OT: Detroit Lions
while it seems like most of the attention goes toward the Cass Tech/FHH game(and for a good reason). The Lions played against the Patriots in a nationally televised game and the Lions did not disappoint by dominating the Pats all game long with a 34-10 win.
Matt Stafford looked great and has been unstoppable today against the Pats secondary. He went 12/14 for 200 yards with 2 TDs and a perfect 158.3 QB rating. He could've easily went 14 for 14 with 3 TDs if Nate Burleson had held onto the ball and Devin McCourty didn't PI against CJ. For the preseason, he 24-of-31 for 356 yds, 5 TDs, 77.4 completion % and rating of 154.0. That is an unbelievable stats and it shows how much he has grown as a QB. If he can stay healthy which he will, sky is the limit for the Lions. My original prediction for the season is 10 wins but I'm seriously revisiting my prediction to 12 wins
The Lions defense has been pressuring Tom Brady all game long. He did not look like his usual self. His internal clock was off by a few split seconds that he made a few bad throws. His lone TD came against Lions 2nd team defense in which they blew the coverage so bad that Wes Welker was wide open for an easy TD. Though I give Brady credit for an outstanding PA fake but that should not have happened.
Overall, I'm really, really excited about the Lions this season. I truly think that they can make noise as a team to be reckon with.
Ndamukong Suh's quote during in game interview, "Last year, we gained respect. This year, we want fear" gave me chills. Folks, the Lions have a bright future ahead of them!
August 27th, 2011 at 11:38 PM ^
The Lions are getting better. Just remember, though, what their preseason record was teh year they went 0-16.
August 27th, 2011 at 11:41 PM ^
but this a different team. If we can establish some kind of rushing attack, our offense will be scary.
August 27th, 2011 at 11:44 PM ^
Harrison had a very nice run in the 1st quarter(?) I believe. Scratch that, it might have been a screen.
August 28th, 2011 at 12:49 AM ^
The 0-16 team was built on smoke and mirrors by a coach who was overwhelmed by the depth of the hole the Lions were trying to dig out of. This team is built on defense, a decent OL, and a very good, young QB. Having an experienced Megatron around certainly doesn't hurt, either.
Either the curse of Bobby Layne is over or WCF is too busy goosing the nurses who change his diapers to run the team on a daily basis. Whatever the case, WCF is no longer causing WTF moments for the Lions. That can only bode well for the Lions finally reaching a Super Bowl in our lifetimes.
August 27th, 2011 at 11:41 PM ^
Hold your horses, it's just the preseason.
August 27th, 2011 at 11:58 PM ^
pulled their starters in mid 2nd quarter when they were up 17-3(they should be up 21-3 if Burleson had held onto the ball). The Pats did not pull their starters until early to mid 3rd quarter when the Lions 2nd team tack on 10 points on them to go up 27-10 which tells you how much the overall depth has improved compared to a few years ago
The Lions won the last 4 games of the season with 2nd/3rd string QB starting for them. They did it without some of their starters and a couple of key players playing through injuries. They beat Super Bowl Champion, GB Packers, two playoff contenders in Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in that span. The Lions win over Bucs allowed the Packers to win the tiebreaker and get into the playoff. The rest is history for the Packers. The Lions has finally lived up the hype thus far in preseaon and I expect the Lions to win at least 8 games minimum(8 games would be a disappointment, believe it or not).
August 28th, 2011 at 1:19 AM ^
Football is football. And perfect throws are perfect throws.
Stafford is a freaking stud. No one who saw him tonight could say otherwise. The type of throws that Harrington would make maybe once or twice a game (on a good day) are what Stafford does on a routine basis.
August 28th, 2011 at 6:20 AM ^
I hate to be that guy, but it's just the preseason. Good teams are good teams, sure. But what's Indy's record the last 10 years in the preseason?
Like, under .200, yeah? You can judge a little bit on individual players' improvements in their skillsets, especially guys going into their second and third years, but outside of that the real work is done in the camps in the offseason, which hurts a young team like the Lions that is going to need their (also young) QB to have an excellent season to find 10 wins.
