NYLion

The Niners are actually very susceptible against the run, it's why I always thought they were a good matchup for the Lions. The Lions were somewhat pass happy last week because they were playing against an elite run defense but I think we'll see more of an emphasis on the run in this game.

4-19-1 to start the Campbell era directly into 22-7 and an NFC Championship berth at minimum. It's hard to recall such a sudden turnaround in sports history although there were a lot of close losses in that 4-19 stretch so it felt like the Lions were close to turning around.

Ok gotcha, I just assumed you were because of your location. Lucky you then, being a Canucks and Lions fan would have been a rough way to live over the last several decades.

Damn, you don't waste any time. Are you a Canucks fan by any chance? If so, you're living pretty well as a sports fan right now. I'm an Edmonton Oilers so everything is coming up roses for me lately.

That Dan Miller call (with Lomas fanboying in the background) gave me the goosebumps. He's a treasure

The Detroit Lions, OUR Detroit Lions, are in the NFC Championship game. For us long suffering Lions fan (I've been a fan since the late 80s), how sweet is this and how about Derrick Barnes making amends for that missed Dak safety by sealing it. What a time to be alive.

Gibbs was close to breaking a few earlier, seemed to be only a matter of time. Smart of the Lions to have Gibbs and not Montgomery in there, this just isn't the game for Monty.

His shin was down. Bad no challenge but just gotta move on

I can't believe they gave it to Craig Reynolds on a 4th down. Kind of brilliant because they probably figured that Tampa wasn't expecting him to get the ball.

Ben sometimes doesn't make the obvious call but then he pulls a rabbit out of his hat like that Wright throw against the grain and you can see why he's coveted. Live by the sword, die by the sword with him.

Hope you're right

The Lions are one of the worst teams at halftime adjustments and they're beat up on the O-Line, I'm not confident tbh.

Ben Johnson runs a straight handoff on a 3rd and goal from the 4 then passes on a 3rd and 1, Sutton being left on an island in a last minute drive for some crazy reason, Amon-Ra drop. The Lions should be losing tbh, they're choking this game hard.

Dan is just mad that the Lions sent his boyfriend home packing.

The Lions also didn't have their running backs against Tampa and no Gardner-Johnson. Evans is going to torch the Lions secondary though, I think that's a given, but it's also Baker throwing to these receivers not Stafford so I have less of a fear factor for this game. My one concern about the Lions offense is that Tampa gets in on QBs very fast with their blitz so Goff might need to eat a sack or two instead of forcing it like he tends to do at times. Johnson is going to have to devise a gameplan to get the ball out of Goff's hands quickly, more screen plays, misdirections etc.

I think the low hits are more dangerous tbh. I'm a Lions fan, I like Kerby, but I can also call it from an unbiased perspective and Kerby does have a little dirty in his game the way he hits. I also think that Stafford put Higbee in a tough spot on this particular throw so I think he should share some of the blame as well plus there was some bad luck involved with Higbee's leg planted into that awful turf.

And if it took him out for a full calendar year Lions fans would be screaming bloody murder too.

We would be too if their safety low hit LaPorta and tore his ACL. Kerby made a similar hit on Hockenson, he is a true kneecap biter.

Yeah, I won't believe he's playing until I actually see him on the field. Seems like he's been "close" since...forever.

I know Holmes doesn't draft for need generally but CB has to be a top priority with one of the first 2 picks. They have absolutely nothing there as a long term solution outside of Sutton who is only a stopgap really. It's arguably the 3rd most position behind QB and LT in a pass happy league, it needs to be addressed this offseason.

Can't argue with that. Regardless, the Lions aren't losing to Tampa no way no how. I will stake my....poor reputation on it 😉

This is pretty obvious by now, isn't it?

The Lions aren't losing to Tampa at home, no way no how. I'll stake my reputation on this and guarantee a win this weekend.

I was thinking the same. I think it's quite likely that the NFC North goes from one of the weakest this season to one of the strongest next season. Green Bay and Chicago will obviously look better on paper, the Vikings have a lot of talent and should have a better QB Cousins or not and the Lions should get even better on paper with cap space and a lot of picks again. Next year could be a bloodbath in this division.

Meh, I think you're trying too hard to see the opposing view. First of all, that offsides penalty was as blatant as it gets, it also probably cost the Lions 7 points the way they were moving the ball in the second half and there was a hold missed on Hutchinson on that non-interference call late. REALLY helped is an exaggeration. Also, the low hit Kirby made is never called on receivers. QBs with the low hit have a different set of rules. They probably got away with one with the McNeil hit but I thought the calls were largely evened out over the course of the game.