yard line in the 4th Qtr rather than attempt a 54-yard Field Goal that if made would've put the Lions ahead by 1 point. Schwartz chose to punt, gained 27 yards in field position and backed his defense to hold out the Packers. Now in fairness to the D, the Packers didn't get into the end zone and if the Lions had have been up by a point then the Packers would likely have kicked for 3 with time expiring so we could be now looking at a score of 29-31 rather than 26-28. But if the kick had been blocked or missed then the Lions would have won by a point. Now I know all this is hypothetical and hindsight is a wonderful thing but just as I disagreed with Schwartz for not taking the points when they were on offer against the Eagles so I disagree with the decision to punt here. Hanson had already hit one from 49 yards earlier in the quarter so was it really that much of a stretch to think he had a legitimate shot at making a 54-yarder? Whether you punt or kick the Field Goal you have to back your D to keep the Packers out so why not at least give yourself a shot at taking the lead so your D has that extra bit of motivation? It may well be that Schwartz took the percentage decision and most coaches would agree with him but if I was calling the play I would try the kick every time.

That the offense clicked into gear so efficiently was most pleasing, it was unfortunate that they came up short when it really seemed to matter, whether that be giving away stupid a penalty or failing to make a catch/accurate pass or turning the ball over. Given they have been without their number one QB and number two WR I think we can take heart from the performance of the offense in this game and if they can achieve what they did in Green Bay (home of this years Super Bowl favourites) what are they capable of achieving at home?

Although the defense failed to prevent the Packers from progressing up the field and running out the clock to end the game they also impressed with their performance. Houston is looking like he could be a passable CB and Smith showed enough to suggest that he could soon be displacing Wade from the starting lineup. Suh had his 3rd sack of the season and could well end up setting all sorts of records for a rookie DT this season. The linebackers are still very much a work in progress, as is the secondary, but given the injuries to both Levy and Delmas this is more about our lack of talent depth.

Special Teams stepped up in this game and we will look back on it wondering if they could have won it for us if they'd been given the chance to.

Overall then enough to top up the confidence levels to look forward to the next game in the belief that it will bring our first win so.....

Bring on the Rams!!!! 

Oh and Another Loss

LIONS 10 Vikings 24

Frequent power cuts Sunday evening made this an absolute nightmare game for me to follow as I waited for the power to return and then once it did for the PC to start up, after telling me it hadn't closed down properly, only for the power to go again. Throw into the mix an aggravated wife moaning about missing X-Factor due to power cuts and slow start up of Sky+ box while I'm reverting to my i-phone for game coverage and you might start to understand why this particular loss was all the more frustrating in my fraught home.

I also got the sense that Coach Schwartz found this loss particularly frustrating too as it was mistakes by Lions players on defense that essentially kept Vikings drives alive or allowed them to score TD's while mistakes on offense failed to keep drives alive or convert TD opportunities. And yes, the prediction curse of this blog also saw the reliable duo of Hanson and Logan miss a kickable Field Goal and muff a punt return respectively. But the curse aside, when I look back at that preview and then at the final score I see the Lions did better than, at least I, expected. So why the frustration?

Well I guess when you predict how a game might go you tend to think in general terms whereas once the game has played itself out you tend to look at specifics. I think it is also fair to say that for this game I, and I'm sure I'm not alone on this, hadn't expected the Vikings to be as bad as they were. So, despite predicting a beating, when the game got under way and it became apparent it was there to be won the Lions beating themselves was all the harder to take. It is not unreasonable to state that the Lions could be 3-0 going into the Packers game. 

Coach Schwartz defended himself and his coaches for their game management which is starting to come under increasing criticism. It is true to say that had players not made mistakes at key moments (or officials had seen things differently on some of those occasions) then the game plan and game management would not be being questioned. But they did make those mistakes and so fans and media alike will be less forgiving of a conservative approach that falters on mistakes rather than a more flamboyant risk inherent approach where mistakes are more likely. That said, fans and media will criticise losses whatever the approach when they come along with the frequency that the Lions manage.

