1269 replies to this topic

[Titoschew]

After the bye week, I think most looked at the six weeks following as tough sledding. Baltimore, SD, Minny, Cleveland, Steelers, and Colts. Randy Moss was told to take a hike. Other than getting their doors blow off in Cleveland, this team has shown a lot and done a lot of growing up. But, with the Jets pulling off high wire cardiac escapes week after week, we can't take the foot off the gas pedal.



He was sick the day apostrophes were on the agenda.

[Dgilpin]

Lions are winning this game


No Barry this time around, but Calvin Johnson will provide a new highlight reel.

Edited by Dgilpin, 22 November 2010 - 01:23 AM.

[lostjumper]

No Barry this time around, but Calvin Johnson will provide a new highlight reel.

I have no doubt that Megatron could destroy our wide receivers. However, do they have anyone to get him the ball? The Pats run defense is pretty stout, and it means Detroit is going to have to throw it alot. I'm guessing 3 int's for the pats defense.

edit: meant CB's of course...

Edited by lostjumper, 22 November 2010 - 10:14 AM.

[Mooch]

The Lions can't run the ball and can't stop the run.

Double team Johnson, keep a spy on Shawn Hill and pound the ball down their throats.

[Dgilpin]

I have no doubt that Megatron could destroy our wide receivers. However, do they have anyone to get him the ball? The Pats run defense is pretty stout, and it means Detroit is going to have to throw it alot. I'm guessing 3 int's for the pats defense.

Detroit has no running game at all, Best hasn't been the same since his turf toe injury against the Vikings. I mean they'll probably run the ball just to stay honest but with Best hobbled and Kevin Smith on IR I wouldn't expect more than 10-15 carries. Although Johnson is our big play WR, especially in the red zone, the Lions most effective receivers are Pettigrew and Burleson between the 20's. When the Lions are moving the ball those two are providing most of the 1st down's. Plus Shaun Hill probably throws one of the worst deep balls known to man, so the biggest part to stopping the Lions offense down will be stopping Pettigrew and Burleson.

The Lions can't run the ball and can't stop the run.

That's really the truth, the Lions LB corp is absolutely terrible especially in run defense.

Edited by Dgilpin, 22 November 2010 - 09:27 AM.

[dwightinright]

Detroit averages 80 yards a game rushing and gives up 130.

[Dgilpin]

Actually Detroit's biggest problem is penalties, going into this past week they were the 2nd most penalized team. A lot of them are just stupid penalties, that usually have a nice way of derailing drives.

Edited by Dgilpin, 22 November 2010 - 10:28 AM.

[loshjott]

I hope Fred Taylor is ready.

[sachmoney]

I don't care if they are only practicing once this week. It's the Lions. Beat the Lions, get some Coney Dogs for the flight home, eat Thanksgiving dinner, get ready for the Jets. As simple as that.

[Shelterdog]

Actually Detroit's biggest problem is penalties, going into this past week they were the 2nd most penalized team. A lot of them are just stupid penalties, that usually have a nice way of derailing drives.

I'd say the bigger problem is the lack of good players. But sure, the penalties don't help.

[SemperFidelisSox]

The team will be wearing the red Pat Patriot throwbacks.

[Dgilpin]

I'd say the bigger problem is the lack of good players. But sure, the penalties don't help.

See that's the thing, they really do have a pretty talented roster. I mean it obviously isn't at the stage of the Patriots or a top level NFL team, but they really do have more talent then their record would indicate. Out of the 10 games they played this year in all but 3 (Cowboys, Vikings, and Giants), they were ahead or within 3 points in the the 4th quarter. I'd say the biggest problem other than Stafford's shoulder being composed of tissue paper, is they haven't figured out how to mentally close out games.

[Dgilpin]

Anyway let's make this interesting, anyone want to lay some cash down on the game. I'll take the Lions straight up, let's say $50 to the winners charity of choice? Hell, if the Lions win by 14 or more I'll match the 50 bucks anyway. (I'm going to limit it to the first full time member that responds)

[PeaceSignMoose]

Anyway let's make this interesting, anyone want to lay some cash down on the game. I'll take the Lions straight up, let's say $50 to the winners charity of choice? Hell, if the Lions win by 14 or more I'll match the 50 bucks anyway. (I'm going to limit it to the first full time member that responds)

I love the confidence. I'll take you up on that offer.

