Game against the Falcons

[d34ng3l021]

I am sure you are writing us off, but I think the game is going to be alot closer than people think (with you guys winning, still).

Your passing attack should terrorize our secondary. The only hope we have to stopping Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams is John Abraham (and maybe Jamaal Anderson? Fingers are crossed). If we can get enough pressure on Kitna, he wont have to tear us apart for 300 yards 3 TDs and 0 interceptions (though...he is starting in one of my FF leagues).

The best shot we have at winning this game is establishing a running game, wear down the defense, run out the clock, and hope for a close game till the end where Matt Ryan might be able to lead a GW drive or something. If you guys get the lead early, I dont know if Matt Ryan can throw his way to a win in his first start.

Final predictions: Lions win 24-17

Jon Kitna: 270 yards, 3 TDs, 1 interception
Calvin Johnson: 130 yards, 2 TDs
Roy Williams: 90 yards

Matt Ryan: 230 yards, 1 TD, 1 interception
Michael Turner: 110 yards, 1 TD
Jerious Norwood: 65 yards
Roddy White: 100 yards

[P-L]

I'm not writing you guys off. I think the Falcons will win, unless we get great play from our DL. Rudi Johnson is only expected to get 5-7 carries and Kevin Smith is our only other RB. Gosder Cherilus is likely to struggle early on as a rookie and Jeff Backus plain sucks. I can see John Abraham making Kitna's life hell. The only advantages we really have is that Matt Ryan is a rookie and our DB's are very good at making quarterbacks pay for their mistakes.

[Notredameleo]

Lions win 27-14

[Prowler]

i think the lions will win, but i have a bad feeling that alot of our players will just be bouncing off of turner.

[Iamcanadian]

I think the game is a toss up with Detroit just finishing ahead 24-21. Rookie QB's don'y usually win early and this should be no exception.
If we lose this game, we might as well give in our keys and go home because it will be a long season.

[wingboy2999]

I'm back boys.....

Predictions?

27 - 21 Lions

[P-L]

I'll say 23-20 Falcons.

[d34ng3l021]

I am so excited. ****.

[Xiomera]

Lions 23, Falcons 17

[Addict]

I'm not writing the falcons off at all, however, I do think there are a few things that hurt them a lot and their problem areas are gonna hurt them:

- DB's, DeAngelo Hall's gone and that hurts. Now with CJ and Roy out there, that could really be a sore spot in your D.

- QB: Ryan will be good, but notice the 'will'. For now he's a rookie and, save a few exceptions, rookies struggle. Now given this is his first real NFL game, it won't be easy for him.

Now that said, it won't be smooth sailing for the lions either. Michael Turner (if he performs like he did in the preseason) could be trouble, as can the Falcons' good pass rush. Kitna will have trouble getting rid of the ball and tbh if we lose it will be mainly because of poor OL. On the other side, well, linebacker really isn't strong, so again, turner will be able to hurt us.

In the end, the relatively weak Falcons defensive backfield will give CJ and Roy chance to pull this one out for us, and I think our D might be good enough to keep the falcons from doing major damage.

Lions 24 - Falcons 17

[P-L]

My biggest concern is that the game is on the road. In our final 6 road games last year, we only averaged 12 points per game. I think our offense is going to take a step back, before it moves forward. I think the Lions can win this game, but until I see them on the field I have serious doubts.

[d34ng3l021]

Might as well be at home. Falcon fans are terrible. I think it might be blacked out.

[WMD]

If this was a Preseason game, I think we'd win. But this is the regular season. I've got the Falcons to win. They'll have a good running game and will be able to control the clock. We'll be passing all game, stopping the clock, keeping our Defense on the field for a long time. I think we'll have a tough time running against them with big ol' Grady Jackson stuffing it up, Jamaal Anderson is/was/should be good against the run, not to mention they've got John Abraham at the other DE spot along with Keith Brooking, Michael Boley, and Curtis Lofton at LB. I think the Falcons should actually have a solid enough defense for this year.. and it should be Solid enough to take us out in Week 1.

[wingboy2999]

I wish I could watch this damn game.

[Maybe Next Year Millen2]

Lions will play good defense today IMO. With a rookie QB, rookie LT, and the rest of the O-line besides Blalock being very suspect, I think our D-line can get pressure with White,Redding and hopefully Avril in situational rushes. Our new secondary will force some turnovers(which we have been able to do with lesser talent under Marinelli) of Ryan which will be the difference. Nobody in their secondary can cover Roy or Calvin and Abraham is their only true pass rusher that is effective. Double team Abraham with a TE and use the new shorter drops featuring Roy and Calvin to torch them. Plus its a homecoming game for Calvin in Atlanta so he's going to want to have a huge game and the Lions always play well in openers of late. This game is a must win if we want to be a competitive team. Road wins are huge for the Lions and this Atlanta team is suspect enough to get a road win. Michael Turner should keep this game close, but I know Rod will have this team ready. Hopefully a win for the Lions with some momentum going into the home opener vs Green Bay with Rodgers coming off a short week/big game.