To get to double digit wins they're going to need to win 4 games in the division realistically and it's tough to find road wins in the NFC North. If Minnesota is a mess then the Lions have a shot at 4 wins in division, but unless they implode I think 3-3 is much more likely.
Don't get me wrong, I'm hoping for it as much as the next guy, but expecting dramatic improvement without consistent summer work amongst a young, improving offense is a bit short-sighted. This team can be a solid 8-8 with an eye to the future and I wouldn't be disappointed. Anything below .500 is obviously going to be a disappointment.
August 28th, 2011 at 9:38 AM ^
August 27th, 2011 at 11:42 PM ^
Just waiting for someone to post a Lions thread. The preseason record dictates nothing about the reg season, but just the positive atmosphere about the Lions is nice to see. Sold out Ford Field, Ha!
August 28th, 2011 at 5:24 AM ^
preseason, but at least the organization is looking competent... which is a new experience for Lions fans.
August 28th, 2011 at 9:10 AM ^
lot of empty club seats last night were'nt there?
August 28th, 2011 at 10:08 AM ^
Club seats don't have to be sold out to qualify as a sold out game.
August 27th, 2011 at 11:43 PM ^
Looks very impressive, every throw is right on the numbers and it's giving his WR's a chance to run after the catch! Also, Burleson has been outstanding so far
Huge game @ TB to open the year, if we win that I say 10-11 wins, if we lose...i'm still saying 8
Then again, it all depends on staying healthy (mainly Staff)
August 27th, 2011 at 11:43 PM ^
My prediction for this season: The Lions will go 10-6 and get the Wild Card playoff birth because the Packers will win the divison. Green Bay will win the division in a battle on January 1st with both teams being 10-5. I can't help but be impressed by this team so far in the preseason. I realize what happened a few years ago, but this is a totally different team with different leadership.
August 27th, 2011 at 11:49 PM ^
The Lions are moving towards average to above-average.
Which is remarkable given their decisionmaking even a few short years ago.
August 28th, 2011 at 12:13 AM ^
I grew up being disappointed by the Lions. One playoff win in my lifetime.
The last decade, not so much. We all knew they sucked before the year started.
Pinch me, I'm actually starting to expect something from them again.
August 28th, 2011 at 1:20 AM ^
The Lions look like they could be a hell of a lot better than "moving towards above average."
And it's not all that remarkable. The NFL is a quick turnaround league.
August 27th, 2011 at 11:52 PM ^
Matt Stafford is a ROBOT
August 27th, 2011 at 11:53 PM ^
That said, according to the commentators, a lot of the first-stringers for the Pats' defense didn't make the trip. I liked the Ryan Mallet cameo near the end of the game, and not one but two backup QBs from MSU played! Ochocinco kept his favorite number. I suppose that was in his contract when he signed with the Pats.
August 28th, 2011 at 12:10 AM ^
True but I think the problem has been the defense the past year or two. They can score points we know, but stopping Brady & Co. shows where we are going on defense. I see good things ahead.
August 28th, 2011 at 12:35 AM ^
The Lions are definitely getting better. Controlling the line of scrimmage against the Patriots is impressive, pre-season or no. The backup QBs were also making plays, which makes me happy and slightly envious. The Browns are finally getting some solid backup QBs on the roster, but it's still an open question whether that win against GB was a fluke or not. Week 1 vs. the hated Bengals can't come soon enough.
August 28th, 2011 at 12:13 AM ^
Yeah because those missing defensive starters made it so Tom Brady could only score 3 points against our starters and consistently caused him to be put him on his ass.
August 28th, 2011 at 12:16 AM ^
Aaron Hernandez had #85 and gave it to Ochocinco before he could even ask for it. Ochocinco then offered Hernandez some McDonald's coupons and the use of his Prius on the weekends. Hernandez reportedly turned down the offers and took no compensation.
August 28th, 2011 at 12:42 AM ^
that sounds about right to me.
August 27th, 2011 at 11:54 PM ^
While the pre-season shouldn't be an azimuth check for the regular season the direction the Lions are heading is definately true north. A big if but if Stafford stays healthy I see the playoffs in the Lions future this year.
