MichiganCardinal

Foreseeable to anyone who watched him play those first few weeks. Have to avoid that contact in this league if you want to keep playing.

I have a feeling Ben Johnson would work wonders with that LA Chargers' offense.

Cowboys-Chargers is a battle of which coach can out-lose the other. Cowboys butchered the clock at the end of the first half and were gifted their 3 points by a stupid Chargers penalty. Meanwhile, Staley didn't challenge a very questionable spot on 3rd down and then inexplicably called a pass on 4th and a foot (instead of a high percentage run or a game-tying kick) that predictably failed.

Mike McCarthy is a bum and the Cowboys won't scare me until he's gone.

I’d like to expand my season ticket arsenal next year if there are tickets to be had. I love my seventh row lower bowl seats for rabid fan time. Monday Night, playoff game, bringing the fellow rabid fan, that’ll be the spot. If I’m bringing my mom though, or I’m going to a preseason game, I think I’d rather have a club level seat. Nicer seats (physical seats not location wise), more casual spot for viewing while still an awesome view. And if I pick up two in the club level I can always sell or gift the other two I don’t use.

I generally find it hard to complain or harshly comment about much, offensive or defensive, when we are 5-1. That said, I think evaluating an NFL offenses play-calling based on a binary of "run" vs. "pass" on any given down is probably a vast oversimplification. The goal of every drive is to score but that doesn't mean that the goal of a 2nd and 9 run play from the -26 is a 74-yard touchdown run.

I think I was concerned a little last year when he was set to possibly leave because it didn't seem we had an obvious heir apparent. I don't think that will be an issue this year if (when) he leaves. If I had to levy a guess today, I would put money on Tanner Engstrand being groomed for the role this year. He's gone from TE Coach to Passing Game Coordinator, which is the same progression Ben Johnson took before being named OC. It could be Scottie Montgomery or Steve Heiden though too. In any event, I'm sure they'll be prepared, and I agree that the Lions success on both sides of the ball, but particularly on offense, is in large part thanks to Campbell.

My power rankings haven't changed substantially since the last time I did them, but comparing the Lions to other teams in the NFL, the only team I see that we really don't matchup well with are the Dolphins and a fully healthy Bengals team... maybe the Bills too. The top tier of the NFC (49ers, Eagles, and Lions) all played tough defensive matchups this week and were forced to play off-brand football. All three of those teams like to play bully ball, using their elite offensive line to impose their will on the ground, only going to the air to catch the opponent napping and change the pace. When the 49ers were forced to go to the air this week because of injury combined with the Browns defensive line, they struggled and ultimately lost. When the Eagles were forced to go to the air this week because of the Jets defensive line, Hurts threw three interceptions and they ultimately lost. When the Lions were forced to go to the air this week because of injury and a stout Tampa defense, they didn't miss a beat and still won by two scores. That's not to say we are Super Bowl bound or anything (though... maybe!), but both the 49ers and Eagles would almost certainly have to play a different brand of football against us. Ground and pound likely isn't going to go well against our defensive line, and they will need to rely on Purdy and Hurts to play a brand of football they usually don't need to. I like Goff's ability to go with the flow better and win the game with his arm, based off of what we saw yesterday. The Dolphins are the only team in that upper echelon of the NFL that really relies on the pass first and can stretch the field vertically at will. I think Tua (if he makes it through the full season) would have the potential to make the throws Baker missed yesterday, exploiting Will Harris and Jerry Jacobs with Tyreek Hill in ways that hasn't been done to this point. The Bengals, with a healthy Burrow, could probably do the same. At least one of Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase would give us fits if their offensive line gave Burrow enough time to find them. The Bills probably have the capacity to do this too, but they sure seem to be on the same track they have been the last few years, where it just feels like there is more untapped... I'm glad none of those three would be on the schedule until February.

I just don't see the vigor required for a riot. There might be a clown or two, but they're in such a desolate place as a team and an athletic program that shaking their fists at clouds and lighting couches on fire will just embarrass themselves (more than it already does when they do it regularly). They have a right to be angry based off of what Tucker did and how he left the program, I just don't think there is going to be some collective uprising because there is a night game against Michigan.