[Shelterdog]

I love the confidence. I'll take you up on that offer.

Please, please, please make this the charity

http://www.lionaid.org/

[PeaceSignMoose]

Please, please, please make this the charity

http://www.lionaid.org/

I was going to make the charity the Detroit Lions themselves. They seem to be hemorrhaging money.

[Dgilpin]

I love the confidence. I'll take you up on that offer.

You got it Moose. Good Luck

[Maalox]

The team will be wearing the red Pat Patriot throwbacks.

That's right bitch.

Hopefully the Lions will be wearing their throwbacks, which are the greatest football uniforms ever, as well.

[Soxy Brown]

He was sick the day apostrophes were on the agenda.

Maybe he's ashamed that he shops at Food Lion. I know I would be.

[sachmoney]

I will be wearing my Richard Seymour Pats throwback jersey then.

[Soxy Brown]

Things I learned recently:

Sam Gash is the Lions' running backs coach and Shawn Jefferson is their wide receivers coach.

[mikeford]

Hah, who's their DB coach, Jimmy Hitchcock?

[Mystic Merlin]

I wonder what Chad Eaton and Max Lane are up to.

[nazz45]

Reports have the Lions playing a lot more man under coverage this season, which is Gunther Cunningham's desired style. I would expect the Patriots to continue to stick with their two tight end sets and use a lot of motion with Gronk/Hernandez to differentiate between when the Lions are in man or zone.

If the Lions stick with their base defense against two tight ends, you can create a lot of mismatches over the middle when they are in man coverage with their smallish linebackers covering Gronk or Hernandez or a running back out of the backfield. They have been one of the worst defenses in the league covering tight ends this season, according to Football Outsiders, and a lot of that responsibility falls on their linebackers.

They have a lot talent along the defensive line, highlighted by their UT/NT tandem in Suh and Corey Williams. You would think they would have feared much better against the run this season, but Cunningham uses a lot of 3-4 principles in his 4-3 base in that they want their ends to funnel run plays back inside and their tackles to occupy multiple blocker to free up their linebackers to clean up. But they really don't have the linebackers to do this consistently.

It's no surprise that they rank so poorly in Second Level (between 5-10 yard from LOS) and Open Field (10 yards past LOS) yardage allowed. I imagine that when the Patriots run, they will want to counter, trap and misdirect in order to get the d-line out of position and exploit the second level tacklers.

What they do well, though, is rush the passer with that talented defensive line, and Cunningham likes to blitz his DBs just as much, maybe even a little more, than as his linebackers.

This should be a good match up. I buy into the Lions as being a much improved team that is clouded by some bad luck, inopportune dumb penalties and the Stafford paper mache issue. One advantage for the Patriots is that Scheffler may be out and that may take the Lions out of their two tight end sets with Pettigrew, forcing them to rely on their WR depth, which isn't much beyond Johnson and Burleson.

I'd love to see Patriots just dominate in some 30-10 game, but I don't see this pass defense at the point where we can ever count on it. Not yet, at least. So expecting a shoot out but hopefully more similar (read: comfortable) to the Steelers game.

Edited by nazz45, 23 November 2010 - 12:51 PM.

[ColoradoJack]

Lions are winning this game

With apologies to Rick Pitino, Barry Sanders ain't walking through that door.

[Shelterdog]

They have a lot talent along the defensive line, highlighted by their UT/NT tandem in Suh and Corey Williams. You would think they would have feared much better against the run this season, but Cunningham uses a lot of 3-4 principles in his 4-3 base in that they want their ends to funnel run plays back inside and their tackles to occupy multiple blocker to free up their linebackers to clean up. But they really don't have the linebackers to do this consistently.

Corey Williams (and Best) are probably going to be out.

[( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)]

Who gets the start at corner Arrington or Butler?

[Shelterdog]

Who gets the start at corner Arrington or Butler?

Probably Arrington; the Lions' receivers and TEs are big and physical. You're probably in a nickel most of the game so the question is if you use 2 corners/3 safeties or 3 corners/2 safeties (I assume the former, with Chung in the slot to guard Pettigrew most of the time.)

[PeaceSignMoose]

Brady is officially questionable for tomorrow's game with a Shoulder/Foot.