Overall I think the defense is performing at about the level it was predicted to given where the talent lies and, by holding the Vikings to 24 points, gave the offense the chance to win the game. Losing Best to injury obviously didn't help an offense that was already missing Stafford and Burleson but despite this it should have performed better. Once again I thought some of Linehan's play calling was questionable and was disappointed that Schwartz chose this week not to take a shot at the end zone before the Field Goal attempt just before half time. Yes we'd got burnt just before half time the last two weeks, and it was obvious we would have been looking end zone, but I think you've got to have some belief in your team to get the job done or at least do no worse than leave you exactly where you are with less time on the clock. I'm also starting to get a little concerned about what is going on in the locker room at half time as the Lions have now failed to score a 3rd quarter point in three games.

When the Lions made Nate Burleson one of their two big Free Agent signings earlier this year I thought it signalled the departure of last seasons wide receiver acquisitions Johnson and Northcutt, who had both either failed to get open or dropped key passes throughout the season. Northcutt finally got cut just before the season started and Johnson carried on Sunday where he left off last year with another crucial drive ending drop. If Derrick Williams starts to consistently show up like he did against the Vikings then I see no reason to keep Bryant Johnson on the roster. I'll put the Pettigrew drops down to inexperience (although that may be generous) for now and will trust that this does not become an element of his game.

The challenge for Linehan is to ensure that the offense scores a minimum of 21 points per game. This may well mean he has to keep getting the ball to Scheffler, Pettigrew and Williams (Burleson when he returns) with short passes in a West Coast style offense if opposing D's have loaded up on Calvin and stopping the run. The weapons are there and it is time the coaches found a way to make use of them and ensure they work properly when they do.

The Packers are probably already relishing the chance to get back on track against the Lions after losing unexpectedly to the Bears, while the Lions are looking at an 0-4 start with what would then be a real crucial home game against the improving Rams before the bye week. The performances against common opponents in the Bears and Eagles should give us hope that Lambeau need not be the fearful place of recent seasons. With no snow forecast we can head off to Green Bay with every confidence of upsetting the odds so...

Bring on the Pack!!! 

Week 3 Preview

LIONS @ Vikings

Although starting a season 0-2 has become somewhat familiar, this particular 0-2 is definitely different. The reason is it could so easily be 2-0. That's not just an opinion garnered by looking through Lions tinted eyes, it is borne out by the reality of the two games played. In both games the Lions had the ball with a chance to either win the game or send it into overtime but, before we get too carried away, they didn't take their chance (yes they got hosed by the call against the Bears but they still had chances after that they didn't take) and so find themselves 0-2 rather than 2-0.

The divisional opponents we face today have also started the season 0-2 and in contrast to the Lions that does not have a familiar feel to it. Last seasons NFC Championship finalists have struggled to get out of the starting blocks this season and Brett Favre has looked like this was the year he should have finally retired for good. So the question on every ones lips is "Who will start the season 0-3? Lions or Vikings?" Actually, that's not strictly true, the question most pundits are asking seems to be "Will the Vikings get their first win of the season at home to the Lions?" The general answer seems to be yes and I, regrettably, have to agree.  

The 2010 Detroit Lions are definitely better than recent editions, they are fighters and will battle for the full 60 minutes. The pre-season predictions generally fell between 3 and 6 wins this season and from the evidence of the first two games that looks about right. After losing franchise QB Matthew Stafford at halftime of the first game the Lions offense bounced back reasonably well last week behind backup QB Shaun Hill. When the Lions acquired their various star offensive players we all assumed it would be impossible for opposing defenses to stop us as we invited them to "Pick your poison". Last week the Eagles chose rookie running back Jahvid Best and 2nd year TE Brandon Pettigrew as their poison and got torched for over 300 yards in total offense by the pair. The Vikings defense is better than the Eagles though and for the Lions to be productive against them Linehans game plan needs to find a way of exploiting the mismatches where they occur and Hill needs to be able to have the time and vision to execute the gameplan.

After last weeks predicted break out star performer earned himself a spell out by getting himself concussed making a monster Special Teams tackle and following on from the first weeks predicted break out star finding himself on injured reserve for the year I have decided not to make any predictions on player performance this week (cue large sighs of relief throughout Lion land). The return of DeAndre Levy should see some improvement and his return will hopefully spark a performance out of Julian Peterson who has been disappointing so far this season. In a team that will be prone to mistakes due to inexperience there is little room for veterans (especially highly paid ones) who seem to be regularly blowing assignments and tackles. The D-Line remains the saving grace of the defense and will face it's sternest test to date against the Vikings formidable O-Line. If they can find their way to Favre early on there is every chance that Favre's nightmare start to the season will continue.