Baltimore is coming back from London. Teams used to often choose to take their bye in the week after an international game, but not so much anymore. I wonder if the jet lag and travel, going Pittsburgh -> London -> Baltimore in the course of about eight days will affect them.

The #2 seed no longer gets a bye, since they expanded the playoffs to 7 teams. You have to be the #1 seed to get a bye. A #7 seed has yet to beat a #2 seed though, so it's effectually worked as a bye so far.

I don’t know. I’m sure there will be a problem or two, like there always has been, but otherwise I’d bet on a pretty subdued Sparty fanbase. They’re one of seven P5 schools who have yet to beat another P5 school. They’re bad bad and their fanbase knows it. Keeping it within 30 will likely be a win. Their students will show of course, and they’ll be drunk of course, but if it’s out of hand by halftime they’ll head to Rick’s and Harper’s to call it a night. I just don’t think there will be the spirit for a fight, in the team or in the fanbase. On top of that, I’m sure Barnett has the entire university admin on top of him to ensure there is not an event like last year. They’re a bad football team that is already in the midst of a PR disaster. The last thing they need is another tunnel fiasco. I think it’ll be a 49-7 game that is over quickly and quietly.

Lions and Chiefs are the only two teams with a three-game lead in their division.

The spread surprises me a bit. Ravens have beat the Texans against a week one rookie QB, the Bengals (by 3) when the Bengals were bums, the Browns (a legit win), and the Titans. They've lost to the Colts and Steelers. All in all, I think the Lions are better. On the road, this seems closer to a 'pick' for me.

It's hard to see Cleveland going far with PJ Walker.... If only there was some embattled and controversial quarterback out there who they could take a chance on with a fully guaranteed contract.

I hope Jack Campbell is on the Alex Anzalone trajectory.

vs. Setting: 10/22/2023 1:00pm on FOX Site: M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD Weather: 62° High / 48° Low, 3% chance of rain, 15mph wind Opening Spread: Ravens -2.5 All-Time Series Record: Ravens lead, 5-1 Last Meeting: 09/26/2021, Ravens won 19-17 Baltimore Ravens (4-2) Head Coach: John Harbaugh (16th Season: 151-96) Projected Starting QB: Lamar Jackson (6th Season: 49-18) Last Week: 24-16 W @ Tennessee Titans (2-4) Looking Ahead to Week #8: Sunday @ Arizona Cardinals (1-5) Your Detroit Lions (5-1) Head Coach: Dan Campbell (3rd Season: 17-22-1) Projected Starting QB: Jared Goff (8th Season: 59-46-1) Last Week: 20-6 W @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2) Looking Ahead to Week #8: Monday Night v. Las Vegas Raiders (3-3) Elsewhere in the NFL Primetime: Jaguars @ Saints (TNF), Dolphins @ Eagles (SNF), 49ers @ Vikings (MNF) 1:00pm: Browns @ Colts, Raiders @ Bears, Bills @ Patriots, Commanders @ Giants, Falcons @ Buccaneers 4:05/4:25pm: Steelers @ Rams, Cardinals @ Seahawks, Packers @ Broncos, Chargers @ Chiefs Bye: Panthers, Bengals, Cowboys, Texans, Jets, and Titans

Give me Dan Miller or give me death.

I love that because it means we are good. I hate it because it means there is nowhere to go but down.

Revisiting my picks 1/3 of the way through the NFL season… I thought we’d be 4-2 through 6 and we are 5-1. My route to 12-5 (and a franchise record tie with 91 for the most wins in a season) was 5-1 in the division and 7-4 out of it. With the way the division is shaping and the way the Raiders, Saints, and Broncos look? 12-5 is almost shaping up to be a floor.

With a three-game lead in the NFC North, it’s not crazy to think they could lock up the division by early December. Road games against the Saints and Bears or a home game against the Broncos could do it.

And the third being a game played with turf that later got condemned by the NFL.

This might be the best Sunday for Lions football in my lifetime.

Let the record reflect that one MichiganCardinal did not panic and remained steadfast in his 12-5 prediction. 😉

Jets probably should have taken a knee at the one there. Eagles we’re letting them score.