Hi, from Lions Nation

[Iron Lion]

I'd wish you guys luck, but, well, you know.

And no I don't live in Detroit, so your Detroit jokes won't go far on me.

[Funkytown]

Wait...what's wrong with Detroit? Kidding!

I wish y'all luck, too--especially against the Bears and Packers! Get 'em!

[The Breeze]

I'd wish you guys luck, but, well, you know.

And no I don't live in Detroit, so your Detroit jokes won't go far on me.

It will be a great opener.

I'm impressed with the Lions. I have a feeling that this could be Joey Harrington's breakout year.

[Iron Lion]

It will be a great opener.

I'm impressed with the Lions. I have a feeling that this could be Joey Harrington's breakout year.

Lol

[Iron Lion]

Wait...what's wrong with Detroit? Kidding!

I wish y'all luck, too--especially against the Bears and Packers! Get 'em!

In other words... the Lions are no threat at all, and so it would be best if they scrape some wins off the other 2 North teams?

Cute, but the Lions are going to be a force this year.

[Funkytown]

Cute, but the Lions are going to be a force this year.

Yeah, that's what I've been thinking the last couple of years, too. They keep proving me wrong. I lost faith.

And, actually, regardless of the Lions' expectations, I would want them to beat the Packers and Bears. Simma down!

[Iron Lion]

^_^

[HornedMessiah]

I like the Lions but I don't like their head coach. I don't think they'll go anywhere with him at the controls. His teams are always undisciplined and lead the league in penalties. Aside from that I think their offense has potential to be one of the best in the league. Reggie Bush could be a huge pickup for them, and it's damn near a lock that Megatron has at least 1500 yards and Stafford throws for over 4k. I just wonder about their oline. And the Suh + Fairley combo hasn't lived up to the high expectations. They need to get a disciplinarian defensive-minded head coach in there to whip the defense into shape and let someone else handle the offense. Kinda sounds like a job for Lovey Smith, huh?

[Funkytown]

That's kind of where I'm at with the Lions. I feel like they have a ton of talent but just aren't living up to their full potential. I don't get it. I don't mind if the Lions finally get their stuff together and start winning. Doesn't hurt my feelings any. If the Vikes don't win the division, the Lions would be my second choice every time. I catch myself rooting for them at times. Then I'm like, heeey now, stop that! I don't like Suh, though. The guy is completely foolish. I like their offense, though. Time will tell, but for now, I'm not scared. I am scared to watch C. Johnson go against our DBs, though. That guy just. isn't. fair! He's one of my favorites to watch.

[J. Kapp 11]

In other words... the Lions are no threat at all, and so it would be best if they scrape some wins off the other 2 North teams?

Cute, but the Lions are going to be a force this year.

Dude, your team is 9-19 since starting the 2011 season 5-0.

No offense, but exactly what in your past, recent or distant, would lead anybody but the most ardent Lions fan to believe that your team will be a force?

My prediction, which I've already made on this board, is that your team will never be a force as long as Jim Schwartz is your coach. Your squad has some talent, but absolutely no discipline and no ability to close out games. It's a reflection of your coach.

[The Breeze]

They do have a nice Bush~

[jackal]

not just the penalties but Suh has them, at the worst possible times I have seen keep other teams
stay alive in the red zone; with an late penalty, cheap shot, stomp, hit way out of bounds

[DanAS]

So, we're playing a team that has done zip this past year and a half, we're just coming off of a playoff run, and we're starting the season relatively healthy. Yet we're still 4 1/2 point dogs. I would be shocked and appalled by that spread except for the fact that, well, I'm not really finding much faith in the Vikes in my own heart.

I've probably been thinking the same thing so many others have. AD can't possibly have two crazy-good years in a row because at his position, it's essentially never done. We're starting off the season without his fullback, who proved invaluable to AD's heroics last season. We've got guards who aren't very good even when they're on their games and tackles who were sleepwalking this pre-season (not cool, because that's a good way to get your QB injured). We've got a QB with a weak, inconsistent arm and questionable pocket presence. And we've got holes at LB, CB and, thanks to a sleazy hit by the 49ers, DT.

Folks, there is a reason that nobody outside of the Twin Cities, and I do mean nobody, says anything about the Vikings right now other than that they are heading for a down year.

As I reflect on the upcoming season, I keep thinking that the key will be the offensive line and the QB. If they can block superbly, I think we can continue to do damage even with our tough schedule. Ponder is a weak spot, but he has proven that given enough time, he can be serviceable. On the other hand, if you pressure him, he'll turn the ball over, miss open receivers, and Peterson would have to wear the letter "S" on his jersey instead of "28" if we hope to win. That's another way of saying that I think our D is pretty good, but nothing transcendent, so I expect that we'll go as far as our offense will take us. It's that O that worries me right now, and given the 4 1/2 point spread, I'm not alone.

As for our opponents, I don't really take the Lions seriously because they've been hyped for so many years by the pundits and invariably underperform. Maybe it's the coaching staff. I don't know. But I do want to express my heartfelt feelings for the people of Detroit, especially those whose nest eggs are being threatened by this bankruptcy. Very sad. I will certainly say some prayers for that city during the upcoming High Holidays, which are just about upon us.

Go Vikings!

[NextQuestion]

I don't think Lions defense is that scary outside of the front 4 potential. Glover Quinn got destroyed last year in HOU and this was DET's biggest defensive pickup?

[HornedMessiah]

I don't think Lions defense is that scary outside of the front 4 potential.

Don't forget about Stephen Tulloch. He's not "scary" but probably above-average when it comes to NFL starting ILBs. It's just the rest of the LBs and DBs that make that defense look like crap.

Their shiny new 1st round DE Ezekial Ansah has already suffered a concussion and was already considered the biggest boom/bust candidate of the 1st round. Look at how that team and defense operates...do you really think they have what it takes to develop him into a star DE? Highly doubtful