Is there any doubt that Brady starts?

[Mr. Littlejeans]

Brady is officially questionable for tomorrow's game with a Shoulder/Foot.

Is there any doubt that Brady starts?

Probably nothing to see here:

Patriots list seven players, including QB Tom Brady, as questionable. I'd be shocked if Brady does not play.

Per http://twitter.com/MikeReiss

[Judge Mental13]

As a football fan I'm very excited to watch Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh play for 60 minutes.

As a Patriots fan I'm very excited to watch the rest of the Detroit Lions play for 60 minutes.

[SoxScout]

Patriots announce 4 players downgraded to Out; Stephen Neal, Myron Pryor, Jonathan Wilhite and Mike Wright.

Fred Taylor made the trip. Some combo of DL are going to get a bump in playing time.

Edited by SoxScout, 24 November 2010 - 08:06 PM.

[jsinger121]

My guess is Kyle Love will see a boast in playing time. Mike Mayock was creaming on his play in the Colts game on the NFL network show the playoff.

Edited by jsinger121, 24 November 2010 - 08:25 PM.

[sachmoney]

Win today.

[RedOctober3829]

Happy Thanksgiving, fellow BBTLs. Nothing would make me happier than to sit back with a bourbon and watch the Patriots beat the shit out of the Lions. However, I have a feeling that I will be drinking lots of bourbon because it will be a frustrating day.

[scottyno]

with living on the west coast away from family, and the game starting at 9:30, how the entire rest of my day goes, and how much I drink, depends entirely on this game

please score early and often and lets continue the tradition of watching the lions suck every thanksgiving

[jsinger121]

realpatriots

Pats Inactives: Brandon Deaderick, Mark LeVoir, Rich Ohrnberger, Stephen Neal, Taylor Price, Myron Pryor, Jonathan Wilhite, Mike Wright #fb

Deaderick inactive is a huge surprise

[jsinger121]

realpatriots

Lions inactives:Jason Hanson, Matthew Stafford, Jason Fox, Willie Young, Tony Scheffler, L. Jackson, Donald Thomas and Zac Robinson (3rd QB)

Jahvid Best looks like a go

[PseuFighter]

i'm up. we can start now.

[DaveRoberts'Shoes]

Just pulled into Ford Field. Lots of Pats jerseys...

[JohnnyTheBone]

Jahvid Best looks like a go

It should be Jahvid "Not The" Best, frankly. I sweat him not.

I wish they'd just cut bait on Rich Ohrnberger. Guy's either made of glass, or can't play. Neither is good.

[SeoulSoxFan]

Deaderick also out. Love and Taylor active.

[Mystic Merlin]

Does Michael Holley still think Brady won't play?

[PC Drunken Friar]

Was the entire cbs pregame crew crying? I missed the story

[SeoulSoxFan]

Was the entire cbs pregame crew crying? I missed the story

Esiason, the smartest of the bunch, pulls a Schefter and picks Lions. Sterling picks Pats. Foreboding.

[grsharky7]

Was the entire cbs pregame crew crying? I missed the story

The Story about Chris Henry's organ donation. Very powerful story for sure, JB couldnt keep it together.

[dynomite]

Was the entire cbs pregame crew crying? I missed the story

Yeah I missed it to and saw JB crying. I rewound the DVR: it was a story about the people who received Chris Henry's organs after he died last year, with a reunion at the end between the 10 families of recipients and Chris Henry's wife or mother. Pretty moving.

Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving. Win it for Pat the Patriot today.

[Al Zarilla]

Was the entire cbs pregame crew crying? I missed the story

Just James Brown that I saw. Very rough losing a son but Chris Henry's mother is getting some solace from donating his organs.

[Mystic Merlin]

Yeah, but Esiason picked against the Pats based on some odd logic. He is worried that Brady didn't practice 'all week', but didn't they only practice one or two days anyway?

And I guess he missed the pressure-induced picks against Indy. But, yeah, they have no pass rush!

Edited by Mystic Merlin, 25 November 2010 - 12:36 PM.

[Andrew]

Woodhead through 2012

And there is nothing worse than terribly forced puns in the already trite "keys to the game"

And I don't mean Jose Melendez.

Edited by Andrew, 25 November 2010 - 12:36 PM.