Week 1 NFL picks: Lions and Bucs

In a league known for parity, using records of seasons past to gauge a team in the future just doesn’t work. The entry draft, free agency and the scheduling system play a large role in determining how a team will do in a given season. In the case of the Detroit Lions, all of these factors play a role. There is one X factor that I haven‘t mentioned and that is the return of their starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Lions beat the 10-win Bucs last year without Stafford. That is the first of many reasons why they will beat them again with him.

Not unlike the Lions, Tampa is a young team on the rise. Standouts at quarterback, running back and all over their defense have given the Bucs some much deserved attention. However, thinking that a running back like LeGarrette Blount may give the Lions defensive line a hard time is unfounded. Big backs give small teams trouble-Ndamukong Suh and his buddies aren‘t small. Could a fast, shifty running back who can catch the ball out of the back field and run off-tackle give the linebackers a problem? That’s a question for next week when Jamaal Charles comes to town. For now, Stephen Tulloch, DeAndre Levy and Justin Durant will have no problem backing their boys up front.


Josh Freeman is a talented football player but he’s not nearly polished enough to give the Lions defense any real trouble. Many will say that the Lions are an improved team that still have a lot of holes to fill. What people fail to realize is that Martin Mayhew has arrived and he knows more than all of us. Not signing a Jonathan Joseph or Antonio Cromartie doesn’t mean that they have a hole at the cornerback position. It means Mayhew doesn’t think he needs them and thus far, he’s given fans no reason to doubt him. If by some chance the Lions defensive line doesn’t finish something, their defensive backs will.

Where the Bucs may have an advantage is stopping the run. However, if the Lions can run just enough to give the passing game some breathing room, they will do just fine.

Prediction: Lions 23 Bucs 17