The Lions Special Teams remain solid if not spectacular and will face a stern test against the Vikings returners. Jason Hanson kicks well indoors and if asked to kick a Field Goal from 50-yards in should make it. Logan is showing some nice consistency too as a returner and it'd be nice to see him break a big one against the Vikings.

I really hope I'm wrong about this game but I feel we'll be coming out of it less closer than we are going in to it.

Prediction: LIONS 17 Vikings 38

NFL Week 2

Oh the joys of games not running to schedule.

In the old days I used to stick a 4 hour vhs tape into the recorder and it would record the overnight game while I slept. But every now and again I would mistakenly place one of those 3 hour tapes in and the next evening, having studiously avoided the score, would find myself watching a game that abruptly ends only for me. I thought those days were behind me with the advent of the intelligent life force that is the Sky+ box - how wrong I was.

So if last week was all about the nostalgia of the NFL being on Channel 4 this weeks less welcome nostalgia trip was all about a game you've been enjoying for over 3 hours suddenly ending on the screen well before the game in the stadium has ended. I thought I was being clever when I series linked ESPN's Monday Night Football, however, this weeks 49ers Saints game ended for me when the programme was scheduled to end but  before the 49ers TD & 2-point conversion tied the game and before the Saints kicked the winning Field Goal as time expired. You'd think, I thought as I stared at the message telling me my programme had ended, if it is as clever as it likes to think it is that this Sky+ box would know that the game hadn't finished wouldn't you?

No such troubles with the Sunday night game, where rather bizarrely Channel 4 decided that this weeks dip into the archives should be to dredge up the presenting pair that hammered more nails into the coffin of the sport on Channel 4 than any other. Did they think we look back fondly on the guys that turned so many away from the sport? Mike Carlson clearly wasn't impressed with his "idiots" comment when the clip finished but then Carlson does give the impression at times that he believes himself to be a superior being than the rest of us, with knowledge about the game not to be found in the audience and, most noticeably, his co-presenter. Gary Imlach seems to be aware of this because he's positively bursting with all sorts of interesting snippets to prove he really does know things about the sport. I finished the game fast forwarding through the studio segments and would think this will be the case for the rest of the Channel 4 season.

Watching the game live, of course, removes the ability to fast forward through the studio drivel and so, still fuming because Schwartz hadn't taken the points and gone for it on 4th & 1 (yes I know I really should let it go now), I joined the Sky team and the Patriots at Jets game. I realised this week just how much Nick & Kevin rely on a good guest because when they don't have one they are not good enough to carry the show. Surely by now Sky could've found a third presenter that can not only make every show but has a reasonable NFL background (whether coaching or playing) so can provide insightful, intelligent observations. 

Looks like I missed another good early game on Sky while following the Lions so this week will have to give serious consideration to adding another game to the Sky+ recordings although I have a feeling I will miss the end of an awful lot more games if I do.     

So Jah S'eh

Eagles 35 LIONS 32

If I may continue the homage to Bob Marley theme of the headline a little longer "If you are a big tree, then we are a small axe, coming to cut you down".

For me that is where the Lions are right now, unafraid, still firmly in the underdog category and yet, you do get a sense that they will start swinging and cutting down some big NFL trees before too long. Unfortunately Sunday wasn't the time for this to happen and to follow on from last weeks buzz word, it is clear the 'process' of rebuilding the Lions has yet to be completed.

The game against the Eagles saw the emergence of Cal running back Jahvid Best in the Honolulu Blue. Yes he scored two TD's last week but outside of his two TD carries he averaged a paltry 1 yard per carry rushing and 3.5 yards per reception, hardly the stuff to give opposition DC's sleepless nights. Against the Eagles he laid down a marker that if he comes anywhere near for the rest of this season he will probably be the biggest landslide victor of Offensive Rookie of the Year there has ever been. 