[broth223]

I was confident coming into this game... Now I could easily turn the game off and expect them to lose by 3 or more TDs

[Xiomera]

WOOOOO!

If we're gonna lose, I hope its by 50.

Calvin is a beast though.

[HithenamesTonyHomo]

Lions will play good defense today IMO. With a rookie QB, rookie LT, and the rest of the O-line besides Blalock being very suspect, I think our D-line can get pressure with White,Redding and hopefully Avril in situational rushes. Our new secondary will force some turnovers(which we have been able to do with lesser talent under Marinelli) of Ryan which will be the difference. Nobody in their secondary can cover Roy or Calvin and Abraham is their only true pass rusher that is effective. Double team Abraham with a TE and use the new shorter drops featuring Roy and Calvin to torch them. Plus its a homecoming game for Calvin in Atlanta so he's going to want to have a huge game and the Lions always play well in openers of late. This game is a must win if we want to be a competitive team. Road wins are huge for the Lions and this Atlanta team is suspect enough to get a road win. Michael Turner should keep this game close, but I know Rod will have this team ready. Hopefully a win for the Lions with some momentum going into the home opener vs Green Bay with Rodgers coming off a short week/big game.

hahhhhhahahahahahahahahahhahaha nice prediction pal
LIONS 0-16 WOOOOEEEEE

[Maybe Next Year Millen2]

hahhhhhahahahahahahahahahhahaha nice prediction pal
LIONS 0-16 WOOOOEEEEE

Did not expect that at all. Came out so flat, started Travis Fisher, Lenon/Alex Lewis can't tackle. Horrible horrible. Thanks for piling on though.

[detroitsports]

The defense couldn't have played worse. that is the worst tackling i have ever seen......319 rushing yards...

[dunagan15]

at least Calvin and Roy showed some promise...Go Falcons

[Xiomera]

Congrats to the Falcons for making the Lions look like . . . well, the Lions.

That pre-season mirage was bound to fade away.

[Maybe Next Year Millen2]

Our front 7 is so terrible. Where is Redding? Darby?
Typical Lions road game though.

We play much better at home, but Green Bay is a very tough team even without Favre. Not looking good with this rush D.

[detroitsports]

at least Calvin and Roy showed some promise...Go Falcons

You know your team sucks when falcons fans feel bad for you

[familyguy555]

Why is Travis Fisher starting. He gets burned on the first pass play of the game for a TD.

[WMD]

Congrats to the Falcons for making the Lions look like . . . well, the Lions.

That pre-season mirage was bound to fade away.

We made the Falcons look like a Superbowl team. The Lions are the Barry Horowitz of the NFL.

[Brodeur]

Ernie Sims looked terrible today. Just thought I'd point out our star on defense got destroyed by Burner Turner.

[Bootland27]

Bottom line, 7-9 prediction on team just went to 6-10...they had to mix this game.

Just amazing how they went about it today.

"We're going to lead the league in effort"---Coach Rod

Are you ****ing kidding me? Not today, not even close. Blown off the line, jogging everywhere, Lennon still looking for Turner....

[Bootland27]

One more thing....just eats at me...

MArinelli kept 11 D-Lineman....11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How the **** does this happen when you made that unit the priority....at the cost of a guy like Buster Davis...who I thought was better than Lennon all preseason....

**** this team. If I lived 50 years with this **** I'd ****ing kill myself.

[Xiomera]

One more thing....just eats at me...

MArinelli kept 11 D-Lineman....11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How the **** does this happen when you made that unit the priority....at the cost of a guy like Buster Davis...who I thought was better than Lennon all preseason....

**** this team. If I lived 50 years with this **** I'd ****ing kill myself.

Looks like the Lions kept the wrong 11 defensive lineman . . . http://draftcountdown.com/forum/images/icons/icon10.gif

[d34ng3l021]

Good game guys. Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams look really good. I like Kevin Smith alot too. If you could just shore up the lines on both sides, this team should improve greatly. I am sure the defense won't be this bad as the season progresses. Its just a week 1 thing. I expect to come back down to a harsh reality in week 2 against the Bucs.

[BamaFalcon59]

You know your team sucks when falcons fans feel bad for you

Now that's funny and true.

[Lionsfan93]

Terrible game on Monday, defense looked horrific