racosun
11-13-2006, 09:12 PM
This is yet another big game for the Lions. Last week, they needed a win to have any chance at the playoffs. In typical Lions fashion, they blew it (but were THIS close to scoring 80 points). Now we head to Arizona to face Matt Leinart and his sad-sack Cardinals. This game is big not because we need to win to stay in the playoff hunt, but because we need a loss to stay in the #1 overall draft pick hunt. The bad thing about Matt Millen's Lions is that they lose when they need a win, and they win when they need a loss. If it weren't for an unlikely victory over the Saints last season, the Lions would have had the #2 overall pick in last summer's draft, which most likely would have meant Reggie Bush. Not that it would have done any good. Millen isn't known for his drafting prowess. He's actually much better known for finding the biggest busts available, loading them up with cash, then watching them either rot on the bench (Mike Williams) or fail miserably on the field (Charles Rogers, Joey Harrington). Which means Millen would have passed on Bush and drafted Leinart (I know, he had a chance to take him this year at #9, but with Millen's mindset he would have taken him if he was available at #2).
The Niners game was an easy game to win, since San Fran is a terrible road team and the Lions were coming off a huge upset over the Falcons. The Cardinals game really should be another easy win, which means the Lions will play poorly. Arizona not only has a rookie QB starting for them, they have one of the league's worst offensive lines (although they are well-paid). Newly acquired RB Edgerrin James is having a very hard time finding holes to run through, and QB Leinart is showing that he's still prone to the typical rookie blues. Since their opening game win over the Niners, the Cards have failed to score more than 23 points in any game. That 23-point outburst came against the Bears, who actually trailed 23-3 before staging a fantastic comeback and stealing a 24-23 victory and sending head coach Dennis Green into a somber mood that he has yet to shake. Both of these teams are so miserable that it's hard to predict how the game will end up. It could be a shoot-out, or it could be an ugly nailbiter. I'm thinking shoot-out, with the Lions winning a rare road game and blowing any chance at the #1 pick. They always find a way to disappoint.
If the Lions lose this game, Matt Millen should immediately be fired. But, knowing how the Ford family operates, they'll probably give him yet another contract extension, citing the team's progress towards building a winner. Look for those big Arizona receivers to go deep all day long, since they will have difficulty running the ball. Leinart will show why the Lions should have drafted him, and recently-recovered WR Larry Fitzgerald will burn Dre Bly numerous times. Bust out the VCR, this will be one ugly game that should provide plenty of laughs on both sides of the ball.
The Niners game was an easy game to win, since San Fran is a terrible road team and the Lions were coming off a huge upset over the Falcons. The Cardinals game really should be another easy win, which means the Lions will play poorly. Arizona not only has a rookie QB starting for them, they have one of the league's worst offensive lines (although they are well-paid). Newly acquired RB Edgerrin James is having a very hard time finding holes to run through, and QB Leinart is showing that he's still prone to the typical rookie blues. Since their opening game win over the Niners, the Cards have failed to score more than 23 points in any game. That 23-point outburst came against the Bears, who actually trailed 23-3 before staging a fantastic comeback and stealing a 24-23 victory and sending head coach Dennis Green into a somber mood that he has yet to shake. Both of these teams are so miserable that it's hard to predict how the game will end up. It could be a shoot-out, or it could be an ugly nailbiter. I'm thinking shoot-out, with the Lions winning a rare road game and blowing any chance at the #1 pick. They always find a way to disappoint.
If the Lions lose this game, Matt Millen should immediately be fired. But, knowing how the Ford family operates, they'll probably give him yet another contract extension, citing the team's progress towards building a winner. Look for those big Arizona receivers to go deep all day long, since they will have difficulty running the ball. Leinart will show why the Lions should have drafted him, and recently-recovered WR Larry Fitzgerald will burn Dre Bly numerous times. Bust out the VCR, this will be one ugly game that should provide plenty of laughs on both sides of the ball.