Detroit Lions Weblog

Week 5 preview: Lions Vs. Ravens

First off, I have the good fortune of being the recipient of a couple of tickets to attend Sunday’s game (Thanks Bro!) against the Ravens at Ford Field. That being said, the two underperforming and lackluster offenses that will take the field on Sunday quite possibly could set football back 50 years. Both teams are emblematic of the absolute necessity of having a capable starting QB to be succesful in the NFL.

The Ravens have struggled as much if not more than the Lions offensively. The Ravens inability to jump start their running attack has made it so opponents can pin their ears back and pressure QB’s Kyle Boller and Anthony Wright. Boller is out, and Wright has shown that he doesn’t have the ability to carry a team to victory. If the Lions can contain RB’s Jamal Lewis and Chester Taylor (Toledo), they stand a very good chance of winning the game. If Baltimore is forced to rely on Wright’s arm, the Lions DE’S Jared DeVries and Kalimba Edwards, who have done a very good job of bolstering reliable DE’s James Hall and Corey Redding, could really tee off on Wright. It is also very important that CB’s Keith Smith and Andre Goodman do not allow big plays like they did for Joey Galloway against the Bucs. Ravens WR Derrick Mason is not the gamebreaker he used to be, but will move the chains and could spring a big gain if the Lions young CB’s have any lapses in coverage. Veteran TE Todd Heap, the Ravens most reliable receiving target, will try and find space through the middle to carve up the Lions secondary. It is very important for Lions linebackers and safeties to limit the ability of Heap to keep Ravens drives going. Besides Heap and Mason, The Ravens have young WR Mark Clayton and undependable WR’s Clarence Moore and Randy Himes. Moore is 6-6 and has terrible hands. Moore can be a major matchup problem for undersized CB’s, especially in the red zone. In my eyes, the defining element to the Lions success will be the run-stuffing of Shaun Rogers, Dan Wilkinson, Marcus Bell and Earl Holmes. The Ravens offense will have a real tough time if their RB’s are ineffective.

On Offense, the Lions are coming off a game against an excellent Buc’s defense and face an even more ominous task of trying to rely on QB Joey Harrington and the rest of the offense to move the ball against the formidable Ravens defense. In a near mirror image game plan, the Ravens will try to stuff Lions RB’s Kevin Jones, Artose Pinner and Shawn Bryson. It is unfortunate that FB Corey Schlesinger likely will be unavailable to play against the Ravens. He possibly help create some running lanes blocking against the Ravens undersized linebackers. If the Ravens successfully stop the run (highly likely), the game falls completely on QB Joey Harrington’s shoulders. Actually, this could be the defining game of Harrington’s career to this point. If Harrington is patient, accurate in his throws, and refrains from costly interceptions this is a winnable game for the Lions. If Joey “Scarrington” or Joey “Checkoff” rears his ugly head, the Ravens will inflict more punishment on the Lions than an angry prison bull meeting a new inmate who likes to wear lipstick and boasts about being a virgin. If Harrington fails, there will be about a three to four week countdown before Jeff Garcia assumes the helm as starting QB and the Lions begin investigating their future plans for the position. The Lions are without receiver Charles Rogers, so Kevin Johnson and Mike Williams will have to step up their games. The Lions will be facing the deepest and most daunting secondary in the NFL, you can’t reinforce enough how careful the Lions receivers and QB will need to be in the passing game. The Ravens have yet to intercept a ball, but it would take very little for them to intercept a couple balls and turn them into scores. A major concern for the Lions, will be the disruptive influence of Terrell Suggs. If Jeff Backus does not at least slow Suggs, this could be a very long game for Lions fans.

I want to be optimistic about the Lions chances against the Ravens. They are at home, coming off a tough loss against the Bucs on the road. If Kevin Jones remains a non-factor, the game will placed squarely upon the shoulders of Joey Harrington. It is hard to have faith in Harrington’s ability to drive this offense. Recently, former Cowboys and Dolphins Coach Jimmy Johnson said that the he thinks “this offense has a governor on it. It’s called Joey Harrington.” If Harrington repeats his past performances and the Lions allow a big play on defense they will be in for a long afternoon. I am going to exhibit some blind faith here, though.

Lions 13 Ravens 10