As you can see, I needed a little reprieve in order to lick my wounds that resulted from the Thanksgiving Game obliteration. I am MUCH better now, though really I am. This game is the most pivotal game this franchise has had in a long while. Losing it's last 5 games, is akin to losing 50 straight games in baseball as far as the magnitude of recent Lion's poor performances. Needless to say, a home game, with a rookie Quarterback starting, against a mediocre team, this game is a must win for the Lions. Any tangible improvement this team may have enjoyed rides on the Lions winning this game and beginning to turn around it's season.

Inexplicably, the Lions are still in contention for the Wild Card entry for the NFC playoffs, 1 game behind the pace being set by the Los Angeles Rams. How a team that has lost 5 straight games is still in contention for the playoffs is for Pete Rozelle, Albert Einstein and Confucius to figure out. At any rate, this is a winnable game for the Lions. On offense, they must establish the run and control the time of possession. In order to win this game, their offense will need to perform adequately for the entire game and not just one half of it. Kevin Jones should be able to be effective against the young, but respectable Arizona defense. The Lions will also have to overcome the fumble bug that struck them on Thanksgiving. This is a game where they must not turn the ball over at all. Most importantly, if Joey Harrington is ever going to throw down the gauntlet, and establish his integral role within the organization this is the game where he must do so. Harrington will probably have a very short leash and if he is the least bit ineffective he will be rewarded with a quick exit. Ultimately, the future of the franchise rests on him somehow coming out of the slump he has been muddled in.
On Defense the Cards have a respectable front four so Jeff Backus, Stockar McDougle, Dom Raiola, and David Loverne need to have an effective game against the likes of DE's Peppi Zellner and Bert Berry and exciting rookie DT Darnell Dockett.

The Lions Defense will have to get to the Quarterback. If Dick Jauron doesn't blitz and the Lions Defensive Line doesn't pressure John Navarre, in his first NFL start, the Lions will be in deep trouble. Kalimba Edwards had better get at least one sack in this game. They can ill afford to let the strong-armed Navarre to get comfortable in the pocket in his first start. Navarre has an exciting young stable of receivers who will cause problems for the underachieving Lions secondary. Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald pose the largest threat. Emmitt Smith has bounced back with a respectable season and the Lions had better do their part to stop the run so that the "nimble footed" (hee-hee) Navarre is forced to sit back in the pocket and throw the ball. The last thing the Lions need is for Smith to be successful and help take the pressure off of Navarre's shoulders. The Lions have been in a similar situation once before this year facing the inexperienced, David Garrard and failed miserably.

Judging on the basis of recent Lions performances this game will be one of the ugliest games that will be viewed during the entire NFL season(including the Dolphins vs. Niners). Taking into account their anemic offense and fatigued defense, it is hard for me to envision a Lions victory. Ultimately, I believe that Joey Harrington will get yanked during the third quarter and Mike McMahon will successfully lead the Lions to a 13-10 victory after a Jason Hanson field goal. The Lions will yet again win the battle, but lose the war.