Comments on: PFT Preseason Power Rankings No. 13: Detroit Lions

By: jzdtown

jzdtown — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:36:39 +0000

Why is everyone making a big deal about losing Eric Wright? First off he was waayyyyyyy over paid by the Bucs. Secondly, I remember yelling at him through my TV multiple times because of his blown coverages…….I wasn’t the least bit worried when we lost him. Our secondary was terrible last year and I don’t think it could get much worse, Wright or no Wright…..he just wasn’t impressive to me.

By: pappavike

pappavike — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:07:44 +0000

Time will tell, Stafford has had what one good year! Lions have an average OL at best the rb’s can’t stay healthy and granted you have talent at wr, I hope everybody keeps underestimating Ponder and the Vikes

By: justwannawinna

justwannawinna — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 11:39:34 +0000

Idk Nfc north will be interesting and most likely outside the vikings (Ya sorry but ponder aint taking you places) is the the best division in the NFC the lions however until they have atleast one cover corner cant take Rodgers off the top nor Cutler and the bears as they added a happier Forte and Marshall along with guys in the draft. But as far as offense goes if the RBs can get on the field they can be the most dangerous offense in football saying Stafford stays healthy

By: SmurfJuice

SmurfJuice — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 05:42:57 +0000

I was expecting 12-16 for the Lions ranking, so #13 is fair.

However, I fully expect Titus Young to explode this year. He could easily be a Steve Smith type guy, 70 catches, 1000 yards, 8 TDs a season.

And I’m not one to bash teams on here, I think it’s childish, but you have to admit the Lions are a young, up and coming team whereas most of the Bears pieces are aging. The challenge will be to divvy up the salary cap among all these high draft picks. Do you sign Cliff Avril for megabucks, or do you wait and pay Louis Delmas? How about when Stafford comes up? And if Jahvid Best stays healthy the next couple years, how much will he want? These are problems that Lions fans have been waiting a generation to have.

By: redruckus81

redruckus81 — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 05:16:47 +0000

I always have to laugh when people say a team “didnt win any meaningful games”.

The way I see it either every game in the season is meaningful because if you dont win enough you dont make the playoffs or only one game is meaningful, the Super Bowl, in which case the Giants are the only team who won a meaningful game. I suppose you could make exceptions for games like week 17 game for the Packers since they had nothing to play for but even then I think its important to have momentum going into the playoffs. So either the Lions won 10 meaningful games or they along with 30 other teams won zero

By: pappavike

pappavike — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 03:32:30 +0000

Teams success only last as long as it takes for the rest of the NFL to catch on.Take The cover two, the 46 defence and the run n shoot just to name a few!

By: pappavike

pappavike — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 03:24:01 +0000

Two players does not make a Team. The Lions have had years of losing! one good season does not make a dynasty All four teams in the division will be good! How far each will go will very on injuries and luck Besides being dangerous and being winners is two different things!

By: pbolyard

pbolyard — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 01:49:41 +0000

Why can’t the corners be better? Whatever happen to developing players? Now if you don’t go get a great free agent your not any better. Well whatever I’m not a writer on this site so I guess I don’t know anything.

By: rexryanschoolofpodiatry

rexryanschoolofpodiatry — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 00:42:34 +0000

Do any of you realize the Lions have the best young QB in the NFL and maybe the most explosive/dangerous WR to ever play the game? Just those two components assures the Lions to be in the playoffs. The Lions are a RISING team not a DECLINING team like the Bears are.

By: beedubyatoo

beedubyatoo — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 00:37:31 +0000

bigwalt2990 says:Jul 18, 2012 5:33 PM

The Lions were 5-0 with half a run game.
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The Packers wwere 15-2 with no running game.

By: warhammer420

warhammer420 — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 00:01:14 +0000

As long as the O-line can keep Stafford upright most of the time, and CJ stays healthy, they are a threat to put up points that most teams cannot keep pace with. If the running game and secondary can improve from last year, they could win their division.

