Week Three

LIONS @ Vikings

Like many others, no doubt, I pondered on when the last time was that the Lions began a season 2-0 while the Vikings began 0-2. But before I took the time to look this up I came to the conclusion that it really didn't matter exactly when this was or indeed if it had even been the case. The purpose of the stat would be the reinforce a point that is palpably obvious to anyone that follows the NFL let alone the Lions. These are not the Lions we are used to seeing and in a division that has provided three of the last four teams to compete for the NFC Championship it is the Vikings who look the weakest. This game should reinforce that sentiment but in the modern NFL as soon as you start to assume such things then things such as this tend to bite you on the backside. It would be foolish therefore to assume a victory over a team that, aside from the notable change at QB, is not that far removed from the team that almost made it to the Super Bowl two years ago.

For all the plaudits they have received and as impressive as they have looked at times the Lions offense has not yet, I believe, fully clicked into place. Improvements in the running game were evident against the Chiefs but this weeks opponent will represent a much harder obstacle for the Lions backs to break through. Of course, the O-Line's ability to protect Matthew Stafford long enough to enable him to pick apart a Vikings secondary that has already been burned for large yardage could well open up better running lanes as the Vikings are forced to try and stop the pass. We saw a glimpse, in the Chiefs game, of why the Lions drafted Titus Young. The catch he made on a 3rd and ridiculously long play that kept the drive alive suggested that there will some horrible choices for opposing Defensive Coordinators to make when the Lions go three wideouts. The strength of the North is the D-Lines though and the Vikings were the first to truly establish theirs. Aged they may be but the Vikings D-Line is still capable of making this an uncomfortable afternoon for Stafford.

Perhaps the Vikings biggest strength is their ability to run the ball and until they lost Charles last week to injury the Chiefs gashed through the Lions for big gains on the ground. Now it's possible that the adjustments that shut down the Chiefs would have been equally effective if Charles had remained in the game but Adrian Peterson is sure to be keen to test this possible weakness in the Lions D. Donovan McNabb has received a great deal of criticism for his performances as a Viking and Kyle Vanden Bosch and his D-Line will be looking to welcome him to the joys of playing in the NFC North. If the Lions are able to limit the Vikings run threat then a pressured McNabb could offer plenty of opportunities for a Lions secondary to enhance a very slowly burgeoning reputation.

The Lions return team have not been given many chances to shine so far and must be itching for the chance to do so. Aside from the one mistake against the Bucs the coverage unit has done a good job and the Vikings will offer a challenge that will need to be met. Jason Hanson meanwhile looks to have found a new lease of life and is seemingly determined to lengthen his career so he can cash in on what promises to be a fruitful period of football for the city of Detroit.

The Lions ran the Vikings close in the Metrodome last season before turning the tables to round out the season at Ford Field. The games against divisional foes are the ones where these new Lions will need to establish their reputations and beating the divisions weakest in their home stadium is a good place to start. 

Prediction: LIONS 35 Vikings 24  

Week Two

Chiefs @ LIONS

After the opening weeks results I believe this matchup offers more of a challenge for the Lions than I did when assessing the seasons fixtures after the pre-season. The Lions had been looking good throughout the pre-season while the Chiefs, conversely, had not so the Week 1 results for this particular fan did not come as a surprise. The Lions dominated the Bucs and the Bills trounced the Chiefs so with the two teams now facing each other but with the Lions now at home and the Chiefs on the road all signs would point to a comprehensive Lions win. So much so that there is a real danger of complacency taking hold within the Lions locker room while a humiliated Chiefs team could be playing with a point to prove. I haven't had chance to listen to this weeks Football Today podcast that previews the games but wonder whether any one has picked this as an 'Upset Special'. 

Fortunately for Coach Schwartz the victory in Tampa Bay was not achieved with a flawless performance and there was more than enough for him to get his teeth into when the team began preparing for this weeks game. After a nervy start Matthew Stafford began to ease into the groove he'd played most of the pre-season in and it is to be expected that in the friendly confines of Ford Field he'll be in the groove from the first snap. Calvin Johnson has been cleared to play and the receiving options that the Lions have amassed showed their value for Stafford and OC Scott Linehan as receptions were nicely spread around. With the Chiefs secondary losing the impressive Eric Berry for the season there would appear to be the potential for a big day for Lions passing yardage stats. It would also be nice if the Lions could finally get a running game going in this game. There were signs of improvement in Tampa but there is still a way to go before it reaches the level I'm sure the team are looking for it to be at. I shall be looking for a more disciplined performance from the O-Line this week who, after an impressive start, seemed to suffer from the heat in Tampa as the game wore on with Cherilus's act of stupidity at the end of the game thankfully not costing the team the game.

