http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1752340/posts?page=165#165
Okay, so, I’m 5 for 5 on the Lions’ season so far. I’d picked them to lose to the Giants next week.
The Giants beat the Panthers (so today did the Bears), lost to the Cowboys (geez), lost to the Titans (geez), beat the Bears, and today beat the Texans. Both teams are starting to fire on all eight, so it could still be a decent game, and I’d love it to be the Lions’ first road win in, uh, a while, but I’ll stick with my earlier pick.
The Lions’ running game and passing attack is more balanced than I’ve seen it since the hillbilly was in charge, and the Lions defense will give Eli some trouble, but ever since I saw Eli escape from what looked like a sure sack in the Super Bowl and go on to complete the pass, and right after that to win the game, I’ve had a lot of admiration for his abilities.
The Redskins beat the Packers today — thanks! — and were just good enough to do that. They’ll be in Detroit in three weeks, and the Lions will be coming off the bye week. IOW, I think I’ll stick with that too. Wait and see if someone cools the Jets by that time — it sez here Randy Moss will become only the second NFL player to appear in consecutive Monday Night games, having been traded (the deadline is coming) to the Vikings, joining Favre’s over-the-hill-gang caucus up there. The Jets have won three straight, but look at who they beat.
The Bills are on the Jets Ws, and they lost again today, so I’m sticking with that as the Lions’ first road win.
The Cowboys may have turned a corner also, but the have been a streaky team, and the Lions have beaten them over the years. Another road loss? Probably stick with that one too.
The Patriots have been streaky. If the Lions have screwed me by winning at least half of their games by then...
Wow, the Bills’ schedule looks like an ass-breaker. Not much to look forward to. They’ll be gunnin’ for the Lions, just for, uh, pride. ;’)
Okay, the Giants are only 3-2 — and their losses were against the Titans (what?!?) and the on-again, off-again Colts (Manning vs Manning). They have a two-game win streak, and in each one the leading rusher was Ahmad Bradshaw, and their leading receiver Hakeem Nicks. AB was also their leading rusher in their other win, in week one. The two losses had different leading rushers, but they put up decent numbers. However, their win over Chicago was by two touchdowns, and was Chicago’s only (and overdue) loss; the Lions lost by a small margin to the Bears in week one.
The Colts beat the Giants by 24 points — more than the Giants were able to score — and it was done via a more balanced attack. Peyton Manning did have 255 yds passing, but that’s a slow day for either brother, really. :’) What I’m getting at, the Lions should be able to handle the Giants on the road, as long as they don’t lose their marbles or get stupid with some stupid penalties. The Lions have a pretty balanced attack like the Colts — not to say that they are yet that good of course. Also, the Lions know they can win, having finally done that against the Rams. As the Lions QB pointed out, offense, defense, and special teams all scored points against the Rams in a game that, even their critics would say is uncharacteristic for St Louis. The Rams handed the Redskins their asses just two weeks earlier.