The Lions offense took to the field for the second time in the game and, finding themselves 7-0 down, decided to see if the 10 yard run Best had managed in the first drive could perhaps be repeated. It could. Suddenly the Lions O Line were blowing holes in the Eagles D Line and Best was gashing through for gain after gain, Aaron Brown even chipped in while Best got his breath back before returning to punch it in through the heart of the Eagles D from 14 yards out. After two Lions offensive possessions of the ball Best had the following numbers: 5 carries for 74 yards at an average of 14.8 yards per carry with 1 TD. The game was just over 9 minutes old, the scores were tied at 7 and yet somehow in the remaining 50 minutes Best managed 12 carries for 4 yards and 1 TD. Yes he added a 75 yard TD run off of a pass and racked up a total of 154 yards receiving but what happened to the Lions running game? During that field long TD drive the O-Line resembled a rolling maul, such was their dominance.

My fantasy jinx ensured Brandon Pettigrew had an impressive game receiving and as an added bonus he blocked effectively as well (I replaced Pettigrew with Scheffler after last weeks showing and then to prove it wasn't a selection fluke replaced the Dolphins D with Baltimore! Oh yes I am the harbinger of Fantasy doom). Also for someone playing in a position that is notoriously difficult to impress in as a rookie Ndamukong Suh is seeming to have little trouble living up to the expectations we had when he was drafted. That's a sack in each of his first two games. Kyle Vanden Bosch and the rest of the D Line gave their all and looked impressive but after that it's difficult to get too excited about much else on either side of the ball.

Hill didn't have the best of games at QB but then he is the backup and, as such, you can't expect him to perform to the level of Stafford. Do we win with Stafford behind centre? Possibly. The defense do miss DeAndre Levy and it is noticeable that Louis Delmas is not 100% which makes our back 7 too weak and vulnerable in this league. Throw in a few key missed tackles and a dropped interception and it's not hard to see how we give up 35 points to a Vick inspired Eagle offense. The fact that the game was kept close has given the defense a bit of a free pass the last two weeks. Not much was expected of the D outside the front 4, as we all knew the weakness of the linebackers and secondary, so giving up in excess of 400 yards each week is no surprise. The signs are there that we have a spirited, never say die bunch but it is also clear you can't make up for lack of talent.

The offense performed well enough too given the starting QB was absent and yet the feeling persists it could have done better. So for this game for the first time since they came on board I found myself questioning coaching decisions (is that in itself a sign we're getting better?). Was Linehan's play calling becoming a bit too predictable at times? Were we making the most of what we had on the field? Shouldn't we be taking a field goal here?

That last one did it for me. I know through reading the comments on the forum that I'm in a minority here but I really do think that was a key moment and one that Schwartz got wrong. He was right in saying in his post game interview that you have to be capable of making a yard with 2 carries of the ball, it is also true to say if you score the field goal you still need a 2 point conversion which is further to go than 1 yard and it is also true to say that it is right to back your offense to gain that 1 yard as there is no guarantee you will make the kick. I still think that you take the points in that situation though, especially with plenty of time still on the clock.

Rather than try and justify decisions though in his post game interviews I thought Scwartz would have been well served this particular week to have taken a leaf out of Rod Marinelli's book and taken one for the team. "Hey fella's that loss is on me" would have taken the focus away from the players not making key plays (and they would know as well as the rest of us how crucial some of those mistakes were) and, I believe, had them wanting to burst through walls for him in Minnesota next week.

The games in the record books now though, and this seasons 0-2 is looking a lot more competitive than previous years. We have a meeting with fellow 0-2 division rivals the Vikings to look forward to and, I don't know about you but, I can't wait to see Suh sack Favre, so... 

bring on the Vikes!!!

    

Week 2 Preview

Eagles @ LIONS


When assessing this match-up pre-season I regarded it along with the Week 1 Bears game as a likely indicator to how the season would pan out. Win both and an 8-8 or 9-7 season looked to be on the cards, win one lose one then a 6 or 7 win season seemed likely, if they were to lose both closely then 4 or 5 wins would probably be where we'd end up and if we were to lose both heavily I ... well lot's not go there.

