Detroit Lions Weblog

WEEK 14: ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT GAME DET vs. GB

“To Try to all of a sudden become a WEST COAST OFFENSE, I think doesn’t suit us. I have never liked it. I am quite frankly not a proponent of the short passing game. If you want to get 3 yards, hand it off” Mike Tice in regards to Brad Johnson

My sentiments exactly Mr. Tice. If the Lions are going to go to Lambeau Field Sunday, in the cold, amidst a rabid crowd of Packer fans, on national televison and attempt to save face, Jason Hanson can’t be their game MVP. Not only will kicking be difficult in the unfavorable environs of the frozen tundra, the Lions must run the ball consistently and effectively. They also must use the size of their wide receivers to attack and exploit the undersized Packers secondary like they did in Week 1.

The Packers have a very capable defense. They have been susceptible to allowing teams to run the ball successfully against them, though. The Lions must establish the run and build a play action passing game off of it. Otherwise, the Packers will load up the box to prevent the run, put the Lions in third-and long yardage situations and have their DE’s Aaron Kampman and Kameer Gbaja-Biamila pin their ears back and pressure Lions QB Jeff Garcia. The Packers Defense has improved considerably since week one, the Lions will not have an easy road to hoe. Especially important, will be the effectiveness of Dominic Raiola and the Guards in handling the Packers DT’s Grady Jackson, Cullen Jenkins, and ex-Lion Colin Cole. With all the misery the Lions offense has suffered through this season, it would be nice to see O-Coordinator Greg Olson open the playbook and try to create some big plays for this offense.

Defensively, the Lions Front Seven must contain RB Samkon Gado and consistently pressure Brett Favre, so that the Lions can consistently drop their safeties back to prevent Favre from converting downfield passes as effectively as the Vikings were able to last week. I am very concerned about FS Jon McGraw, he could prove a liability if Favre is able to drop passes to receivers behind him for great gains. The Lions must also capitalize off of any Packer turnovers, which seem to be coming in a flurry of late.

I have a bad taste in my mouth, an uneasy feeling in my guts, and an impending sense of doom over Sunday Night’s game.

Favre= #of Passes Greater than 50 yards 2 or more, Interceptions 1 or less:
Cheeseheads 31 Limburger 10
Favre= # of Passes Greater than 50 yards less than 2, Interceptions more than 1:
Cheeseheads 27 Limburger 20

FIRE MATT MILLEN NOW: FREE THE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!