How Detroit Lions Should Game Plan for Every NFC North Opponent in 2012

The Detroit Lions need to draw up outstanding game plans for their NFC North rivals, as these games are critical, and they are winnable. The Lions are quickly becoming one of the more talented teams in the NFL, and the games they play in their division will either put them in the playoffs or eliminate them entirely.

The NFC North is the best division in the NFL, and playing against the teams in the NFC North is going to be an enormous test in 2012. The winner of the division has run the gauntlet, as there are immensely talented teams in the division. Every divisional game will present formidable challenges to the Lions offensive and defensive units.

The Lions have playoff aspirations in 2012, after qualifying for the 2011 playoffs as a wild-card team. The Lions face the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings at home and on the road in 2012. These games represent 38 percent of the Lions’ 2012 schedule.

The Lions are going to have to be at their best when they face their division rivals, especially on the road at Green Bay and Chicago. They face the Bears on Monday Night Football in Week 7 on October 22. They also play a Sunday night game at Green Bay in Week 14 on December 9.

The Lions wrap up their regular season in Week 17 at home versus the Bears on December 30. These are critically important dates to the Lions’ playoff hopes in 2012.

Chicago Bears

The Bears are coming off of a disappointing 2011 season. They finished the 2011 season with eight wins and eight losses, and they did not qualify for the playoffs. The Bears are a team that's running out of time, as the key pieces on their defense are aging.

The Bears have lacked a quality receiving group since they traded for quarterback Jay Cutler. It has been a problem, and it has hampered their offensive progress. The Bears have relied heavily on running back Matt Forte, and he has been their offense for the past two seasons.

In the 2012 offseason, the Bears added troubled but talented wide receiver Brandon Marshall in a trade with the Miami Dolphins. They also added wide receiver Alshon Jeffery in Round 2 of the 2012 NFL draft. The Bears have weapons now, and Cutler is going to be able to throw the ball more in 2012.

The Lions will have to play well on defense if they want to beat the Bears in 2012. Here are a few key points:

Stop Matt Forte and Michael Bush

The Lions must defend the run, first and foremost. Forte is a bell-cow running back, as he can hurt teams by running the ball and also catching it in the passing game. The Lions will need to limit his production in the running game.

Make the Bears offense one-dimensional

The Lions are going to try to put the Bears in 2nd-and-long situations. This will put their defense in a nice position, and it will give the Lions’ defensive line the opportunity to get after Cutler.

Pay attention to Brandon Marshall

The Bears are going to be a more balanced team than they have been in a few years, and the Lions are going to have to pay close attention to Marshall, but the priority should be to stop the run and make the Bears one-dimensional.

Cutler has gotten frustrated by the lack of protection from his offensive line in the past. The Lions need to take advantage of this weakness.

Do not kick the ball to Devin Hester

Devin Hester is another player whom the Lions need to limit or take away altogether. The Lions should not give him a chance, as they should punt the ball away from him. Hester’s ability in the return game can change games, and the Lions special teams units must prevent the big play.

The Lions are exciting on offensive, and they might be the most explosive team in the NFL. Their offense will have to be clicking.

Here are a few keys:

Protect Matt Stafford

Matt Stafford is one of the best young quarterbacks in the game, and protection is a key element. The offensive line must play well, and it must keep Bears defensive end Julius Peppers away from Stafford.

Establish a running game

The Lions were electric in 2011, and that was without a running game. If they can get a running game going in 2012, it would make the Lions offense more efficient, and it would take pressure off of their passing game.

Slow down the pass rush

One of the ways to slow Peppers down is to run the ball at him. The Lions can also keep Brandon Pettigrew in to help out tackle Jeff Backus. Another way to slow the rush down is to have a running back chip away at Peppers as he turns the corner.

Create a mismatch with Calvin Johnson

The Lions have the ability to create mismatches on the field, and they should take advantage of them. They can stretch the field by throwing to wide receiver Calvin Johnson, and they should throw it to Johnson early and often.

Take advantage of the Bears’ double-coverage of Calvin Johnson

Wide receiver Titus Young is another player that can create problems, especially with his speed. He should be able to exploit a weak Bears secondary in 2012. The Lions will throw the football a lot in 2012, but if they can get a little balance going on offense, they will be extremely difficult to stop.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers are coming off of a phenomenal 2011 season. They finished the 2011 season with 15 wins and one loss, as they finished with the best regular-season record in the NFL. The Packers have a potent offense, and it will take a considerable effort from the Lions defense if they are to beat Green Bay in 2012.

Here are a few key points:

Pressure Aaron Rodgers

The key to limiting the Green Bay Packers is getting pressure on quarterback Aaron Rodgers and making him uncomfortable. I agree with those who call Rodgers the best quarterback in the NFL today, as he is almost unstoppable.

The only way that the Lions can limit him is to get as much pressure on him as possible. The Lions must hit him as much as they can in these games.

Make the Packers offense one-dimensional

The Lions must put the Packers offense into situations where they know what's coming. They need to stop the run, especially on first down, and they need to limit tight end Jermichael Finley. The Lions can handle knowing that Rodgers is targeting wide receivers Greg Jennings or Jordy Nelson.

