Back to Football: Final Predictions of the 2011 Lions
The NFL’s preseason campaign this year was ‘Back to Football’. If you don’t remember this should jog your memory…
Let’s hope it doesn’t become just like the 2008 campaign ‘Believe in Now’. Yikes!
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Format is...
Date / Week: Opponent (2009 Rec.) --- Comments on team and who I think will win. I'll make one Individual prediction per week.
I’ll put less information on the 2nd division game than the 1st.
Here we go...
September 12th / Week 1: @ Chicago Bears (7-9) --- The Lions open up their 2010-11 campaign at Soldier Field, where they have gone 2-7 in their last 9. The Bears added what is believed to be a key piece to their defense in Julius Peppers. But will he perform? He has been known to be very lazy, both in games and practices. Plus, the Bears offensive line is mediocre at best - the kind of stuff that the revamped Lions line will tear through.
Prediction... Lions: 28 - Bears: 20 (1-0)
Individual Prediction... Ndamukong Suh gets 3 sacks and 5 tackles in his NFL debut. Part of it will be thanks to Mike Martz idiotic system though.
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September 19th / Week 2: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) --- The next team on the Lions schedule is the new look Philadelphia Eagles. They have a rookie QB at the helm, who already is expected (by fans) to do better then McNabb. The major strength of this team is their weapons on offense. From McCoy to Jackson, this team can play. The only question is weather Kolb will live up to the hype. And I think he will, exposing our poor secondary... The short passes could backfire though, leading to a great game.
Prediction... Eagles: 27 Lions: 24 (1-1)
Individual Prediction... Kevin Kolb goes 21/29 for 144 yards with 1 TD 2 INT
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September 26th / Week 3: @ Minnesota Vikings (12-4) --- After Philadelphia, we go to “Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metro Dome” for a battle with the Vikings. The Lions have lost their last 12 games at the dome, and when Favre said he was coming back again, it looked like it would become 13. But then, some hope… The Vikings 2 biggest receivers may not play. Sidney Rice is having surgery on his hip and Percy Harvin is always questionable. Without these 2 wide outs, Brett Favre’s targets are reduced to Tight End Visanthe Shiancoe, who is too slow to go deep, and Bernard Berrian, who will certainly be double teamed. Unbelievably, Favre’s age has actually been shown in his first game against the Saints. The Vikings offensive line has also been simply awful. The Lions defensive line may have a field day.
Prediction: Lions: 17 Vikings: 9 (2-1)
Individual Prediction: Ndamukong Suh gets 3 sacks, 1 FF (Favre)… Kyle Vanden Bosch gets 1 sack, 2 FF (both Peterson)
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October 3rd / Week 4: @ Green Bay Packers (11-5) --- Ahhh, Lambeau Field… Some Lions have nightmares about this place… We haven’t won there since 1990, but could this be the year? The Packers come in to 2010 looking at a Super Bowl possibility. Aaron Rodgers, one of the NFL’s best QB’s leads a team that has very few flaws. The offensive line was one last year and they fixed that quickly in the draft. I don’t see a way (barring injury) that Detroit wins this one. Rodgers will come with his ‘A’ game.
Prediction: Packers: 31 Lions: 17 (2-2)
Individual Prediction: Aaron Rodgers goes 32/40 for 267 yards. 3 TD 1 INT
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October 10th / Week 5: vs. St. Louis Rams (1-15) --- The Lions will be ticked off from their last week performance against the Packers and show it. For the first time in a long time, the Lions may have an easy victory. The Rams are the definition of a re building team. They have a rookie QB that is just learning the ropes and an extremely inexperienced and penalty ridden offensive line (Not a good mix). The only real star is RB Steven Jackson. The problem with this is that teams that have only 1 star are EXTREMELY predictable. The Lions can put 7 or 8 in the box and force Bradford to throw. This may be a fun game to watch.
Prediction: Lions: 38 Rams: 10 (3-2)
Individual Prediction: Suh racks up another sack… Stafford goes 34/43 for 304 yards with 4 TD and 1 INT
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October 17th / Week 6: @ New York Giants (8-8) --- New York is usually one of the most overrated teams in the NFL. They are hyped up just like all high market cities, yet usually (with the exception of 2007) they fall short. This year, however, may be different. Eli Manning is coming off a career best year and his offensive line, as usual, was great at protecting him (before injuries took his left guard and right tackle). This team should be gun slinging again in 2010… The Giants defense though is another story. The defensive end position of the depth chart is a mess, with Osi Uminyora constantly whining, and other than him (and he’s currently benched) they don’t have a real threat on the line. The secondary is also a band aid over a huge problem. Antron Rolle is the current free safety, and he is inconsistent to say the least… Kenny Phillips is the strong safety, and he might as well be a rookie. He had an awful knee injury last year and has only started 5 games in his career. Cornerbacks and Linebackers are also positions that Giants fans are crossing their fingers on. I think the G-men will still be decent in week 6, but fall apart later.
Prediction: Giants: 38 Lions: 34 (3-3)
Individual Prediction: Eli Manning goes 31/40 for 311 yards with 3 TD and 0 INT
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October 24th / Week 7: BYE WEEK
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October 31st / Week 8: vs. Washington Redskins (4-12) --- This may not seem like one of the tougher games on the schedule, but may turn out to be one. The Washington Redskins haven’t forgotten September 27th, 2009, and will be out for blood. New QB Donovan McNabb is getting up there in age but can still sling the ball and pull out games for the ‘skins. The offensive line though could be a weakness. They have 3 first year players, 1 who hasn’t played in a year, and 1 who is an average guard. This could be difficult, but I think Lions pull this one out. The Lions will also be out for blood after two weeks of tape from the Giants game.
