The Lions are currently at -3.5 so they’re a slight favorite heading into week 1 at Ford Field.
How will the Lions new, young, secondary perform against Matt Stafford. They gave up 367 yards to him in the playoffs. Can the new unit do better?
Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp Are a dynamic duo with a healthy Matt Stafford throwing to them. Can the Lions keep up offensively in what’s bound to be another shootout?
How will the Los Angeles Rams perform defensively following the losses of linebacker Ernest Jones and defensive lineman Aaron Donald?
How will Laporta do against a Rams defense that allowed the sixth-most receiving yards and the second-most touchdowns (8) to tight ends last season?
The Lions defense allowed just 9 rushing touchdowns last year. (10th in NFL) Can they continue that success and hold the rams to zero rushing TD’s or does Blake Corum and company score on the ground?
I’m predicting this will be the highest scoring game in week one. You have two of the NFC’s best offensive minds, going against two NFC’s defense’s that have made lots of changes. Not to mention two QBs going against their former teams. This should be a shootout.
Ultimately I think the Lions run defense and run game give them the competitive advantage.
The schedule makers ain’t no dummies. They know they have lightning in bottle with this matchup, with compelling stories up the ying yang.
An engaged, matured Jamo involved in a lot more plays added to essentially the same cast. Yes, please. That offensive continuity will find answers to LA’s mystery defense.
The Rams will have to find answers to the Lions mystery defense too. Their task is complicated because our defensive talent is light years different from last January. The DBs of course, but a healthy Levi, a healthy Davenport, and perhaps minor contributions from Reader? Campbell has some pass defense chops now–in theory. Imma praying.
How will these new elements communicate? Well enough to slow the Rams down more than last January, so we won’t have to sweat so much at the end.
The crowd will be geeked even without the Stafford kids to boo. If I were to bet the odds, I’d give the 3.5, but I don’t bet any more. Opening games are unpredictable.
I think we’re the better team, but I think the fact that we only beat them by 1 last time shows they’re close enough to beat us this time around. I just hope we make the adjustments we need to.
After a fast start by the Lions on a TD pass to Jamo and a TD run by Monty (missed extra point by Bates), Stafford leads the Rams to a 17-13 halftime lead. In the second half, a pick-six by Branch, a TD pass to LaPorta, and a redeeming Bates FG are only answered by a late TD to Puka Nacua.
Jamo. Goes. Off. 2 Touchdown night.
Gibby. Goes. Off. 185 yards & a Touchdown.
Monty is Monty. 111 yards and several first downs to keep drives going.
LaPorta & Ra do what they do, with a combined 250 yards & 2 Touchdowns
Time for our guys to establish dominance. Fox will be out there before the game marking his territory (peein’ on stuff), right before we dismantle their futile attempts at playing football.
Rams are down one, possibly both, starting tackles… They moved Jackson to center and Avalia to LG this week. I want to see Davenport and Hutch eat against backup tackles… Bury Stafford into FF
Biggest question is how the Rams Dline handles our Oline without Aaron Donald this time
Adding Fiske and Verse helps alot, along with Kobie Brown and Byron Young, but Aaron Donald is Aaron Donald, thats something that is actually almost impossible to replace unless one of them turns into a machine. Their secondary is also somewhat questionable (White is pretty good, but coming off an Achilies tear is a death sentence for most CB’s. espically at his age of 29).
I think we win, but it will be a 1 score game imo, but I think with them likely missing both tackles and adjusting with a new Dline and DC, This game should favour us.
This game comes down to the trenches. I’ll take our OL against the Rams Dline. I’m glad we get them early because they have a couple really good looking rookies. I hear a lot about Jarod Verse….i hope he gets to meet MR Sewell. I’ll also take our Dline over the Rams Oline. At home with a lot of questions for who the Rams are playing at tackle and center. Hutchinson, Alim, Levi, Davenport and Houston are gonna be a problem. Hell even Reader may have a chance at playing.
I know that Jackson can play, has played, center well albeit small sample size in the NFL.
I’m curious to see if the crowd noise will have any impact on the Center QB snaps under center or in the shotgun.
Ram OL players starting at different than normal positions add in the C in this atmosphere and the crowd noise could impact four or five snaps in the game.
I think you’er right. I also think they’re lucky to get us early too though. Once Reader is healthy and meshing, our young DBs will grow into thier roles too.
I’m not buying the whole, “This was just the best permutation. The best way to get the best combination of guys at their best spots” angle.
Something came up with Avila at Center. I’d put money on it. I can’t think of a pivot at the pivot this last in the preseason just bc “this is our best lineup.”
