Enemy Fan Forums: Detroit Lions (Numero Uno)

goldenlions :

Moving on from the MNF debacle, we have another game in 2 days.

The Vikings (4-2) come in on a 2 game win streak in which they dominant from the start of the game until the final whistle. While the Lions (2-2-1) are on a 2 game losing streak after 2 heartbreaking losses sandwiched between their lone bye week.

The Stats

Vikings offense is ranked #11 overall , #3 in rush and #24 in passing. The Lions Defense is ranked #29 overall, #27 in rush and #28 in passing and #19 in scoring defense.

Lions offense is ranked #13 overall, #16 in rush and #9 in passing. The Vikings Defense is ranked #5 overall, #7 in rush and #9 passing and #6 in scoring defense .

The stats alone says this game should be dominated by the Vikings.

The game is basically going to come down to how well Kirk Cousins performs and whether the Lions can get any pressure on him. The Oline is okay as Riley Reiff has been injured and hasn't been that great and they have a rookie center. Dalvin Cook is going to get his yards, as the Lions are terrible on run defense despite having upgraded their defensive front that has been riddled with injury. The Lions will have to rely on the passing game to move the ball down the field as the Kerryon Johnson et al will be stymied by the Vikings front 7 all game long. Special teams may come into play in this game.

The Vikings come in pretty healthy overall, especially on defense. The same guys for the Lions are perpetually injured and Wagner is a new addition to the injury report but limited in practice. Hopefully they can get back Hand and Diggs this week. But Daniels and Oruwariye are not practicing and will most likely be out again.

I don't know maybe the Lions play angry and bounce back in front of what should be a good crowd at Ford Field (I'll be one of them). A lot of Vikings fans I have been talking to are showing some pessimism in this game, as they believe the Lions will get some favorable call to make up for last weeks debacle, I am not one of them.

I think the better team wins and Vikings pull it out in a tight one.

Vikings 31
Lions 28

Tough match-up, Zimmer has always seemed to throw things at Stafford that cause him some problems. Cook going off scares me.

I still think you can cause Cousins to implode, but I’m not sure the 3-4 man contain rushes will do it. Think you have to get after him some, so I’ll be interested to see the defensive plan. Hand being back would be big.

Gut feeling they pull it out. Won’t be pretty, but end with a win.

Lions 24
Vikings 20

The run defense of the Lions is struggling so far and facing Cook is scary.

Offensively the redzone efficiency is troubling but overall they are moving the ball and not turning it over.

This is winnable provided Cook doesn't go off.

This is the game that tests the mettle. Either give up after a ref game or man up.

Not going to win many games with this.....

The Lions Defense is ranked #29 overall, #27 in rush and #28 in passing.

that only considers yards, it doesn't include returns turnovers and the fact that the Lions defense is in the top 3 in opposing completion %.

Yeah, Football Outsiders has them at 12th ranked D. They do need to clean up the run D.

Yep, can't lose at home to a divisional opponent.

Lions mental toughness will be challenged after the MNF travesty.

Every game in the division is a must win this year. Last week was, this week is, etc. etc. Whoever is on the short end of the stick in the division this year is going to be watching the playoffs on TV - 1/2 of the NFC power structure is in the NFC North.

Does it even matter?

The team that wins the game will be the one that the NFL wants to prop up for, what they consider, the best storyline. Historically the Lions would sit behind the GB, Chi, and Minny on that pecking order.

I think the NFL/Refs are going to f*ck us twice as hard this week.

Tough one to bounce back on. At least they're at home I guess. But losing the last two the way the did -- one 4th and 8 away stop away from beating KC, and then we all know what happened Monday night...those are some tough, extremely bitter defeats to bounce back from. And Minnesota all of a sudden has a passing game now.

Best case scenario - the league over-corrects and Lions start getting calls to setup a rematch for the division with Green Bay in Week 17.

The Vikes will probably do whatever it wants against this defense. Only hope for the Lions is a lot of turnovers. I guess the strategy for the Lions is "let them run 70 plus plays against us and eventually, they'll fumble or whatever". Not something to hang your hat on all season.

This game has 16-13 written all over it. Only question is who gets 16.

After thought....I've decided that we might as well start the offseason thread now.

Because the refs are going to dry hump us into oblivion and make sure it's CHI/GB/MIN competing for the division this year. The NFL has already made the decision to f*ck us WWE style (as evidenced by the behavior of their on-field officials Monday)......And they're not going to walk back from that as the NFL has decided that Detroit will not be competitive this year.

The good news is that my Sundays just opened up for the foreseeable future.

The advanced stats overwhelmingly favor the Vikings, they could easily dominate this game. I'm surprised that the Vikings are only a 2 point favorite this morning, should be easy money.

I choose not to watch the lions tomorrow I could but will not out of silent protest for last weeks fix bullsh*t flags the NFL treats the lions like Chumps and has been stealing games from them for years and it’s never going to change for as long as we continue to watch this fixed NFL for entertainment purposes only weekly rigging of games.

The best chance of winning involves forcing Cousins into making mistakes, but the Lions are incapable of putting pressure on the QB. So...

Lions can't stop the run, how exactly do you force Cousins into mistakes when they can just run the ball down the Lions throats?

Lions defensive line is pure trash, not sure why they signed Flowers, guy is nowhere near elite. Complete waste of money. Bet Minnesota beats us by 20+ points.