Shawn (2-0): The Detroit Lions remain a mystery inside a riddle inside an enigma. When they can run the ball, when Matthew Stafford is sober and getting the looks he wants and throwing even close to an accurate ball, they have as good an offense as anyone in the league. When their front seven is getting pressure, they can play some defense too.
However, when the Lions can’t run the ball and when Calvin Johnson isn’t taking the ball away from three defenders, Stafford is inaccurate and error prone and the Lions are capable of the seven points they put up last week.
Even during the disaster at Ford Field last Thanksgiving, the Green Bay Packers jumped out to an early lead thanks to a fumble and interception by Stafford.
Well, thanks to a change in defensive schemes and two radically different offensive performances, the Packers are about as much a mystery as the Lions are.
One thing we do know is that both teams can score points. However, it seems like every year a shootout is predicted in Detroit and pretty much every year it doesn’t happen.
So far this season, it seems like same old Lions. They have a strong front seven and a weak back four. The Packers faced a similar defense in the Jets last week. Hopefully, it doesn’t take a full quarter for the offense to get going.
The Lions need to dominate the line of scrimmage on defense to win this game.
The Packers need Aaron Rodgers to play better than Matthew Stafford.
Overall, I predict both teams will once again play better defense than people expect. In the end, even with my head I still like the Packers.
Packers 28, Lions 24
Monty (1-1): After week 1 I said to myself, the Detroit Lions are clearly the Green Bay Packers biggest threat in the division. After week 2 I said to myself, nope. The Detroit Lions are the same fucking bad joke they are every year.
This Lions team is pretty much a clone of last year’s team. They’ll put up some numbers on offense — when they’re not busy totally shitting the bed, which will also happen. And their defense — stop me if you’ve heard this one before — is solid up front, but has a shitty secondary.
Obviously, this is the Detroit way. CHANGE NOTHING! EVENTUALLY, WE WILL PREVAIL!
I pity Detroit Lions fans. All five of them. Their franchise is a total joke. And not a joke like the Minnesota Vikings, but just an eternal sad sack. You’ll never win. You know this. And you’ll always be disappointed.
It must be kind of like being married to a fat broad with a pretty face who keeps telling you she’s going to start working out. Then you come home from work to find her eating a box of donuts every day.
Anyway, there isn’t much to tell here because you already know the story.
On offense, the Lions will throw the ball to a triple-covered Calvin Johnson and hope for the best. On defense, they’ll generate some pressure with their front seven, only to be undone by their eternally shitty secondary.
Seriously, how can the Lions have a shitty secondary EVERY SINGLE SEASON? It defies NFL logic.
Is Matt Millen still secretly the GM there? I haven’t noticed them select a receiver in the first round for three straight drafts lately.
Now, we all know that the Lions thrashed the Packers last year on Thanksgiving, but Aaron Rodgers wasn’t playing in that game. So big difference.
I see three keys to the game.
1. Can Derek Sherrod or one-legged Bryan Bulaga hold up against the Lions’ pass rush?
2. Can the Packers work-in-progress defense continue to improve?
3. Can the Packers not try to hand the game to the Lions like they did to the Jets last week?
On points 2 and 3, I feel pretty confident that the answer is yes. On point 1, I’m not so sure.
It’s rare that we talk about an offensive lineman as the key to a game, but in this case, the right tackle is just that. I’m expecting the Packers to play it safe with the injured Bulaga again this week. He’s listed as questionable, same as last week and look, let’s not value one game over the long-term outlook of the team.
Bulaga should and probably will sit.
That leaves us with Sherrod again. Sherrod isn’t good, but he did show improvement from week 1 to week 2. However, the real concern is that he got dominated by a bunch of backups the last time he played on turf (St. Louis, in the preseason).
I am going to assume that Mike McCarthy will account for Sherrod’s awfulness on the faster surface by giving him help in pass protection. That will limit the offense somewhat, but it has to be done until Sherrod proves he can block someone/anyone by himself on turf.
With that in mind, Packers in a squeaker.
Packers 24, Lions 23
Andrew (2-0): This prediction was added after the original posting and is compliments of jet lag.
We usually save the best for last with Monty, but in an attempt to go 3-0 I’m coming on board with this week’s edition as a late addition. This week’s edition. Late addition. Week’s edition. Late addition.
Welllll my name is AC and I get mad respect. The Packers and the Lions, NFC North’s best.
Can there be best in a division so mediocre? Both teams are explosive, but soft at the core.
Like the chubby! The chubby! The chubby Staf-ford! Even without his ball cap on, dude’s still a big fat nerd.
He’ll throw us three-plus picks and do it up right. And the Packers! The Packers! Will party all night!
Many questions unanswered, so soon we all shall see. Can the Packers come away with a well-fought victory?
It will take them all four quarters, which has always been a struggle. But if the Packers fucking lose this game then my name’s Jessie Tuggle!
Word.
Packers 37, Lions 22