Unfortunately when trying to forecast this game last weeks games don't really help. The Lions lost to the Bears but had CJ's TD catch been allowed (and I think we all agree it should have been) then the Lions would be 1-0. But if you look at pretty well every statistic from that game it tells you the Lions got a bit of a thumping. So, do you put the fact the Bears came up short on a number of occasions down to a ferocious ball hawking Lions defense or to a mistake riddled Bears offense? Similarly the Eagles were being wiped from the field with new QB Kevin Kolb behind centre. He get's concussed and replaced by Michael Vick who then looks like he'll lead the Eagles to an amazing comeback victory but falls just short of doing so. If Vick had been the starter would the Eagles have beaten the Packers?

I'm hopeful the Lions will get the season at Ford Field off and running with a victory but think it should be close as I believe the Eagles have a slightly stronger team but think they're not that much better than the Lions to overcome the home field advantage. 

Key for the Lions success on offense will be establishing a credible running game, something they failed to do against the Bears. Jahvid Best may have scored a brace of TD's but the team averaged less than a yard per carry. Until the Lions get some respect for their running game then opponents, including the Eagles, will take away CJ and the passing game. Best looks to have the capability to break open the big runs and it'd be great if he can burst through early in the first quarter for a long TD run. I'm going to put our Week 1 offensive woes down to early season rust, having seen a number of other teams struggle as well, so think this week we'll see the offense we believed we had prior to the Bears game. It may be without Stafford, but I still believe we have the league's best backup in Shaun Hill, so don't think we'll suffer too much as a result of missing Stafford.

Key for the defense may well be the return of DeAndre Levy who was listed as questionable pre-game as was our Lion of the Year, Louis Delmas. Against the Packers Vick looked most dangerous when breaking from the pocket and running to his left. If I'm right, we will have Vanden Bosch at right DE and Peterson at right OLB. So with the surge up the middle from Suh & Williams and Vanden Bosch & Peterson collapsing the pocket from the right Vick will be forced to run to his right. If this little scenario plays out then we will need big games from Turk McBride and Zack Follett as Vick will either be scrambling their way or looking to throw from their side of the field. I am therefore going to boldly predict that this proves to be Zack Follett's breakout game and he finishes it with 2 or 3 sacks (hopefully he doesn't suffer the same fate as Aaron Berry who I similarly predicted great things for last week! Ouch!!).

In close games it often comes down to the play of Special Teams and I think we should hold our own against the Eagles even though they have better returners. Stefan Logan is the best we've had taking the ball back for a while and I'm hopeful that former London Monarch Danny Crossman has us capable of preventing the Eagles returners from taking it to the house.  

Whether you are watching the game in the stadium, via TV feed (legally or illegally (ssshhh)) or the radio then I hope you enjoy the game and, of course, the Lions win.

Prediction: Eagles 27 LIONS 31   






  

NFL Week 1

The start of the 2010 NFL season here in the UK reminded me a bit of the old waiting for a bus adage 'you wait for hours then two come along at once' as the NFL returned to our screens from its 7 month absence. If you are a fully paid up member of both Sky & ESPN then the opening week provided you with the chance to watch a whopping 6 games live and in HD! This, of course, was subject to living with an accommodating partner and not requiring to be awake for normal working hours.

Personally I managed just the Vikings at Saints opener live as I didn't have to go to work the next morning. Even then I still struggled to stop myself from extended periods of eye resting that I was jolted from by increased commentating voices. The game was not the best and, as it turned out, it set a tone for the standard of the games played on opening week as the 49ers were blown away by the Seahawks, the Redskins & Cowboys fought to see who could score least and the Jets and Ravens did similar but in a tougher chest beating manner. The Chiefs and Chargers probably served up the best of the TV games (didn't see the Giants v Panthers as clashed with the Lions) but even this was mistake strewn. Watching most games via Sky + meant the opening week, for me, lasted a week and by the end of it I felt a little better about the Lions and their less than inspiring performance at the Bears.

It was good to see the NFL back on Channel 4 and the highlight of the week for this particular old fogey were the little nostalgia clips they showed. It's difficult to explain to the Madden PS generation just how much of an impact those early Channel 4 shows had as it wasn't just the introduction of a new exciting sport but a whole lifestyle and attitude that those of us who regularly tuned in were buying into. Hopefully Gary Imlach and Mike Carlson will get their act together and put on a more polished performance in future weeks.

