Detroit Lions 2008 Season Preview

Detroit has a one-sided season schedule. Their big games this year are in the second half of the season, and most likely they will be considered a team that fell apart late in this year's NFL season.

The offseason for Detroit has been plagued already, when they traded down to let Kansas City take a very solid offensive tackle and in turn, picked a player at No. 17 that wasn't even a top-32 player.

Besides the draft disaster, Week One is against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 7. The key to this game is to maintain pressure on Atlanta's new star, Matt Ryan. They will be picked apart through the air without constant pressure.

Ryan has three critical weapons to throw to, and, if he doesn't play like a rookie, they will pick apart the Lions all game. The Lions' offense has been hamstringed with the loss of Kevin Jones.

Kitna is going to have a long year if Tatum Bell doesn't play well, because he will be the only weapon firing rockets to Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams. Overall, I think Atlanta will steal this one. The secondary of Detroit is just not good enough, even for a rookie in his first game. Lions start the season 0-1.

Week Two will be Detroit's home opener on Sept. 14, against the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay can't play in dome environments, and the loss of Brett Favre is going to leave them gasping for air all season.

Aaron Rodgers may have the toughest job this year, and he needs to be productive in no less than five weeks, otherwise Green Bay will be on the downfall and looking for a new quarterback. At home against Green Bay, Detroit plays their best football. They will win this one, and Detroit will bounce back to 1-1.

Week Three will be away again, this time on the coast of California against the San Francisco 49ers. The only thing holding back the 49ers this year will be Alex Smith, or the defense. The duo of Frank Gore and DeShaun Foster will be a brutal combination for any team to handle, and they will draw a lot of pressure off of Smith, giving him time to get the ball to his receivers. The defensive backs will hold down the Lions and leave them going into their bye week at 1-2.

Week Four is a bye week for the Lions.

Week Five is at home for the Lions against the Chicago Bears. Chicago is a mess, and would look a lot better if they had a consistent quarterback. This season won't be it. Unless Devin Hester scores over 21 points for the Chicago Bears, Detroit will win this one. Chicago's offense is a complete mess, and should look at the next year's draft for a quarterback. Lions end Week Five at 2-2.

Week Six will be away at Minnesota against the Vikings. Tarvaris should be starting the season, but if he underperforms through the first five weeks, this game could be the opener for rookie John David Booty. The Lions do not have the defense to handle Adrian Peterson, regardless of who is throwing the ball. With the additions of Jared Allen and Bernard Berrian, Lions will get embarrassed in this one, and maintain a losing record at 2-3.

Week Seven, the Lions will be away, facing the Houston Texans. Houston has plenty of weapons on the offensive side, but Detroit has just as many to match them. This will be a very good game. The key decider will be which team is healthy. Houston was plagued last year with key injuries all over their roster, and if it happens again, this one will go to the Lions. However, if both teams are healthy, the defensive backs are not good enough to hold down Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub. Detroit begins a two-game losing streak at 2-4.

Week Eight will be at home against the Washington Redskins. This will be a one-sided affair. The only way Detroit will have a chance is to throw off Jason Campbell's consistency with pressure. With weapons like Santana Moss, Devin Thomas, and Antwaan Randle El, it will be hard for Washington to lose. Detroit will be crushed in this one, and will extend their streak to three games and have a record of 2-5.

Week Nine will be in Chicago. The only player that will affect the outcome of this game will be Devin Hester. If he keeps the Bears energized, they will win this game. The main factors will be the weather and injuries. The more injured team will lose, but if the both teams are healthy by Week Nine, the Bears will still be a mess, and the Lions will win. Their record will stand at 3-5.

Week 10 is where Lions fan find something else to watch for the next couple weeks, as they are at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Instead of being a one-sided team all year, Jacksonville now has a potent offense and wouldn't be a bad pick for the Super Bowl. Lions will be lucky to score 14 in this game, as Jacksonville will probably put up 21 or more as the Lions push into the toughest part of the season at 3-6.

Week 11 will be in Carolina for the Lions. If the Panthers defense shows up this year, they will be solid. Their only other miss will be at running back. This is probably the only upset game the Lions can win, but as the odds look, they will lose this one because Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad are too good. The Lions will be 3-7 and losing playoff hope after Week 11.

Week 12 will be against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home. After a huge 2007 season, nothing will be holding this team back in 2008. Tampa Bay will come out firing on all cylinders, and the Lions will be spinning in circles as they lose by double digits. The Lions extend their losing streak to four, with a record of 3-8.

Week 13 will be at home again against the Tennessee Titans. Vince Young won't have the best year in 2008, but he will be enough to beat the Lions. This game is also another game the Lions could steal, and I believe they will. Vince Young has no star-caliber players to throw to, and they will feel one-dimensional all year. They will press on the corners and take away options for Vince Young. The Lions snap their losing streak and move to 4-8.

Week 14, the Lions will be home for a third time in a row and will face the Minnesota Vikings. It won't be surprising if Minnesota has already locked up the Division by this game, and will destroy the Lions along the way. This will either be a clincher game for Minnesota, or a throwaway game. Either way, Detroit loses and sits at 4-9.

Week 15 will be away against the Indianapolis Colts. There is only two ways in which Detroit can win this game. One is if Indianapolis is injured and lacks their stars like Peyton Manning. The second is if Indianapolis is playing their backups because they've locked up their division. Otherwise, the Lions get beat down and stand at 4-10.

Week 16 will be the final home game against the New Orlean Saints. This is a toss-up game based on one player, Robert Meachem. Other than Marques Colston, the Saints have no one else to throw too. If Meachem has a big game, the Saints will do well. The Lions will lose their final home game because the Saints are too fast. Lions go into their last game at 4-11.

Week 17 will be hosted in the worst place for an away team on the last week of the season, Lambeau Field. Detroit is terrible in cold conditions, and by now Green Bay will have things figured out. This won't be a blowout, but Detroit will split their series will Green Bay, losing on the road and finishing the season at 4-12.

Minnesota will win the division this year and Detroit and Chicago will battle for the worst spot in the division. The Lions should look to replace Kitna with their draft pick, and then proceed to fill defensive holes in other rounds. They need someone to build a team around, and start going in a general direction, and that starts at the quarterback position. Kitna isn't completely slowing the team down, but he doesn't give them direction.