Detroit Lions Weblog

Week 10: Lions Vs. Cards

The Lions are facing quite a difficult challenge this week.   In spite of the recent performances of the reeling Cards, the Lions are 2-2 on the road this year and the Cards feature one of the ten best defenses in the NFL.  A big win in Phoenix, while continuing to build upon their growing momentum, would really be making a huge statement for this surprising Lions team.

Offensively, the Lions are going to have to be able to utilze their passing attack much better than they have in recent weeks.  The Cardinals have big, athletic, bookend DT’s in Darnell Dockett and Gabe Watson, who will make inside running difficult for Kevin Jones by keeping their linebackers unblocked and occupying the area between the hashes. The Lions should not have to completely abandon the run, but they will not find their ground game as easy to establish as it has been in recent weeks.

This will also be a challenging game for the Lions offensive line.  The Cardinals DE Bert Berry is an excellent pass rusher and the Cards also feature athletic LB Karlos Dansby and S Adrian Wilson in their blitz packages who can completely disrupt an offense.  If their is a game that will ever serve as a barometer of the performance of the Lions offensive line, and their blitz pick-up blocking packages, this will be the one.

I do believe that the Lions can weaken the Cardinals advantage in these areas by running more of a quicker-paced offense that features multiple receivers.   Nothing wears down a pair of behemoth DT’s like a fast-paced aerial attack that doesn’t allow them to get much of a breather.    The Lions may also find some desirable man-to-man coverage matchups if the Cards choose to blitz. 

The Cards will also have to use a lot of nickel and dime coverage packages, which will limit the effectiveness of their linebackers, since they won’t be on the field. I think that the Lions believe that the advantage will stack up in favor of Calvin Johnson, Mike Furrey or Shaun McDonald against any of the nickel and dime packages that they face from here on out.  In fact, the effectiveness of McDonald and Furrey, along with their excellent route-running, makes the Lions offense truly scary, if it is clicking on all cylinders.

Defensively, the Lions need to continue to be stout against the run.   Edgerrin James has been effective at times, but if the Lions can stifle James they can place their focus upon pressuring the Cards immobile, injured QB Kurt Warner.

Warner, has also been effective at times, but has struggled since injury his non-throwing arm.   If the Lions can pressure the lead-footed Warner, the Cards WR’s Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, and Bryant Johnson will not be able to pick apart the Lions zones. During crucial times, the Lions may have to resort to man coverage and bring some blitzes so Warner is pressured into checking down rather than finding the dangerous duo of Boldin and Fitzgerald.

On paper, the Lions should win this game.  During seasons past, games that the Lion should win were the ones they most frequently lost.  In this case, it will not be easy but the Lions improbable run will continue.   Lions 24 Cards 16