Detroit Lions Weblog

Week 5 Preview: Lions Vs. Redskins, or “Slaying Media Dragons”

The Lions are more than a little fed up about the incessant reminders of their past futility of performance while playing in the nation’s capital.   They received a near-constant barrage of questions throughout the week regarding their past failures against the ’Skins, in spite of the fact that most members of the current Lions roster have never played in Washington as members of this organization. 

Jon Kitna termed it best, by saying that he feels like the team is being asked to “slay the media dragons” each and every week.   Kitna understands the subtext to the Lions situation, and is doing his best to deflect it.    This game can’t be understated in it’s importance to the ‘07 Lions.  Plain and simple, for the Lions to go to 4-1, in a hostile road environment, would set them up so that by even going 5-6 down the stretch, they would still have a decent chance for playoff contention.

The Lions are facing an interesting challenge in the Redskins.   The Redskins feature young QB Jason Campbell, a nice pair of RB’s in Clinton Portis and LaDell Betts, an excellent H-Back in Chris Cooley, and two smurf-like receivers in Antwaan Randle-El and Santana Moss. I fully expect that the Lions will face a Westbrook-like mix of swing passes and screens to both Betts and Portis, who is dinged up.   If the Lions tackle well when Washington runs the ball, keeps plays in front of them when Campbell delivers short passes to his receivers, and aren’t beaten for any big offensive plays, they will have an excellent chance for victory.   The Skins offensive line is injury-ridden, so this would be an excellent opportunity for the Lions front four of it’s defense to assert itself and help out the secondary.

The Lions offense will face a formidable challenge trying to throw against the deep Redskins secondary.   The Redskins have two capable players in David Macklin and Fred Smoot, to go along with their secondary loaded with 1st round draft picks Shawn Springs, LaRon Landry, Carlos Rogers, and Sean Taylor.   It remains to be seen whether DE’s Andre Carter and Phillip Daniels will provide the adequate pressure necessary to impact the Lions passing attack.  

The Lions have replaced G Damien Woody, with improving Stephen Peterman, and to say that T George Foster is on thin ice, is an incredible understatement.   The Lions offensive line, if it is able to perform well in spite of the personnel changes, can single-handedly win this game.    As good as the Skins secondary is, if Kitna has time to operate, the Lions will pick them apart.

I feel good about the Lions coming into this game.   They have few major injuries and appear poised to make a statement the likes of which they have not made in years.   The scary thing is a 24-17 win sets an infinitely more disappointing end to their season if they falter down the stretch.