Monday night football has come and gone; the Lions took care of business, the crowd did its part and Detroit once again played host to the world. In a league where your next game is always your biggest, the Lions have to do it all over again today in what will be one of the most physical games of the season.
Where the Lions made the most of their prime time opportunity, the 49ers defense has done the same all season. Leading the NFC in takeaways, the 49ers defense has been opportunistic to say the least. To go along with their 8 interceptions and 6 forced fumbles are 12 sacks that match the total of the Lions. Both teams will have an opportunity to further validate the praise they have received so far this season.
For the 49ers, it starts with Patrick Willis. A tackling machine, Willis presents a lot of problems for an offense. While Maurice Jones-Drew may be the bowling ball, Willis is the wrecking ball that can go sideline to sideline and never takes a bad angle. Matthew Stafford will know where this man is on every snap.
Offensively, the 49ers like to go big. They've used 3 tight end sets to not only throw the ball but to run it as well. This is a look the Lions haven't seen often and it remains to be seen how they'll react. Tight ends have two natural enemies: linebackers and safeties. The Lions are a little beat up at both positions and the 49ers know this. They will look to exploit those match ups early.
Gunther Cunningham could get a little more creative calling the defense. They've gone entire games without blitzing and that's asking too much from your defensive front. Even the best need help at times. While the linebackers may already have their hands full in this game, Cunningham needs to utilize the plays that San Francisco rests their tight ends and send an extra man after the quarterback.
While it may start with Patrick Willis, it could all end with Alex Smith. I'm not convinced that Smith has turned the corner nor am I sure his coaches are either. Rebuilding teams don't use 2nd round draft picks on a position that they are already happy with. Smith is a guy who can manage a game and not lose it if things are going well. He's incapable of winning it for you. The 29th ranked passing offense is probably not enough to beat this Lions team.
Last week was not an indication of how good the 49ers are but more of how overrated Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris is. With that said, this was still one of the more difficult games to gauge because there are so many good match ups on both sides of the ball. However, if the Lions can once again run the ball effectively (75-80 yds) it will provide enough balance to offset the damage that the 49ers defense could inflict.
Prediction: Lions 23 Forty Niners 14
Players to watch: John Wendling, NaVorro Bowman
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