NFL Predictions Week 6: 5 Reasons the Detroit Lions Will Beat the 49ers

The Detroit Lions are riding a giant wave of momentum heading into their showdown with the San Francisco 49ers.  They are undefeated through five weeks of the season and are coming off a huge victory over the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. 

The Lions are looking at a historic season.  They have not been 5-0 in over 50 years.  They're winning at home, winning on the road, and winning in heroic fashion. 

Lions mania is at an all time high in Motown. 

Standing in their way of 6-0 is the dangerous and overachieving 49ers.  The 49ers present the greatest challenge to the Lions so far this season.  They are hungry and have found ways to win close games. 

First-year coach Jim Harbaugh is pulling all the right strings and has the players on board with his philosophy.  He's also done the impossible and has Alex Smith looking like an NFL quarterback.

If the Lions want to keep the momentum going, and reach 6-0, here is what they need to do.

Capitalize on Home Field Advantage

After the Lions' defeat of Chicago on Monday Night, I hope Jim Schwartz thanked the Ford Field crowd for their part in the victory, because they deserved it.  The stadium was electric!

The crowd at Ford Field was the loudest it had been in the venue's short history and crowd noise had a clear affect on Chicago's offense.  Their offensive line was most affected and committed eight false start penalties.

No one expects Ford Field to be that loud on Sunday.  It is a different game and different opponent. But, all this winning has whipped the Lions fans into a frenzy, and they are louder than ever before. 

There is no reason to believe that they will let up now.

Pressure Alex Smith

Against Chicago, Detroit's defensive line was applying constant pressure.  It seemed like they should have had 20 sacks when the final whistle blew.

Well, they only had three.  But they were knocking Jay Cutler around all game.  Cutler, to his credit, showed his true mettle.  He stood in the pocket, was elusive, and completed passes in the face of oncoming defenders.  He showed that he is a top level quarterback in the NFL.

Unfortunately Alex Smith is no Jay Cutler.  

Yes, he has shown vast improvement so far this year.  But that is a small sample size.  We are all familiar with his performances prior to this year.  He had a reputation for making poor decisions and not living up to expectations.

Alex Smith is currently the third highest-rated quarterback in the league according to ESPN.  But the 49ers have not faced a pass rush this season like that of the Lions.  Smith has already been sacked 14 times this year which indicates a porous offensive line. 

Detroit's defense is going to be relentless.  With the addition of Nick Fairley they will be able to rotate players and stay fresh throughout the game. They have the ability to shut Alex Smith and the 49er passing game down.

Stop Frank Gore

Frank Gore is a very talented and versatile running back.  He can beat you by himself if you let him.

He is the kind of back that the Detroit Lions would like to have to compliment Jahvid Best and he does the most damage running downhill, between the tackles. 

Detroit's defense is adept at clogging the run in the middle.  Ndamukong Suh, Corey Williams, and now Nick Fairley, plug up running lanes and get enough penetration to stop runs before they start. 

If they are able to stop Gore from getting past the defensive front, and into open space, they have a great chance of keeping him out of the end zone.

Improve the Rushing Attack

Does one successful play, an 80-yarder by Jahvid Best against Chicago, mean that the Detroit Lions rushing issues are all figured out?  Of course not.  It was a great play call, a great run, and the Chicago defense was fooled. 

The rest of the game, the Lions running attack was clicking along at its normal pedestrian pace.  Best was struggling to get any real yardage up the middle, but found some success around the edges and out of the passing game.

But let's be honest.  Do the Lions have delusions that their running game is going to become a grind it out, five yards and a cloud of dust type of attack?  No they don't.

Detroit's rushing attack is predicated on the fact that Jahvid Best can break open a big play at any time.  It doesn't have to be of the 80-yard variety either.  A  three-yard run is great when you are 3rd-and-2.  Detroit has been successful at getting those type of yards when they need it.  This keeps defenses honest and opens up the passing game.

San Francisco is very strong against the run.  They are rated 4th in the NFL in rush defense.  But they have yet to face an elite team.

With an undefeated record, the Lions are now considered an elite team. 

Utilize Calvin Johnson

San Francisco is ranked 23rd in the NFL against the pass.  They give up about 270 yards per game in the air.

Even if they had the No. 1 pass defense in the NFL, would anybody think they could keep Calvin Johnson in check for an entire game?

The reality is they are not the No. 1 pass defense in the NFL.  Their pass defense is one of their weak links.  Detroit will do their best to take advantage of this.  The Lions will spread the ball around using tight ends, Jahvid Best, Nate Burleson, and Titus Young. 

The Lions will also make sure that the most dangerous receiver in the NFL, Calvin Johnson, gets targeted.  As we all know, he can score from anywhere on the field and San Francisco does not have the personnel that can effectively contain him.

The Lions and 49ers match up well with each other.  They both have great defenses.  But the offensive edge definitely goes to the Lions.  If Detroit is able to limit Frank Gore and continue their own offensive production, then they should be beat the 49ers handily on Sunday.