Stopping the run, kick coverage, protecting the quarterback; 3 aspects to the 3 phases of the game that the Lions continue to struggle with. Perhaps the Lions players and staff have read too many press clippings. Maybe they think they're good enough to win despite these flaws. Whatever the case may be, they will have their hands full on Sunday with a team strong in countering all of the above.
Coming into the season, the Lions had top talent across their starting 22. The defense was young, fresh and mean. The offensive line was battle tested and they had a quarterback who was healthy and had a lot to prove. As the season has worn on, injuries, opponents and reality have proven to be great equalizers. Their problems are correctable, but will they correct them?
Old school or just old?
Sometimes personnel, opponents and most unfortunate, egos, get in the way of producing victories. Gunther Cunningham is old school. I’ve said that before and their aren’t a lot of positives to it. Old school often leads to old habits. Just because fans, analysts, players, and grandmas passing by a TV in a storefront all see that the Lions defense has problems, doesn’t mean the coordinator does. In the 90's, Cunningham coached some of the best defense this league has ever seen. In the 2000's, he coached some of the worst. Has the game passed him by? This game will do much to answer that question. Let’s be real, the Lions defense has been productive and have allowed the fewest points in their division, but they’ve given up big plays both through the air and on the ground and it has cost them.
God's Quarterback
Everyone has an opinion of Tim Tebow. While he is known more for what he can do with his legs, he has had big games throwing the ball, including a 300 yard performance last season. The Lions have racked up a lot of sacks this season but they’ve also missed out on some. If they fail to wrap Tebow up on passing downs, he will hurt them. If the Lions take him lightly, they could lose this game.
Staying relevant
Last season, I called Stefan Logan the most irrelevant player in the NFL and he responded the next week with a 105 yard kick-off return touchdown. That was last season. Stefan Logan is the most irrelevant player in the NFL.
Finding Titus
Where is Titus Young? I’m not sure he even knows. He looks lost and the rookie seems to be falling further out of the game plan each week. Is it crazy to give Young a few shots at fielding punts? Rebuilding teams can’t survive a season with zero production from their first, second and third round draft choices. Young needs to be involved and this would be the game to do it. In fact, all the receivers not named Calvin Johnson, Jr. need to step it up.
Leaving Elvis' building, with a win.
A lot of what happens in this game relies on the health of Matthew Stafford. In turn, a lot of what happens to Matthew Stafford relies on defensive end Elvis Dumervil. Banged up for most of the season, this could be a bit of a 'get right' game for Dumervil. Jeff Backus has not played well as of late and if Stafford is limited by his injured ankle, Dumervil could go off.
The Lions need to prepare for the other team's 'A' game each and every week. They've been getting a lot of attention and are on the radar of every team in the NFL. Denver is no different. They are coming off a big win last week and would like nothing more than to get a signature win in front of their home crowd. This game will be closer than many think.
Prediction: Lions 20 Broncos 19
Players to watch: Demaryius Thomas, Lance Ball
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