Chat with Lions

by CLF on Dec 20, 2011 1:04 PM PST

First, you're welcome for the Raiders win.

That being said... Just how hot are the Chargers right now? The Beatdown of the Ravens was impressive to say the least.

So let's hear it... your expectations for this weekend, your fears, what keeps you all up at night thinking about the upcoming lions game?

From our perspective, the Chargers are standing in the way of our first Playoff appearance since 1999. Our team is young and inconsistant... but can also matchup with any team in the NFL, Offensively or Defensively.... however, the inconsistency has hurt the W/L.

Chat it up!

...And however this weekend turns out... Here's to your team winning the West! (and ours making the playoffs.)

This FanPost was written by a member of the Bolts From The Blue community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Bolts From The Blue editors or SB Nation.

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Fairley and Suh both going to be active?

Fire Bud Black.
Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser. -- Vince Lombardi

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Dec 21, 2011 5:22 AM PST reply actions

Suh, definitely

Fairley will probably play but I don’t expect him to be as much of a factor. He’s been struggling with a foot injury all season. He had a great first quarter against the Saints a few weeks ago before re-aggravating it and missing that game and the next. Williams and Hill are good DT’s though—it’s our deepest position.

Hey that's a timeout, I can play right? yeah, get me--get the F-- Help me up...I can throw the ball if you need me to throw the ball...

by n4ry4 on Dec 21, 2011 10:36 AM PST up reply actions

C-Will didn't practice on Wednesday though...

Ugh. Let’s hope he’s alright.

President of the Eric Wright fan club.

Obligatory statement about being a huge Lions fan.

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DJ Moore is a pussy thug.

by Bighaircut on Dec 21, 2011 5:32 PM PST up reply actions

Personally

I thought the Ravens were a good matchup for us. Offensively, they are a running team that really gets exposed when it has to pass. The chargers defense is pretty good against teams like that, especially when the offense can get up early. Our offense getting up early is more dependent on ourselves and our health than on the opposing defense, if Floyd, Gates, and VJ are healthy we should be fine. Plus, we have another week with the same OL!

So, how do you think your offense performs under pressure? Can Stafford run the offense successfully when he is having to match points with the other team? Your running game kind of stinks so it shouldn’t hurt you to have that taken away in a shoot out. But is Stafford and the rest of the offense capable enough to keep up in a shoot out?

(Perhaps it is a bit presumptuous to think our offense will be able to score on your defense, but I really do believe that if healthy, we can put up lots of points on anyone)

by Stephen (shaynes41) on Dec 21, 2011 10:22 AM PST reply actions

This season

Our O is 5th in yards per game, 5th in passer rating, and 4th in points per game across the league, despite having a rushing attack that constantly seems to get stuffed at the line. Stafford & Co can usually compete if it’s a shoot out.

Hey that's a timeout, I can play right? yeah, get me--get the F-- Help me up...I can throw the ball if you need me to throw the ball...

by n4ry4 on Dec 21, 2011 10:45 AM PST up reply actions

I'm sure the Lions' offense will look pretty good against the Chargers' crappy defense.

But objectively speaking, it’s really only a little better than average, on a per play basis.

A pirate I was meant to be!
"You say you're nasty pirates,
scheming, thieving, bad bushwackers?
From what I've seen I tell you
You're not pirates, you're just slackers!"

by Zach (maestro876) on Dec 21, 2011 12:33 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Have any stats to back that up?

Just wondering.

President of the Eric Wright fan club.

Obligatory statement about being a huge Lions fan.

I have a twitter: Follow Me

DJ Moore is a pussy thug.

by Bighaircut on Dec 21, 2011 5:33 PM PST up reply actions

Sure.

Check out Football Outsiders.

A pirate I was meant to be!
"You say you're nasty pirates,
scheming, thieving, bad bushwackers?
From what I've seen I tell you
You're not pirates, you're just slackers!"

by Zach (maestro876) on Dec 21, 2011 5:49 PM PST up reply actions

My only opinion

Is that Opinions dont matter in the least. Momentum and game changing plays are the only thing you can truly rely on. Any team can beat any other on any given Sunday ( Saturday in this case), a perfectly thrown TD pass could be tipped, and turn into a pick six instantly. Great players get shut down, and no-names shine! I could state 100 reasons why the Chargers could win, and have just as many reasons why the Lions could win. Im equally concerned with the Bills Broncos game, as this one.

Jeremy Beckett

by JeremyBeckett on Dec 21, 2011 11:34 AM PST up reply actions

so…
your opinion is that opinions don’t matter
and…
that we can only rely on unreliable things

got it.

by Stephen (shaynes41) on Dec 21, 2011 11:51 AM PST up reply actions

Precisely

Read through the posts of this season. They are loaded with predictions that dont come true. But here is the major advantage the Chargers have in this one.:

The game starts at 4:05 ET

The Broncos , Raiders, and Chiefs all play at 1:00 ET

The Chargers that take the field will be elated , or deflated depending on the Broncos outcome. Thats a fact. That is relevant information. And much more noteworthy than me giving an opinion on why I think the Chargers will win.

Jeremy Beckett

by JeremyBeckett on Dec 21, 2011 6:39 PM PST up reply actions

That's a great point

That being said, GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by msivits on Dec 21, 2011 6:55 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

What keeps me up

First, you’re welcome for the Packer’s wi… uh… I mean the Bear’s wi… no… for the Viking’s win! They’re still a factor for you, right?

From a Charger’s offensive perspective I’m most worried about Detroit’s defensive line. Although the pass protection for the Chargers has improved greatly, I know that the Lions like to run a lot of creative stuff on their line. Vanden Bosch has a high motor, and I know Suh demands the double team (possibly why he hasn’t had as big of a year this year?). Speaking of double teams, Williams is Detroit’s big run stopper right?