The defense dominated the Bucs for most the game last week and it wasn't until the Bucs went into their hurry up offense that they were really able to move the ball up the field. It'll be an interesting feature of the game if the Chiefs try a similar approach in the hope that a weakness in the Lions D has been found. After making Blount a non-factor in Week 1 the defense will be trying to ensure the Chiefs Jamal Charles is rendered similarly ineffective. The pressure exerted by the D-Line is such that it will be difficult for opposing teams to be too focussed on the passing game. Freeman found himself frequently hurried and Cassel too will be looking to get rid of the ball quickly. The much maligned Lions secondary showed that its reputation is undeserved and Chris Houston's interception was a nice reward for the group. 

The Special teams unit also presented the coaches with a reason for criticism giving up a 78 yard kickoff return. The Chiefs Dexter McCluster is one of those returners that has the ability to burn through coverage and take one to the house so the coverage unit will need to be at its sharpest. 

Despite my initial wariness that this game could be more difficult than anticipated I am of the belief that the Lions coaches have kept the team sharp and focussed. I'm not convinced that the Chiefs were as good as their record suggested last season and think that this could be a tough year for fans at Arrowhead. So I'm going to say the Lions win this one big with career days for Stafford and Calvin Johnson. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Jahvid Best rush for his first 100 yard game and Titus Young grab his first TD. 

Prediction: Chiefs 10 LIONS 44

2011 Season

Week One

LIONS @ Buccaneers

The 2011 season begins with a repeat of 2010's Week 15 matchup which the Lions won in OT 23-20. It will not be a surprise if this years fixture is just as tight as it features two teams widely acknowledged to be on the rise. The Buccaneers may well have come up with more wins initially during the rebuilding process but that should not distract us from the fact the Lions have potentially superior personnel in many of the key matchups.

If Matthew Stafford came into the league with the burden of being the first overall pick and the expectations associated with that pick the Bucs Josh Freeman, his draft class fellow, appeared relatively free from expectation despite also being drafted in the first round. That Freeman hit the ground running while Stafford hit the ground and damaged his shoulder only helped to exaggerate those original expectations. Thus Freeman became the 'surprise' star that everyone had overlooked while Stafford was left needing to prove he could get through a season healthy. The slightly bigger Stafford has showed this pre-season just why he was taken with the first overall pick and Lions fans will be hoping the promise shown in those exhibition games transfers to the regular season. If it does then the Lions will most likely surprise even the pundits who think they'll make the playoffs with just how good they are. The array of offensive weapons available to Offensive Co-ordinator Scott Linehan and Stafford are as varied as they are potentially game changing. Bucs CB Aqib Talib has made much of his potential matchup with Calvin Johnson after not being involved in the game last year. Despite Talib's bravado I would expect Johnson to come out on top in this particular head to head. Likewise I believe the Lions O-Line should keep Stafford on his feet long enough to keep the chains moving. My one concern about the Lions offense going into the game will be the ability to run the football. Jahvid Best is capable of gashing the Bucs for long gains but it is yet to be seen if the O-Line in conjunction with Best & Harrison can grind out a series of 4 to 5 yard ground gains to keep the chains moving while wearing down the Bucs D. 

The Bucs began the pre-season as impressively as the Lions but then results and performances fell away. We shouldn't read too much into this as there could be all sorts of reasons for this that will not relate to how they will perform once the games start to count. That said the Lions unbeaten pre-season when coupled with the 4-0 finish to last season will have not just the Bucs fearing how good the Lions actually are. 

The Lions D-Line was headline grabbing last season and in the pre-season win over the Patriots the D-Line stole the show with the pressure they put Brady under. They will need to be at their best if they are to contain Freeman who's combination of short, high completion percentage passes together with his elusiveness  make him a very dangerous opponent. The key defensive group for the Lions in this game though may well be the new Linebacking trio. Their ability to break up or intercept Freemans dink and dunk passes together with their ability to contain the Bucs RB LeGarrette Blount will be vital to the Lions chances of success. The Bucs O-Line is not unique in the league in being considered to be weak and the Lions D-Line will be looking to enforce their burgeoning reputation by dominating potentially weaker opposition. If the Bucs are unable to run the ball then, I believe, they will find it difficult to generate the necessary offense to keep up with the Lions on the scoreboard.

The Lions are loaded on Special Teams but the new kickoff rules have severely reduced the chances of returning the ball. The Lions change at the punter position is unlikely to yield any significant improvements but it has to be hoped the average gain per punt will improve. If the game comes down to a Field Goal attempt then there is no one more reliable than Jason Hanson. 

This game has all the makings of a nail biting classic but I'm of the belief that this Lions side is further along the path to greatness than most realise so I believe they will win going away. I'll try not to go the complete opposite direction if I end up being proved wrong.

Prediction: LIONS 31 @ Buccaneers 17