The Detroit Lions have finally fired GM/President Matt Millen after 7 years and three weeks of pure agony.  The Lions’ slow start this season (0-3) combined with the owner’s son’s frustration is what doomed Millen in the end.  The Lions compiled a 31-84 record (27%) on Millen’s watch as it was amazing that he ducked the chopping block so long.  One had to wonder if he had something on someone above him or not.  This is addition by subtraction for the Lions as it can’t get much worse than it is right now.

The 49ers destroyed the Lions last Sunday and you could just see former offensive co-ordinator Mike Martz beaming on the sideline.  Jon Kitna was awful as usual completing 15 of 30 passes for 146 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 interception.  Backup Dan Orlovsky got in on the action throwing a interception on his only pass attempt.  Rudi Johnson was the leading rusher for the Lions with 83 yards on 14 carries (5.9 ypc).  He also caught 3 passes for 48 yards (16.0 avg) including a TD grab.  Calvin Johnson led the Lions with 4 catches for 40 yards against the Niners.  The Lions finished up with 116 yards rushing on 20 carries (5.8 ypc) and they also completed 15 of 31 passes for 124 yards.

Linebackers Ernie Sims (13 tackles) and Alex Lewis (8 tackles) led the way on defense for the Lions.  The 49ers finished up with 182 yards rushing on 39 carries (4.7 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 23 passes for 188 yards.  The Lions are now 0-3 on the season.

This is a game that has a lot of bad blood involved in it.  Niners’ offensive co-ordinator Mike Martz held the same post with the Lions last season but he was fired in the offseason.  QB J.T. O’Sullivan also was a Lion last year as he backed up Jon Kitna.  The 49ers should be able to do whatever they want on offense in this game as the Lions are allowing 220.5 yards rushing per game and 240.0 yards passing per game this season.  With that in mind look for Frank Gore to get the ball quite often as he already has 250 yards from scrimmage this season.  QB J.T. O’Sullivan already has 516 passing yards this season and he will likely spread the ball around to a lot of receivers with Bryant Johnson and Isaac Bruce getting most of the downfield passes.

The Lions must be able to run the football against the 49ers to keep their offense on the sidelines.  Rookie Kevin Smith and Rudi Johnson will likely get most of the carries against a Niners’ defense that is allowing 139.0 yards rushing per game this season.  It appears however that this game could dissolve into a shootout and the Lions’ are equipped to throw the ball downfield with WRs Calvin Johnson, Roy Williams, Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey.

PREDICTION:  SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 41, DETROIT LIONS 34

The Lions collapsed in a big way late in this football game as they looked pathetic.  Jon Kitna completed 21 of 41 passes for 276 yards with 2 TD passes and 3 interceptions (two of which were returned for TDs by the Packers).  After Kitna’s second pick six of the game the Lions yanked him and replaced him with Dan Orlovsky.  Orlovsky completed 2 of 4 passes for 6 yards late in the game.  Kevin Smith carried the football 10 times for 40 yards (4.0 ypc) and he also added 21 yards receiving on 4 catches (5.3 avg).  WR Calvin Johnson had a huge game for the Lions with 6 grabs for 129 yards (21.5 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  The Lions finished up with only 49 yards rushing on 12 carries (4.1 ypc) and they also completed 23 of 45 passes for 262 yards.  The Lions didn’t have the ball very long as they only had possession of the football for 24:32 of this game.

Safety Daniel Bullocks led a lame Lions’ Defense with 12 tackles.  Linebacker Paris Lenon pitched in with 7 tackles.  The Packers finished up with 123 yards rushing on 30 carries (4.1 ypc) and they also completed 24 of 38 passes for 324 yards.  It looks like it’s going to be another very long season for the Lions who are now 0-2 on the season.

The Green Bay Packers swept the Lions last season outscoring them 71-39 but that was with Brett Favre calling the plays.  The Packers will likely come off of the bus trying to run the football against a Lions’ Defense that allowed 318 yards rushing (7.6 ypc) last week against the Falcons.  Ryan Grant rushed for 92 yards on 12 carries (7.7 ypc) last week against a tough Vikings’ defense so he will likely have little trouble running against the Lions.  Look for Brandon Jackson to also get some work in this football game as Grant will get tired at some point from running all 0ver the Lions.  Look for Aaron Rodgers, who had an outstanding first career start last week, to throw deep off of play action passing to WRs Greg Jennings and Donald Driver.  The Packers should have little trouble moving the ball against the Lions tomorrow.

