The Lions just played better than the Cowboys today.  The defense stopped Tony Romo about 2 yards short of the endzone on the second to last play of the game on a 4th and goal.  Jon Kitna had a great game as he completed 28 of 42 passes for 306 yards with 4 TDs and 1 INT.  He also ran the ball 5 times for 25 yards (5.0 ypc).  Aveion Cason split the carries with Arlen Harris.  Cason carried the ball 10 times for 31 yards (3.1 ypc).  Arlen Harris carried the ball 10 times for 29 yards (2.9 ypc) and caught 4 passes for 38 yards.  Roy Williams had a great game with 6 catches for 104 yards and 2 TDs.  Mike Furrey was also outstanding with 11 catches for 102 yards and a TD.  Mike Williams even got in on the action with 2 grabs for 28 yards and a TD.

Paris Lenon led the way on the defense for the Lions with 6 tackles and a fumble recovery.  Kalimba Edwards also had a real solid game with 5 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery.  The Lions did a great job defending the run as the Cowboys ran the ball 21 times for only 58 yards (2.8 ypc).  The Cowboys did throw the ball well as they completed 23 of 32 passes for 307 net yards passing.

The Detroit Lions have lost 7 games in a row and probably can’t wait until their game is over Sunday so they can go home.  The Cowboys have lost 2 of their last 3 games and are jockeying for playoff position after losing the division lead last week against Philly.

The Lions have no running game at all, so it will likely be bombs away for the Lions.  Jon Kitna (3,902 yards passing) is attempting to be only the second Lions QB to ever throw for over 4,000 yards (Scott Mitchell is the other).  Kitna should have success throwing against the Cowboys secondary that is allowing 215.3 net yards passing per game.  The only problem for Kitna will be moving around in the pocket to buy time as the Lions have allowed him to be sacked 58 times this season.  Mike Furrey (87 rec, 984 yards) and Roy Williams (76 rec, 1,206 yards) should have good games against the Cowboys.

The Cowboys will probably just go with the same gameplan that got them to the playoffs.  They will run and throw the ball.  Julius Jones (1,057 yards rushing) and Marion Barber (639 yards rushing) should both have good games against a Lions defense that is allowing 130.1 yards rushing per game and 4.1 yards per carry.  The Lions pass defense isn’t much better (214.2 net yards passing) so Tony Romo should be able to spread the ball around to Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn and Jason Witten.

The Cowboys should win this football game by a wide margin.

 

The Lions played hard in yesterday’s game with the Bears, but the Bears were just a little bit better.  Jon Kitna had perhaps his best game as a Lion as he completed 27 of 45 passes for 283 yards with 3 TD passes.  The Lions’ running game didn’t produce a whole lot.  Arlen Harris led the way with 10 carries for 44 yards (4.4 ypc) and he caught 5 passes for 26 yards.  Aveion Cason pitched in with 5 carries for 31 yards (6.2 ypc).  Mike Furrey led the way for the receivers with 10 catches for 107 yards and a TD.  Roy Williams also had a good game with 6 catches for 79 yards and a TD.  TE Dan Campbell pitched in with 2 grabs for 31 yards and a TD.

The defense didn’t play too well for the Lions yesterday.  The Bears carried the ball 30 times for 116 yards (3.9 ypc).  The Bears did well throwing the ball against the Lions as they completed 26 of 45 passes for 238 net yards passing.

The Lions fell to 2-13 on the season with this loss. 

Defensive tackle Marcus Bell and offensive lineman Barry Stokes have both been placed on the Injured Reserve list ending their seasons.  Barry Stokes started 11 games for the Lions this season and injured his ankle pretty badly as he will be done for the season.   Marcus Bell started 7 games for the Lions this year and had 39 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.

The Lions will miss these guys because the lines have both been ravaged by injuries this season.

The Lions were absolutely horrible today at Lambeau Field.  Jon Kitna completed 16 of 26 passes for 135 yards and 2 INTs.  He also was the Lions’ leading rusher with 7 carries for 34 yards (4.9 ypc).  Arlen Harris had a rough game with 9 carries for 18 yards (2.0 ypc) and he caught 5 passes for 33 yards.  Mike Williams got to play and caught 3 passes for 42 yards.  TE Casey FitzSimmons added 4 catches for 29 yards.

Paris Lenon led the way for the defense with 8 tackles and an interception.  The Packers ran the ball well as they carried the ball 32 times for 139 yards (4.3 ypc).  The Lions did a good job against Brett Favre and the Packers passing game.  The Packers completed 20 of 37 passes for 164 net yards passing.  The Lions also picked off three passes in this game.

The Lions fell to 2-12 on the season with this awful performance.

DT Corey Redding’s play has been one of the bright spots on the defense for the Lions.  With all the injuries to the defensive front the Lions needed someone to step up and Redding has done that.  He has 39 tackles, 7 sacks and a fumble recovery so far this season. 

The Detroit Lions are 2-11 this season and have lost their last five games in a row.  The Packers won last week in San Francisco and sit at 5-8 on the season.

The Lions will undoubtedly throw the ball all day long against the Packers.  With Kevin Jones out for the season, the Lions will have to start Arlen Harris and he scares no one including the Packers who allow 119.6 yards rushing and 4.1 yards per carry so far this season.  Look for Kitna (3,484 yards passing) to be looking downfield to Roy Williams (69 rec, 1,116 yards) and Mike Furrey (74 rec, 857 yards.  The problem with the passing game is that the Lions have allowed 49 sacks this season, and the Packers have good pass-rushing ends in Aaron Kampman (10.5 sacks) and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (5 sacks).  When Kitna gets hit a few times he gets nervous and throws the ball when he shouldn’t as he’s thrown 19 interceptions this season. 

The Packers will run the ball to start the game with Ahman Green (867 yards rushing) to soften up the defense and then it will be bombs away.  Brett Favre should have little problem picking a secondary apart that is allowing 216.2 net yards passing and allows QBs to have a 97.6 rating against them.  Donald Driver (73 rec, 1,103 yards) and Greg Jennings (if healthy enough to play) should have no problem rolling up big numbers.  Part of the secondary’s problem for the Lions is that they have virtually no pass rush as they only have 23 sacks this season.  That coupled with the excellent protection that Brett Favre has enjoyed (only sacked 20 times this year) could leave the Lions in a world of hurt on Sunday!

The first game between these teams was won 31-24 by the Packers in Detroit.  Kevin Jones played good in that game and he won’t be there on Sunday.  Also, this game is in Lambeau Field and the Lions are 0-6 on the road this season.  I look for the Packers to win this game by a fairly big number.

Kevin Jones was placed on IR today after a full blown Lisfranc fracture/dislocation of his foot that will cause him to miss the remainder of this season.  The injury will take at least six months for Jones to recover from.  The Lions will miss him big time, because he was a threat as a runner and a receiver.  Arlen Harris will replace him, but he has nowhere near the skill-set of Jones.

Jones played in 12 games this season and finishes with 181 carries for 689 yards (3.8 ypc) and 6 TDs.  He also caught 61 passes for 520 yards (8.5 avg) and 2 TDs.

Arlen Harris has played 7 games so far this season (2 starts) and has carried the ball 20 times for 67 yards (3.4 ypc) and a TD.  He also has caught 4 passes for 35 yards (8.8 avg).

 

Ross Verba will sit out this week’s game against his old team (the Packers) with a groin injury.  This will hurt as the Lions don’t have alot of depth along the offensive line.