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November 12, 2008
Lions look tame
The Panthers are two-touchdown favorites over the 0-9 Detroit Lions, a huge predicted margin of victory in a league in which most teams are more similar than their records and upsets are common.
The Lions have earned the ultra-underdog role, however. They've lost 16 of their past 17 games and have a legitimate chance to finish 0-16.
After playing Carolina (7-2), the Lions face Tampa Bay (6-3), Tennessee (9-0), Minnesota (5-4), Indianapolis (5-4), New Orleans (4-5) and Green Bay (4-5).
Using the Panthers' and Lions' NFL rankings as a barometer, check out these likely mismatches in Sunday's game at Bank of America Stadium:
Panthers 10th in rushing offense vs. Lions 31st in rushing defense.
Panthers 2nd in scoring defense vs. Lions 28th in scoring offense.
Panthers 4th in third down defense vs. Lions 31st in third down offense.
The Lions are losing by an average of 14 points per game and have held only one opponent (Minnesota) to fewer than 27 points. Five teams have scored more than 30 against Detroit.
As an aside, the Lions' season shows that preseason results can't be trusted. They were 4-0 in exhibitions.
-- Charles Chandler
Posted by Observer Sports on November 12, 2008 at 11:18 AM | Permalink
Comments
Those stats are for losers.
Posted by: John Fox | Nov 12, 2008 12:17:02 PM
Stats are a great barometer of success but like they say, "any given Sunday." I will say that if we have the same offensive struggles against the Lions offense that we did against the Raiders, then we have something seriously wrong. The most telling stat is that the Lions have only held one opponent to fewer than 27 points. I don't care what you want to say about stats, but if we don't light up the Lions on offense then something is horribly wrong.
Posted by: Christian | Nov 12, 2008 2:12:57 PM
Woops, I meant same offensive struggles against the Lions defense*
Posted by: Christian | Nov 12, 2008 2:13:40 PM
Like I said on the last post: part of why the Lions give up so many points is the fact that they're so bad on offense. When you're last in the league in sacks allowed and turnovers, you're giving up a lot of short fields that make it easy to score. I say Jake should get a TD or two early, and then we can hopefully get the running game on track, with this a good chance for Stewart to show he's still got it.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Nov 12, 2008 2:26:44 PM
Procton,
No one here thinks Stewart doesnt still have it, I guess you might be, because De Williams has proved your knowledge here recently.
Posted by: Billy | Nov 12, 2008 3:09:51 PM
What? Is that even a sentence? My point was that Stewart needs to show he can play through the pain of his heel injury at the level he was earlier in the season, when he wasn't bothered by any physical ailments. It'll be an important ability for him going forward, too, since Stewart showed throughout his college career that he's often--if not usually--playing with some kind of injury.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Nov 12, 2008 3:44:56 PM
This should be a perfect barometer for both running backs to display their skills.
FIREFOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: FIREFOX | Nov 12, 2008 3:52:40 PM
Sorry I am busy having a life and was not able to proof-read my blog post. It just seems since Williams has been doing well lately you are moving on to a new target to hate; to try and make yourself look smart.
Posted by: Billy | Nov 12, 2008 4:01:09 PM
Wow, perfect place for the panthers to lose. After the near disaster at Oakland. I hope the panthers come into the game hungry.
Posted by: jbw | Nov 12, 2008 4:03:26 PM
This game is a must win for our Cats.yet this is not a lay-up,Our offense should have hammered Oakland but we sputtered. This game will be a test of how we play our game and make a playoff run with an improving offense each week. ATL is a different team and I hope TB will be a different team.I hope Jake can start fresh and make some chain moving passes. get the TE's involved.Run some play action passes.Mix it up some... Let's do it,Go Vikes and Go Panthers !
Posted by: Pantfan1 | Nov 12, 2008 6:18:41 PM
Uhh...I am? I've got the same viewpoint on Stewart and Williams as I always has. Stewart is the more talented, complete back. While Williams has done well the last two games, particularly in terms of not shying from contact and breaking tackles, he's still poor in pass protection, and he has yet to show he can pick up the tough yards needed to grind the clock out when protecting the lead (see the three and out with about 8:00 left last week.) Stewart, however, has the combination of speed, vision, AND power to get tough yards and be the workhouse back we need...WHEN HEALTHY. And as I've been saying since the draft, he's shown for the past several years that he's not. And while he may be tough enough to play through the pain, those sorts of nicks have a cumulative effect. I just hope they can both come out this week and do well with Jake passing somewhere between 20 and 25 times.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Nov 12, 2008 7:20:08 PM
Uh, what?
Williams can't pick up tough yards? Did you miss the 13 yard run he made where he broke 3 or 4 tackles on 2nd and 10? How is that not picking up tough yards?
I don't quite understand why people think you need a big bruising back to pick up tough yards. Last I checked, LT and AP weren't those kind of backs and they seem to be doing well enough.
Posted by: Sweeney | Nov 12, 2008 7:38:03 PM
No, I saw it. But, a two-game span does not a player make.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Nov 12, 2008 9:39:40 PM
Only losers knit-pick about what could have been. Even though Jake joins that list this week, his teammates prevailed and talking stats this week is once again a moot point.
Firefox, maybe you should change your name to "Stats are for losers." At least you will be doing a better good then instead of plastering this site with your subliminal propaganda. Whose payroll are you on, anyway?? If your answer is nobody's, then you are a real idiot for getting nothing out of all of your efforts. Even "Catman" the greatest Panther fan knows how to get a kickback. What's your excuse?
Posted by: Keeping It Real | Nov 12, 2008 10:05:37 PM
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