The CJ catch was a prime topic of debate and saw us receive much sympathy from other teams fans on the relevant threads on the Lions forum at NFLUK. There was also the promise of a NFLUK Store announcement but this failed to materialise and has become a watch this space type thing now. Hopefully when it does arrive the merchandise is varied and the prices are affordable. And if that proves to be the case then world peace could be a realistic goal to aim for next.

So Week 1 is now consigned to history, we can study in depth all the stats and look forward to Week 2.

It's good to have the NFL back on our screens.  

Turned Over!

Lions 14 Bears 19

Jeez this team just keeps finding new ways to rip your guts out doesn't it?

I don't believe there is another team in the NFL that could lose a game they didn't deserve to win on such an awful call. I've read the rule and the quotes from referee Gene Steratore and I'm still at a loss as to how you define "the process of the catch" so am equally at a loss to know when this process is considered completed. What I know is that at the time it happened it looked like a catch to not only me but the players on both teams, the commentators, the fans in the stands and, most importantly I believe, Side Judge Mike Weatherford. Mike Weatherford is the official the play happened in front of and the one raising his arms to signal touchdown and I think that should've been enough for the referee. But hey let's not dwell on this dumb call lest it obscures the previous 59+ minutes.

Going in to this season I would have said that if the Lions D could hold an opponent to less than 21 points then, given the strength of the offense, we should win the game. If Calvin's catch was ruled as a TD then we win 21-19 and head out of Chicago in black and white jumpers, a Robin style mask covering our eyes and a sack marked 'Swag' slung over our shoulder having left a note for the Bears saying "thanks for your help".

The Bears seemed capable of marching up and down the field at will, with our defense powerless to stop them, before perhaps thinking it was all too easy and giving us the ball. For most of the first half it was almost as if they didn't want to score and felt an obligation to the fans to keep the game interesting. I, along with many others, had low expectations for our defense and so wasn't surprised with how they performed. Lot's of heart and a disruptive front four doing it's best to prevent those behind them being exposed couldn't prevent 463 yards of Chicago offense with 362 of those yards coming through the air. Despite the way they were racking up the yards Chicago didn't look a good team and as we head in to the rest of the season we can't expect teams to throw chance after chance away like the Bears did.

If the defense performed as expected then the offense was anything but. It didn't help that the Jeff Backus brain went to the half time break a few minutes before his body and, more significantly, everyone else on the field. Matthew Stafford had looked boringly efficient throughout the half, more Montana than Elway if you like. We had efficiently managed to score 14 points having conceded just 3 and our young QB must have thought if he was to see the field again the first half it would be to take a knee or two then head to the locker rooms. The Bears remembered their mission was to keep the game interesting after receiving a holding call and facing a 1st and 20 at their own 11 yard line and reduced the deficit to 4 points. Stafford trotted out on to the field unaware the Backus brain was now in the locker and suddenly BOOM just like that Julius Peppers drills him to the ground and our star QB is now likely out until the team returns from its Bye Week to play the Redskins.

Backup QB Shaun Hill must've spent nearly the entire 2nd half wondering if the Backus brain had returned to the field with the Backus body because he seemed to want to get off the field pretty quickly. I was fearful that he would be introduced to the crowd at Ford Field next week as "Shaun '3 and out' Hill" until that last drive. He must have received assurances that the Backus brain and body had been reunited because suddenly the ball was flying through the air and our receivers were running, diving and catching (ok let's no got here again). Why we were unable to do this throughout the game, as were expected to, I do not know and can only hope that the final drive is the offense they carry into the Eagles game. My big offensive hope, Jahvid Best, scored two TD's and looked really good when he did so, unfortunately on the 12 other runs he had he most definitely did not look good. The much needed running game managed to average just under 1 yard per carry and with a stat like that you just have to move on.

So we have started the season 0-1 (what's new), our franchise QB faces a while on the sidelines with an injured shoulder and we have all spent the last 24 hours bemoaning an officials call that robbed us of the chance to steal a game from Chicago. But to be honest with you I'm glad, in a strange 'only a Lions fan could say that' kind of way, that we didn't win because having lived through an 0-16 season and so much ineptitude over the years I can take the losses so I want my victories, when they come, to be deserved not stolen.

Bring on the Eagles!!!