Week Fourteen

LIONS @ Packers

Can the Lions set a new futility record this week by losing a lead in the last 2 minutes of a game for the fourth successive week? If the game is reasonably close going into the last few minutes then it would probably be a safe bet to say the Lions are likely to find a way to lose it. Whether that be by failing to prevent the Packers from scoring or by failing to mount an offensive drive to score themselves. The inability to win games they could or should have won has been what has distinguished this season and we can but hope for signs that this has not become a trait. With snow forecast for the game then it has to be hoped that the offensive game plan drawn up by Scott Linehan does not rely heavily on plays that are not conducive to such conditions. With the playoffs no longer something to aim for this season we have to look towards next season and establishing ourselves within our division with wins at Green Bay and home to Chicago would be a good step in this direction. Likewise with contracts expiring and roster spots for many not guaranteed there are plenty of reasons for the players and the coaches, for that matter, to keep themselves motivated.

Offensively both Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson are on course for record breaking seasons and yet the Lions aren't winning. This seems to contradict the belief that more of the same is what's needed in order for the Lions to turn the losses into victories. Although when the Lions have looked to secure wins at then end of games the have seemed to want to do everything apart from throw the ball to Calvin Johnson. Now with three-quarters of a supposedly invincible quartet of wide receivers sitting at home on injured reserve it'll be interesting to see what Linehan has come up with. Personally I'd like to see an emphasis on the run with Bell getting far more carries than he has to date. I'd also like to see both backs in the backfield for a fair percentage of plays. Stafford will still need to spread the receptions around but obviously Megatron will remain his major weapon. If the game is affected by the conditions then Johnson could well be the perfect receiver as his size could offer a greater advantage in adverse weather.

The Lions have done a good job of masking the deficiencies of their Secondary but when the game is on the line the pressure seems to tell on the front seven. The decision to ditch last years group of below average defensive backs for a new collection of below average defensive backs has to be questioned as well. Much has been made of upgrading talent under the new regime but there hasn't been much if any upgrading in this area of the team. Fairley and Suh have both had improved seasons, particularly Fairley, without being spectacular, which is no bad thing given our likely desire to retain their services when their rookie contract expires. More than any other group the Defensive Line needs to impose its will on this game against the Packers, the NFC Norths stand out team, if the Lions are to move on to future playoff victories and Super Bowl wins. 

Given their form throughout the season I really don't know how anyone can predict the outcome of any of the Lions games with any certainty despite the fact their recent late game collapses have not been shocking in the least. The games against the Packers have consistently been close over the recent seasons so I think we should be reasonably safe in expecting this one to be close. If one team is to run away with it though sadly I don't think it'll be the Lions, we can live in hope though. The law of averages says that it must be time the Lions win a close game but something tells me that as we head off to bed we'll be cursing that we stayed up most of the night only for the Lions to let us down once again. Our only consolation may be that our nightmares centre around an outrageous Mike Carlson shirt rather than the game.

Prediction: LIONS 30 Packers 31