August 27th, 2011 at 11:56 PM ^
12 wins is pretty steep for their running back situation. That is the only thing I see holding this team back from 10-12 wins. 10 is possible but I see 8-9 wins. I think the year will be 2012 for a big year. Suh is a once in a life time player.
August 27th, 2011 at 11:59 PM ^
can pass the ball, they really don't need the running game.
Look at Super Bowl participants, most of them did not have a great running game. NFL is a passing league and you need to pass well if you were to be successful in the NFL.
August 28th, 2011 at 1:17 AM ^
Well the Bears could not run or pass last year and were pretty close to making it to the Super Bowl. If your defense can step up to dominant levels it can make up for a lacking offense.
August 28th, 2011 at 6:16 AM ^
The Lions were on par with chicago and Green Bay last season and have only gotten better.They should have swept both last year>They got screwed in last years opener in Chicago and beat GB with a 3rd string QB.They have a few holes but so does everyone else.There is no reason why this team can't win 10-12 games and win this division.
August 27th, 2011 at 11:58 PM ^
The NFL doesn't do it for me. I don't know if it's that the atmosphere is worse at NFL stadiums compared to college stadiums or that there are only 32 teams compared to the 60 some BCS teams. I like the Lions, but I find it hard to sit through an NFL game.
August 28th, 2011 at 12:01 AM ^
Suh is a dangerous, violent individual. And I'm glad he plays in Detroit.
If it weren't for football, Suh would be [disallowed from contact with civil society].
Agreed - tremendous talent. The front 4 for the Lions is scary.
August 28th, 2011 at 12:56 AM ^
I love Suh. I love what he does on the field. I love how he does it. But, he is going to run into unfair troubles with referees this year. He is gonna get a lot of penalties that arent penalties. Hopefully refs can adjust to the tenacity he brings and not overpenalize him.
August 28th, 2011 at 7:27 AM ^
I love Tom Brady. But, he is one of the most important figures in the entire NFL franchise. As a result, if he so much as gets a hair out of place (or, God forbid, breaks a nail) the refereees are going to over-penalize "offending" players like Suh. That's not fair, but just the way it is.
August 28th, 2011 at 12:02 AM ^
If our running game is 20th or better, I'll be satisfied.
August 28th, 2011 at 12:19 AM ^
August 28th, 2011 at 12:25 AM ^
He hasn't even played.
August 28th, 2011 at 12:26 AM ^
The guy is clueless. Best is also broken.
August 28th, 2011 at 12:31 AM ^
Fairley is a rookie, not sure you should expect too much from him. Suh was an exception to that, but many people think he should have been the second defensive player to win the heisman the year before.
August 28th, 2011 at 12:34 AM ^
arguably had just as good of a season as Suh. He was a one man wrecking crew for Auburn.
With Corey Williams and Ndamukong Suh getting the bulk of attention, it would take pressure of Fairley from doing so much what is expected of him which is refreshing to hear because Lions would often depend on 1st round to produce if they were to be successful, but not this season, they're deep enough not to worry about Fairley being successful as a rookie.
August 28th, 2011 at 12:22 AM ^
PI on McCourtey.
August 28th, 2011 at 12:27 AM ^
he got to CJ before the ball arrived.
August 28th, 2011 at 1:12 AM ^
Did not that was a clean play.
August 28th, 2011 at 1:59 AM ^
It was an very very good defensive play, not PI at all. But if that's what it takes to stop the passing attack I'll be a happy camper
August 28th, 2011 at 12:58 PM ^
but that's a PI. McCourty got to his body before he batted the ball away from CJ.
August 28th, 2011 at 12:25 AM ^
Twenty five the pats win twice as many games.
August 28th, 2011 at 2:04 AM ^
to take that bet
August 28th, 2011 at 12:34 AM ^
August 28th, 2011 at 12:40 AM ^
For a team, even the Lions, over Tom Brady
August 28th, 2011 at 9:57 AM ^
Doesn't give a shit about you...I like Brady but against the Lions,shit...I want the Lions to tear his fuckin head off......