It’s Saturday Night Football in Detroit tonight as the Lions welcome in the Atlanta Falcons to Ford Field.
For years a complaint of Lions fans was the NFL doesn’t give Detroit any respect when it comes to the spotlight games. But over the course of the past couple of seasons the NFL has given the Lions a nice share of prime time matchup’s however unfortunately the Lions haven’t been able to return the favor with their 4-10 record thus far this season.
So I guess us Lions fans really can’t complain anymore… at least not about getting some prime time spotlight
Detroit comes into this game with nothing left to play for and the look of the walking dead. There’s really little to talk about especially when it comes to the positives for this team as the Lions have a total of nine players that were starters on the IR and continued chatter as to whether or not the front office and coaching staff will return next season. Beyond that there’s the extended conversation of Stafford’s so-so season and Calvin Johnson looking to break Jerry Rice’s single season record in reception yardage. By the way Megatron needs to average only 91 yards over the last 2 games to break that record so at least there’s something to cheer about and perhaps look forward to besides the draft in April.
But like anything else with the Lions this season, you take the good with the bad and the unfortunate part about Calvin’s yardage is it hasn’t translated into wins which is truly a shame. Especially given the nature of Johnson’s personality both on and off the field as well as him managing to do what he does facing the tightest coverage any wide receiver in history faces. He gets the opposing teams best shots and normally it’s not enough.
To continue with Calvin, and why not he’s been one of the lone bright spots this season, one thing he hasn’t been known for is voicing much opinion to the media. However that may be changing a bit as this week during a local radio spot with Mike Stone on 97.1 The Ticket, he (Calvin Johnson) was asked if you could upgrade one position, what would it be? Johnson replied with “the X position, someone who is day in and day out gonna get the job done. I’m gonna be on other side the other wide receiver is going to receive favorable coverage and solidify that position…. someone physical.” Mike Stone then followed up asking ”if that was Titus’ position” and Calvin responded with “Yeah”. Interesting…
Now unlike Detroit, Atlanta comes in with an agenda.
The Falcons are locked into the playoffs and now are looking to wrap up home games throughout the postseason. With that said the Falcons’ record speaks for itself. They have beat both Manning’s and picked off perennial All-Pro Drew Brees five times in a victory. The Falcons are a very balanced team that can run the ball, throw it and play good Defense. The front office and coaching staff has supplied quarterback Matt Ryan with all the pieces necessary to win and he’s delivered so far this year. With Roddy White to Julio Jones at wide receiver to the ageless Tony Gonzalez at tight end the air attack is very dangerous nonetheless. Meanwhile on the ground they have a bulldozer for a running back in Michael Turner as well as some nice compliments in Jason Snelling and Jacquizz Rodgers.
Aside though from the offense the defense has really come through for the Falcons which all comes with them missing their best player in the secondary Brent Grimes for most of the season. Other guys though like John Abraham at defensive end and Dunta Robinson and Asante Samuel at corner the Falcons are not limited when it comes to play makers on defense and have certainly shown what depth on a team can do for you.
The Lions will have their work cut out for them. The two headed monster in Julio Jones and Roddy White is a lot for any team to deal with. The two have accounted for 14 TD’s which is the same number of touchdowns Matthew Stafford has passing. You factor in the Lions’ secondary being banged up and you get another big night between these two guys.
Prediction: Atlanta 42, Detroit 21