Keep their secondary healthy

The Lions' secondary issues are somewhat overblown. It's a weakness, but it was with their depth in 2011 and not in the play of their starting players that was the problem. The Lions are in better shape from a depth perspective entering 2012 but will need everyone healthy in 2012 to stay on the field with the Packers.

Prevent the big play

The Lions must avoid the huge play from happening against them. The Packers made enormous plays on offense in 2011, and the Lions will not be able to overcome these significant plays, especially on the road in 2012.

They must make the Packers grind it out on offense. This is much easier said than done, but it has to be part of the Lions' plan against Green Bay in 2012.

The Lions offense will have a tough test against the Packers. They will have to keep pace, and they will have to play mistake-free football.

Here are a few keys:

Protect Matt Stafford

As with every game that the Lions play, the protection of quarterback Matt Stafford is crucial. The offensive line will need to give Stafford time to operate against Green Bay.

Use the running game to control the clock

The Lions' running game should be used to keep Rodgers and the Packers offense off the field. They need to establish a threat on the ground and then pound the rock. Mikel Leshoure is perfect for this role, but he needs to show that he's healthy in training camp.

Keep the running backs healthy

Jahvid Best is as explosive as any running back in the NFL. The Lions can also use him to eat away at the clock. Best is capable of scoring each and every time he touches the ball, and the Lions will need both Best and Leshoure available for these games.

Throw short-yardage routes

The Lions can eat away at the clock by throwing short passes to tight end Brandon Pettigrew and wide receivers Nate Burleson and rookie Ryan Broyles. This is also a means of tiring out the players on the defensive line, all the while slowing down the pass rush.

It's exciting to score touchdowns, but sometimes, a seven- or an eight-minute scoring drive would do wonders for the Lions' defensive front.

Create a mismatch with Calvin Johnson

This is going to be a theme in every game that the Lions play. Calvin Johnson is the best receiver in the game, and he can make plays that almost no other wide receiver can make. The Lions need to involve Calvin in everything they do on offense.

Take advantage of the Packers’ coverage issues

The Packers could not stop the pass in 2011. They finished last in the NFL, allowing 299.8 yards per game. This is more of a testament to their lack of ability to get pressure on the quarterback than it is their ability to cover in the secondary. The Lions need to take advantage of the one true weakness that the Packers have.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are coming off a horrendous 2011 season. They finished the 2011 season with three wins and 13 losses. The Vikings had the No. 3 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. The Vikings have a few nice players on offense, but they're rebuilding.

Quarterback Christian Ponder looked solid at times during his rookie season, but he has a long way to go. The Vikings are an older group on defense, and they addressed their secondary in the 2012 NFL draft with safety Harrison Smith with pick No. 29 in Round 1 and cornerback Josh Robinson in Round No. 3.

These look to be games that the Lions should win, but it's the NFL, and any team can beat another team whenever they play. The Lions can’t look past the Vikings, and they will have to do a few things well if they're to win these games.

Here are a few key points:

Stop Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson is a workhorse, and he's a player whom the Lions have to slow down. Peterson is one of the best running backs in the game, but he's recovering from a torn ACL.

According to Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN (h/t ProFootballTalk), Peterson could start the season on the PUP list, which would keep him out for the first six games. The status of his knee will not be clear until training camp is well underway.

If Peterson starts the season on the PUP list, he will not play in Week 4 when the Lions face the Vikings. It might be the only real way to stop him.

Pressure Christian Ponder

Ponder is a young player, and the Lions’ pressure will rattle him. The pressure will force him to make throws early, and it will make him inaccurate.

The Lions should have excellent games defensively against the Vikings, and their defensive line will set it all in motion. The Lions should be able to put up strong defensive numbers against the Vikings, especially at home.

Limit Percy Harvin

Percy Harvin is a matchup problem for any team, but he presents problems that the Lions can’t ignore. Harvin plays best from the slot, and he's a gifted player. Harvin is a player who must be contained.

Force turnovers

One of the best ways for the Lions to control the outcome of their games against the Vikings is to get turnovers. Quarterback pressure will force Ponder to make bad throws which could turn into interceptions, and the Lions' aggressive tackling could cause fumbles. The Lions would love to get a defensive score in the games they play against Minnesota.

The Lions offense should be able to do what it wants to do in these games, as they're much more talented on offense than the Vikings are on defense. The Lions should be able to put up a lot of points in these games.

Here are a few key points:

Slow down Jared Allen

Jared Allen is one of the best defensive ends in the game, and he's a real problem for the Lions. They must contain him, even if that means keeping an extra blocker in the backfield. Allen can’t be allowed to get near Matt Stafford, and the Lions must account for him. He's a threat, and a player whom the Lions must take seriously.

Run up the score

The Vikings offense is no match for the Lions. The Lions should be able to distance themselves in the form of several scores. The Vikings offense is not a fast-strike offense, and it will not be able to keep up the pace. The Lions should strike quick in these games.

Use the running game to run out the clock

The Lions should be winning the games they play against Minnesota, and a player like running back Mikel Leshoure should be able to put up enormous fourth-quarter numbers. He's going to be on the field gaining first downs while draining the clock.