Detroit Lions - Game 1 Prediction.
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by Killuminati
As a Lions fan the optimism coming out of Detroit is absolutely mind-boggling. The players are optimistic --although that is not new-- and even the press is somewhat optimistic. The Detroit Free Press is predicting a 7-9 team. Hell, even Joe Theismann over at ESPN is giving the Lions a Wild Card spot.
I don't get this. Has anybody watched Detroit over the past several years? I have, and I don't share this excitement. In a previous post I predicted around 4-5 wins. I also said that if everything goes right they could win around 7-8 games, but it would take a miracle.
I would like to amend that prediction. If the Lions win 4 games this year it will be a miracle. My proof is the fact that I am worried about Week 1 against the Raiders. Yes, the only team that was worse than the Lions last year is worrying me. Here is my prediction for that game.
Jon Kitna, Roy Williams, and much of the press is hyping our so-called "explosive" offense. I have even heard quite a bit of praise thrown around about Jon Kitna. Did anybody look at the amount of INTs and fumbles that Kitna was responsible for last year? Well, if they would have they would have seen that Kitna will more than likely cost the Lions their first game of the year.
The Lions offense will come out and be flat and suffer from several 3 and outs. The timing will be off and there will be a couple false start penalties. Eventually, they will reach the redzone on a big catch by Roy Williams, but the offense will sputter and they will have to settle for a field goal --typical Lions football.
On the other side of the ball, the defense will do about average. The Raiders have no offense to speak of, but the Lions have no defense to speak of, so this should be a pretty even match. I give the Raiders the advantage, however. The Raiders will start Josh McCown at QB. McCown rotted on the Lions' bench last year and had to watch Kitna fumble and intercept several games away, and McCown will be fired up and ready to show the Lions that they made a huge mistake --much like Harrington and Pinner did in 2006.
At half the score will be 10 - 6 in favor of the Raiders.
In the second half, each team will add another TD amidst several 3 and outs and missed opportunities.
With a couple minutes left in the game the Lions will have the ball with a chance to score and pull out a week one victory. The Lions will put together a couple efficient first downs and be around the 50 when Kitna reverts back to form. On a third down and 6, the Raiders will blitz and Kitna will sit in the pocket and not get rid of the ball, which will result in a costly sack and fumble. Josh McCown will come in a kneel on the ball and the game will be over.
The over-optimistic Lions will be shown that they have not improved and CAN NOT win on the road. As bad as the Lions have been overall the last couple of years --and Jesus, they have been bad-- they have been a much worse road team.
I hope I'm wrong, but this is the Lions...
