The Lions tenuously clutch to the possibility of salvaging a respectable season. Or, from another perspective, the Lions are on the precipice of accomplishing the same type of season that they have had so often in recent years, a losing one. The Lions must win this game. If they don't, they may struggle to win any of their remaining games, period. I don't want to be redundant, but the Lions have performed well enough at times this season that it is quite possible that they can beat Atlanta tomorrow.

On Offense, the Lions have to establish their running attack early. The Falcons have exhibited a weak defense against the run throughout the season. With the loss of LB Ed Hartwell, the Falcons have shifted playmaking LB Keith Brooking to the middle and have had to utilize athletic but smallish LB's Michael Boley and DeMorrio Williams. The Lions need to be able to run straight at the Atlanta Defense, the Falcon's defense is very quick and will pursue well. If the Lions can run well, they may be able to attack the Falcons with some mid-range to deep passes. In particular, the size of the Lions receivers should provide some difficulties for CB's DeAngelo Hall and Jason Webster. The front four of the Falcons are very fast and do a great job of applying pressure(in particular DE Patrick Kerney and DT Rod Coleman) to the QB. If the Lions can run the ball effectively, they may be able to utilize some play action passes to offset the Falcons pressure. I wouldn't be surprised if the Lions go to more screen passes (to combat the Falcon's pressure)and less slants to their receivers which would be playing into the athleticism of the Falcon's defense. Steve Mariucci is still being evasive about who will start at QB, but I would be shocked if Jeff Garcia is healthy enough to go. Garcia's scrambling ability would come in handy with the pressure the Falcon's will be able to apply against the porous Lions O-Line.

The Lions Defense will need to have one of it's better performances of the season. Their defense against the run has been respectable, but has been declining weekly. With the loss of Earl Holmes, MLB Wali Rainer will have to have an even better game than he did last Sunday against the Cowboys. The Cowboys were able to run the ball effectively because their possessions were continually extended by so many stupefying Lion's penalties. Michael Vick is a major factor for the Lions to contend with, but I much rather he gain 70 yards rushing and for RB Warrick Dunn to be held down than for Dunn to gain 100+ yards and Vick to be kept in check. If Dunn is contained and the Falcons have to face some 2nd/3rd and long yardage situations the game will be placed upon the shoulders of Michael Vick to be efficient in the passing game. I am most concerned about which Lions LB/S will be assigned to limit Falcon's TE Alge Crumpler catches. Crumpler is the one player the Falcons possess that I believe could really damage the Lions as he finds space in the middle of the field. I think that CB's Andre Goodman and Keith Smith will be able to match up well with Falcon's WR's Michael Jenkins and Roddy White. I also believe that R.W. McQuarters will match up well against the sizeable WR Brian Finneran, but if Vick can move the pocket and is allowed to improvise, Finneran, Jenkins, and White will be more effective. Vick, the best athlete in NFL bar none, is a sackable QB and the Lions will need to do better than they have of late pressuring the QB. The Lions did an excellent job last season of pressuring and containing Vick. I don't expect them to do quite as well tommorrow, but if they come even close to containing him like they did last year they have a very good chance of winning.

Another major factor in the outcome of this game will be the amount of gamesmanship that goes on between the respective coaching staffs due to their near total familiarity with each other's tendencies, systems, plays, etc. it would not surprise me in the least that the Lions will unveil some wrinkles to try and throw off the Falcons. Not sure what those wrinkles may be, but last year Dick Jauron did a great job of mixing up the Lion's defensive fronts so that it could generate some confusion for the Falcon's O-Line and Vick. I think that Kalimba Edwards will play more out of a 2-point stance and move around to different spots in the defense to try and frustrate Vick. Hopefully, these maneuverings can help swing the balance in the Lion's favor. Steve Mariucci's job status for the immediate future will come into question if the Lion's offense sputters and the team doesn't represent itself well in it's highlight game of the year. If the Lion's were to lose badly, I wouldn't be surprised in the least to see Steve Mariucci and Ted Tollner issued their walking papers.

Ron Mexico 24 Joey "Blue Skies" 17