Prediction: Lions: 27 Redskins: 26 (4-3)
Individual Prediction: Cliff Avril and Corey Williams get 1 sack each
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November 7th / Week 9: vs. New York Jets (9-7) --- The Jets are a story of 2 sides of the ball. On the defense, they are unbelievable. From Darrelle Revis to Kyle Wilson the team is stacked. On the offense, though, I’m not a believer. Mark Sanchez was simply awful in the preseason, and the running back that carried the team last year is gone. If our offense can score more than 20 on the Jets defense, we will win. If they can’t we will lose. I see this being a close game, but a loss.
Prediction: Jets: 16 Lions: 14 (4-4)
Individual Prediction: Mark Sanchez goes 13/25 for 97 yards with 1 TD and 3 INT
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November 14th / Week 10: @ Buffalo Bills (6-10) --- The Bills are arguably the worst team in the NFL. To start, they have no Quarterback. Their options are… Trent Williams, who had a 60% completion percentage last year with a 6.4 YPA, Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has 55.1% completion percentage last year, Brian Brohm, who has started one game in his career (0 TD 3 INT), and Levi Brown, a 7th round draft pick… If that wasn’t bad enough, their offensive line makes you feel bad for the QB that is in there. Detroit will probably have a fun time in week 10. The Running Backs are probably some of the best in the NFL, but everyone will know that they will be running!
Prediction: Lions: 44 Bills: 16 (5-4)
Individual Predictions: Jahvid Best runs for 152 yards on 26 carries with 1 TD 0 F… Matthew Stafford goes 27/34 for 313 yards with 4 TD 0 INT… Ndamukong Suh gets 2.5 sacks… Kyle Vanden Bosch gets 2 sacks
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November 21st / Week 11: @ Dallas Cowboys (11-5) --- This is a game I see no way the Lions win. The Super Bowl is in Dallas this year, and Jerry Jones WANTS the Cowboys in that game. Tony Romo is a good QB, Felix Jones and Marion Barber are good RB’s, and Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are good WR’s… This is an unbelievably great team.
Prediction: Cowboys: 31 Lions: 17 (5-5)
Individual Prediction: Tony Romo goes 29/37 for 247 yards with 3 TD and 0 INT
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November 25th / Week 12: vs. New England Patriots (10-6) (THANKSGIVING) --- This game could surprise people. Jim Schwartz and Matthew Stafford WANT to win this game. I mean, they REALLY want it. The team will be embarrassed over their last game against the ‘Boys and be out for all the turkey. This will be the game the Lions show the world they are for real. The Patriots may come in looking for an easy win and be caught off guard. Expect a fantastic game, even if the Lions don’t win.
Prediction: Lions: 38 Patriots: 35 --- OT (6-5)
Individual Prediction: Matthew Stafford goes 36/42 for 408 yards with 4 TD and 0 INT
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December 5th / Week 13: vs. Chicago Bears (7-9) --- Da Bears will be out for revenge. They would still be fuming over week one. You never know what could happen, but I see the Bears pulling this one out thanks to Julius Peppers, Jay Cutler, and Chester Taylor.
Prediction: Bears: 27 Lions: 21 (6-6)
Individual Prediction: Jay Cutler goes 24/33 for 201 yards with 2 TD and 1 INT
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December 12th / Week 14: vs. Green Bay Packers (11-5) --- I would love to be able to beat the Pack Attack at least once this year, but they really are one of the NFL’s best teams. I see them going to the Super Bowl, and though the Lions are very improved, they aren’t ready to best Super Bowl teams yet.
Prediction: Packers: 28 Lions: 20 (6-7)
Individual Prediction: Aaron Rodgers goes 34/41 for 319 yards with 3 TD and 0 INT
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December 19th / Week 15: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13) --- The Buccaneers are definitely a rebuilding team. Though overshadowed by Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez, Tampa also has a 2nd year QB in Josh Freeman. They also have promising rookies Arrelious Benn, Gerald McCoy, and Brian Price. The Lions are what the Buc’s hope to be next year. This should be a fairly easy win.
Prediction: Lions: 35 Buccaneers: 17 (7-7)
Individual Prediction: Ndamukong Suh gets 2 sacks… Jahvid Best runs for 167 yards on 29 carries
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December 26th / Week 16: @ Miami Dolphins (7-9) --- This game could go either way. If the Dolphins are in a must win game for the playoffs, they will probably win. If they aren’t they probably won’t care about the outcome. I think that Brandon Marshall and Chad Henne are good enough to carry the team to a playoff berth, but they will be fighting for it, giving them the win.
Prediction: Dolphins: 31 Lions: 27 (7-8)
Individual Prediction: Chad Henne goes 22/30 for 177 yards with 2 TD and 2 INT
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January 2nd / Week 17: vs. Minnesota Vikings (12-4) --- The Vikings are a good team, and with Sidney Rice back by now, they’ll be even better. They will also be out to get the Lions after being embarrassed in week 3. They could be fighting for the playoffs as well.
Prediction: Vikings: 34 Lions: 24 (7-9)
Individual Prediction: Ndamukong Suh gets 2.5 sacks
FINAL RECORD: 7-9, 3RD IN NFC NORTH
STATS ON STARS
Ndamukong Suh: 13 sacks… 34 tackles… 4 FF --- Defensive ROTY
Matthew Stafford: 365 / 511… 4014 yards… 34 TD… 8 INT
Jahvid Best: 269 carries… 1259 yards… 5 TD --- Offensive ROTY
Calvin Johnson: 94 receptions… 1387 yards
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