By: rmc1995

rmc1995 — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 23:27:05 +0000

The Lions off the field stuff should not be a concern and it’s amazing it keeps getting brought up. The Bears brought a ticking time bomb in their locker room. He’s been stabbed and mixed up in fights and has a career list of finding trouble. I’d rather have pot smoker in the locker room than a guy doing a documentary on his borderline personality disorder.

By: bulli1cc

bulli1cc — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 23:21:57 +0000

@Jmartinez:

The Lions won 4 in a row to end the 2010 season, why was it such a shock to seem them rip off 5 consecutive wins at the beginning of 2011? As for as the miracle season comment, I must have missed in the NFL rule book where close wins and comebacks don’t count. The Lions have Matt Staff and Megatron, the roster Mayhew has assembled is DESIGNED to score points in bunches, making those comebacks possible!
Obviously the loss to the Packers JV were embarrasing, but keep in mind the Lions secondary was so banged up they had a WR and the corpse of Chris Harris starting in the secondary, that speaks more to a lack of depth than of overall talent (which a decent draft class fulls of DB’s: HELLO 2012 draft) could fix.

By: phuriousjorge

phuriousjorge — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:55:25 +0000

As a Bears fan, this team worries me. Good young team, except maybe back half of the defense.
Excluding the Vikings, anybody playing the North better bring their lunch.

By: catchhester23

catchhester23 — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:46:44 +0000

Bears improved their depth all across the board including speical teams! Hester returning punts with better blockers this automatically makes the bears better. New age offense that revolves around cutler strengths. That old defense is still better than the lions young guns. That is why bears are ahead of the lions. Lions fans be happy your on the top half of the nfl. Just because your not the worst team anymore doesn’t make you the best.

By: electionconfidential

electionconfidential — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:40:46 +0000

I think this is a pretty good analysis. It’s going to be hard for them to get far past .500 if they now have an even weaker secondary. Taking CBs in the 3rd, 5th and 6th rounds while you lose a starter is NOT an improvement.

Having 3 games of 5 sacks each points out their biggest problem which is that like many teams they’re just one injury away from going from average to poor.

By: duluthvikesfan

duluthvikesfan — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:36:27 +0000

My problem is not with those that feel the Lions are rated to low at 13. Personally, I think it will be a close race between the Lions at the Packers for the division and the Lions should be higher than 13. My problem is with those who think the Bears are in the same league as the Packers and Lions! The Bears will finish last in the north behind, yes, BEHIND, the Vikings. The Bears are showing their age and really haven’t done much to improve. Giving Forte his new deal was good. But what else have they done? Brandon Marshall?! Heck, he will probably be suspended before the season and you know he can’t handle the heat the Chicago press and fans will bring. He will turn in to a big headache for the Bears.

By: bigwalt2990

bigwalt2990 — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:33:12 +0000

The Lions were 5-0 with half a run game.

By: dvdman123

dvdman123 — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:29:10 +0000

The NFC North title is the Packer’s to lose. The Lions and Bears will not be a factor. The Lions though have a much better shot than the Bears to get a wild card. As noted by others the NFC has a bunch of talented teams this season.

By: pc1976

pc1976 — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:20:35 +0000

With Stafford and Johnson on offense, and Houston and Berry/Smith on defense, it’ll be Arenaball this year. I predict 6-10 to 7-9 followed by a good offseason next year and we’ll be a solid playoff team by the start of the 2013 season

By: raideryan88

raideryan88 — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:15:49 +0000

Wrong… There a top 10 team, how are you gunna say an aging steelers team can beat cj and stafford. Stafford had just about the same numbers as brees did last year with no recognition. If sue stops bashin dudes they will be in the nfc championship this year. Mark it down

By: jtmartinez34

jtmartinez34 — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:11:12 +0000

The Lions had a miracle season last year – which in the final analysis was mediocre. They surprised everyone and win 5 straight to open the season – many by dramatic comebacks in which they were down by 2o. Were they all thinking 0-16 Lions? Once teams woke up and realized you have to step on their necks, then they finished 5-6 the rest of the way. During that last stretch, they defeated the putrid Vikings with their 3rd string QB on a stupid fumble on a almost certain TD from the 1 yard line. They also narrowly defeated the Raiders after Palmer missed his receiver for a wide open TD on a perfectly called play on 3rd and 4 late in the game that would have ended it. Most of the late season losses were blowouts, including the playoff game. They couldn’t even beat the Packers B-team in the last game laugher where Stafford ran up his stats (he would have ended hundreds of yards short of 5K if the Pack played the offense and defensive starters). If you really analyze it, the Lions could have and should have been 8-8 or below. Yes, the wins count as wins, I just don’t believe they will get all the bounces again this year. Cheer for your team Lions fans, but be real about it.