If Delmas is out I’m not nearly as worried about the secondary or the linebacking core (admittedly, I don’t know much about either core, but I seem to remember that there was a patchwork of other team’s cast off veterans in the secondary).

I’m happy that Calvin Johnson finally has a competent quarterback to throw to him so he can show off his ridiculous set of skills and who better to throw it to him than Mathew Stafford. Whenever I think of him, I remember that Browns game (You know the one) where he drove for the game winning touchdown (the whole experience should be set to “Eye of the Tiger” in my opinion. That said, I’m not as worried about the Lion’s offense. Other than Johnson, I don’t see as many viable options (is it just me, or does Stafford just throw it up to Johnson in crunch time?). I could see Titus Young turning into a good slot guy, and Best seems very Sproles-like to me, but I think the Chargers match up pretty well against this offense.

Note: The Lions are my second favorite team, but this year I haven’t followed them very closely (quite possibly their most interesting year in a while?). I’m happy to see that the Lions are getting a different reputation than what they have had in years past. I hope it lasts for a long while. I’ll be rooting for them when they get to the playoffs (by losing to the Chargers and then stomping Green Bay, rested starters or not). Here’s to consistency for the future!

by Ferguson1015 on Dec 21, 2011 12:35 PM PST reply actions

Suh is still putting up top 10 DL #’s… His sack totals are down, though.

Corey Williams, yes, I believe to be our best run stopper.

The LB Core is made up of Stephen Tulloch (Led NFL in Tackles last year), Levy (3rd round pick in 2009), and Justin Durant (faster than most safeties). It is hardly a “patchwork” of castaways.

The Secondary…. Chris Houston and Eric Wright will start at corner… both solid, other than Houston is a bit banged up. Spievey and C. Harris at Saftey. The secondary does miss Delmas… mostly because of his adjustment and play calling ability.

We all know Norv will have a great game plan for Detroit and we are all excited for this game as it is a perfect “pre-playoff” test for our team.

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by CLF on Dec 21, 2011 12:56 PM PST up reply actions

To answer the Stafford to Johnson Q..

No. It seems that Stafford just throws the ball up to Calvin when the game is on the line, but it’s quite the contrary. Yes, the deep ball to CJ happens at least one try per game, but you have to try that with CJ. In crunch time, much like last game, Calvin is the one who steps up. Stafford throws it his way so often because Calvin gets open that often.

But Staff has so many options to throw to (lately they’ve been dropping a lot of balls though, 8 total last game), such as Burleson, Titus Young, Pettigrew, and Scheffler. Kevin Smith, although he was absolutely horrible last game, has soft hands and should catch a lot of balls out of the backfield. We have weapons, and Stafford is beginning to utilize most of them.

President of the Eric Wright fan club.

Obligatory statement about being a huge Lions fan.

I have a twitter: Follow Me

DJ Moore is a pussy thug.

by Bighaircut on Dec 21, 2011 5:39 PM PST up reply actions

The Lions and Chargers are both hungry

I swear the Lions and Chargers are like the same in terms of talent. Offensively, they run the same pass-happy scheme with big recievers, 2 pass catching tight ends, a pro-bowl caliber quarterback, and had Jahvid Best not got injured both have pass catching running backs. Defensively they couldn’t be more different as the Chargers play a base 3-4 and the Lions play a 4-3. San Diego likes to blitz with their linebackers while Detroit is content on dropping back 7 and rushing just 4. I believe the Lions defense might be slightly better, but I’m not certain. Don’t quote me on that.

I think this game will be about throwing the ball and limiting mistakes. I think both offenses will play great but the the better defense will be the key in the end. I believe the Lions defense will prevail against Rivers and the Lions win their 10th game of the season 31-28 in front of a sold out crowd and make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

The Charger will win their 8th game of the season and the division when both the Broncos and Raiders lose out and the Chiefs lose the finale. The Chargers will still make the playoffs with a 8-8 record and could end up in the Superbowl. I think the Chargers are really that good.

From 0-16 to the Superbowl baby!

by DLions4Eva on Dec 21, 2011 11:10 PM PST via mobile reply actions

Interesting prediction(s) ...

Just quibbling with your # for what the Chargers will score…. I don’t know who wins this game, but the Chargers are bound to have at least one field goal: they stall too often to only score TD’s…. I agree: it should be a pretty high-scoring game — something like 34-31, 34-27, 31-27, etc.

Thanks for the compliments to the Bolts — they’re POTENTIALLY that good, but I don’t know if they REALLY are…. We’ll see….

And one correction: the Broncos can’t lose out at the same time the Chiefs lose their finale, as those two teams play each other Week 17. If all four AFC West teams finish 8-8, the Chiefs would win the division, as they’d be the only team in the division with a winning record (4-2).

by jctess on Dec 22, 2011 2:18 AM PST up reply actions

Well then, KC loses their game in week 16 but beat the Broncos as the Raiders lose out

San Diego wins the division 8-8.

From 0-16 to the Superbowl baby!

by DLions4Eva on Dec 22, 2011 9:13 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

Still can't happen since KC plays against the Raiders this week

8-8 is just a very bad position for the Chargers. They have an outside chance at a wildcard (everything needs to go right for this to happen) since they would have beaten the Raiders in the final week (they lose to the Raiders, they are out no matter what). But I would prefer if SD won out and Detroit won all remaining Non-Charger games (AKA beat the Pack) and both get in the playoffs.

by Ferguson1015 on Dec 22, 2011 10:44 AM PST up reply actions