The Lions should be able to run the football some against the Packers who allowed 187 yards and 5.7 yards per carry against the Vikings last week.  But, the Lions don’t have the same kind of personnel that the Vikings have so Kevin Smith and Rudi Johnson likely won’t have near the success running the ball that Minnesota did.  Still, it would be foolish for the Lions not to throw the ball as Jon Kitna has quality targets in Calvin Johnson, Roy Williams, Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald.

PREDICTION:  GREEN BAY PACKERS 27, DETROIT LIONS 24

The Lions have placed TE Dan Campbell on the Injured Reserve List due to a pulled hamstring ending his season.  Campbell caught 1 pass for 21 yards last Sunday against the Falcons.  Michael Gaines (2 rec, 11 yards) and Casey FitzSimmons (1 rec, 1 yard, TD) will replace Campbell and they should do as well as he would have as the Lions don’t target the TE much in the offense.

So much for another fast start for the Lions who were ambushed in Atlanta by the Falcons.  Jon Kitna was pretty sharp for the Lions in this game completing 24 of 33 passes for 262 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 interception.  Kevin Smith was busy in his NFL debut as he carried the ball 16 times for 48 yards (3.0 ypc) with a 3-yard TD run.  He also caught 4 passes for 32 yards (8.0 avg) against the Falcons.  It appears that the Lions are going to possibly make Calvin Johnson the #1 receiver this season as he led the team with 7 grabs for 107 yards (15.3 avg).  Roy Williams was not forgotten though as he caught 3 passes for 47 yards (15.7 avg) with a TD grab.  Overall, the Lions offense did not play that bad against the Falcons.  They rushed for only 62 yards on 21 carries (3.0 ypc) but they threw for 246 yards in this game.

The defense was the reason that the Lions lost this football game.  Safety Dwight Smith led a very piss poor effort by the Lions’ defense with 8 tackles.  RB Michael Turner rushed for 220 yards on 22 carries (10.0 ypc) against the Lions yesterday.  The Falcons finished up with an amazing 318 yards rushing on 42 carries (7.6 ypc)!  They also completed 9 of 13 passes for 156 yards against the Lions.  This will have to serve as a wakeup call to the defense because if they can’t play better than this, they are going to lose a lot of games again this season.

The Detroit Lions want to be more balanced on offense but against the Falcons they will be tempted to throw the ball a lot.  As long as the O-Line does a good job keeping DEs Jamaal Anderson and John Abraham away from Jon Kitna the Lions should have success throwing the football against the Falcons.  Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams are huge mis-matches for CBs Brent Grimes and Chris Houston.  Don’t forget that the Lions also have Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey at WR to cause even more trouble for the Falcons.  Rookie RB Kevin Smith and Rudi Johnson might have a hard time establishing a ground game against the very underrated linebacking corps of the Falcons (Curtis Lofton, Keith Brooking and Michael Boley).

The Falcons are going to run the ball a lot in this game to protect rookie QB Matt Ryan in his first NFL start.  Michael Turner will be making his debut as a featured back in the NFL and he will likely have a good game as long as the Falcons can control DT Cory Redding.  OLBs Ernie Sims and Alex Lewis of the Lions will have their hands full with Jerious Norwood who has the speed to get around the edge of the defense.  The Lions are solid in the secondary with CBs Leigh Bodden, Travis Fisher and Brian Kelly so the Falcons would be smart to keep the passes short. 

PREDICTION:  DETROIT LIONS 24, ATLANTA FALCONS 13

The Lions have signed linebacker Ryan Nece.  He will help out with linebacker depth and on special teams.  Nece has played in 85 games (35 starts) in his NFL career and he has made 236 tackles, has 3.5 sacks, has defensed 5 passes and he has picked off two passes.  This was a nice signing for the Lions.

I’m not a believer it taking the over with the Lions no matter how many games Jon Kitna says the Lions are going to win.  I don’t think the Lions improved at all over the summer and that makes me side with the under here.  Maybe the Lions will prove me wrong but I’m betting against it.