By: 989lions

989lions — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:08:48 +0000

team turmoil? this isnt the jets whatsoever did i miss something about the locker room imploding or any tiffs between players? because last i checked the players that got arrested this offseason did not really contribute last season and they still made the playoffs. lets see fairley played in 10 games and had one good quarter against NO, leshoure was out all season, culbreath was on a non injury football list and was also a 7th round pick, and aaron berry played nickel corner. nobody all that important here. a 23 year old off a major surgery with 4 games played with a broken finger threw for 50000 yards and 41 TD’s, when has that ever been done before? oh yeah and there are no receivers besides megatron right? well how about you stare at these stats for a bit:

T young (rookie last season) 607 6 TD
N burleson 757 yards 3 TD
T scheffler (2nd string te) 347 6 TD
B pettigrew 777 yards 5 TD

looks like a pretty balanced attack, without virtually any threat of running the ball and CJ still having 1600 yards and 16 TD’s being double and triple covered.

By: doug1grohlin

doug1grohlin — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:57:44 +0000

Stafford doesn’t tear up secondaries. Calvin Johnson makes them look bad. Unless he’s up against Peanut Tillman, who managed to keep him in check last time.

By: souldogdave

souldogdave — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:52:35 +0000

Overachieved last year, won’t make much noise this year either.

By: dawgsafety13

dawgsafety13 — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:48:13 +0000

cali49er707 says:Jul 18, 2012 3:12 PM

bordner says:
Jul 18, 2012 3:00 PM
Wait, what?!! No. 13?!! Did you run this by any lions fans for their opinions first? I think they were counting on at least a Top 3 ranking.
—————————— ———————-
Lions fans have easily bacame the most annoying fan base in the NFL. For the first time since the great Barry Sanders retired that they are actually relevant & they run lip like now like they are back LOL. Back from WHAT??? Even when they had Barry Sanders, Herman Moore, Rodney Peete & coach Wayne Fontes they still were a wildcard playoff game & out at best

_________________________________

This opinion from a 49ers fan? NO WAY!?!?!

I’m Flabbergasted!

By: bbwd75

bbwd75 — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:45:36 +0000

I love me some lions but I feel 13 may still be a tad to high. Our running game is still non functional atleast until proven Lashore and Best can do it, and let us not forget the dreadded Madden curse.

By: nashwaakkidd

nashwaakkidd — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:42:41 +0000

team turmoil , not lack of talent will be their downfall should they fail to make the playoffs, kinda like the jets , except stafford is twice the ny qb , whichever one they trot out. i say 9-7 and no playoffs

By: pappavike

pappavike — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:37:41 +0000

The lions are destined to be stuck near the bottom til, they can win close, meaningful games, Thier talent is great but talent does not always win, I can see putting them 13th or even higher based on talent! When the Lions players can put team before I and stay out of trouble then they might have a shot whinning the Division!

By: howiehandles

howiehandles — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:29:13 +0000

“You mean the Bears team the Lions finished ahead of least year? The Bears team that has a worse OL and worse QB and weaker receiving core? And a really really old Defense…those are the Bears you place ahead of the Lions. OK buddy, you’ve always been a hater and always will be…keep on hating and you’ll keep eating crow!

Before you Bears fans say we were ahead of you because of your injuries, remember this, we had just as many! Both of our top 2 RB’s…our top Safety and on and on….that’s the NFL folks!”

That old defense certainly put a beating on the young Lions at SF. Who are their receivers outside of Calvin? Nobody of note. And they didn’t miss their RBs, because they don’t have any. No more playing the last place schedule Lions. 7-3 before Cutler and Forte both went out. If that didn’t happen, the Lions would have been watching the playoffs.