The Lions got absolutely destroyed by the Browns last Saturday Night as they were behind 20-0 at the end of the first quarter.  Matt Stafford got the start in this game and he often looked like a deer in headlights completing only 5 of 13 passes for 34 yards with a pickoff.  Daunte Culpepper was solid in this game completing 10 of 16 passes for 86 yards.  Drew Stanton finished up the game completing 5 of 12 passes for 66 yards with 1 TD pass.  Fullback Jerome Felton led the Lions in rushing in this game with 34 yards on 7 carries (4.9 ypc).  WRs Dane Looker and D.J. Boldin each caught 3 passes for 39 yards (13.0 avg) to lead the way in the passing game for the Lions in this game.  TE Carson Butler only caught 1 pass in this game but it was good for a 20-yard TD from Drew Stanton.  The Lions finished up with 288 total yards on offense (102 rushing, 186 passing) and that’s not good when you consider they were playing against the Browns’ defense.

Linebacker Jordon Dizon led a not so hot performance by the Lions’ defense with six tackles.  The Browns rushed for a stunning 194 yards (6.1 ypc) in this game which made the fact that they only threw for 154 yards mean less.  The Lions’ special teams were also terrible as Joshua Cribbs ran a punt 84 yards for a TD against them in this game.  The Lions looked like last year’s version last Saturday Night.

Daunte Culpepper will start the Lions’ third preseason game on Saturday against Indianapolis over first overall pick Matthew Stafford, Detroit head coach Jim Schwartz announced today.  He added that Culpepper will play into the second quarter before giving the ball up to Stafford.

Schwartz insists that competition for the starting job on September 13 at New Orleans is still wide open.

“I don’t want to handicap it one way or the other,” Schwartz said. “But the final decision has not been made.”

Stafford, a rocket-armed Georgia product, has looked shaky in two preseason efforts.  His poor accuracy through two exhibition contests has led to him completing only 12 of 27 passes with two interceptions. The young QB looked especially green in his first preseason start last week, during which his passer rating was a mere 14.6.

Culpepper, a 10-year veteran with Minnesota, Miami and Oakland, played five games for the Lions last season.  He threw for 4 touchdowns and six interceptions while contributing to the worst regular season record in NFL history.   But although he possesses a boatload of experience over Stafford along with two thirty touchdown seasons under his belt, Stafford’s raw talent is making this race tight. Jim Schwartz, welcome to the NFL.

“It’s going to be based on the information we have at hand,” he said, “not from wetting our finger and holding it up in the air, not from taking a poll and not from an ‘ask the audience’ lifeline or anything like that.”

He added, “We’re going to do what’s best for our club.  We’re going to do what’s best for the guy that we drafted, not what somebody outside of the building says and not what worked best for another player. Every player is different.”

The Detroit Lions won a GAME!  Too bad it doesn’t count in the standings.  The offense was amazing for the Lions in this game as they rolled up 454 total yards (191 rushing, 263 passing)!  Daunte Culpepper started at QB for the Lions in this game and he completed 5 of 6 passes for 41 yards.  Matthew Stafford followed Culpepper in this game and he completed 7 of 14 passes for 114 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 interception.  The interception was a pick six returned 42 yards for a TD by Falcons’ linebacker Tony Gilbert.  Drew Stanton was outstanding in this game leading the Lions to victory.  He completed 8 of 13 passes for 114 yards with a TD throw.  He also carried the ball 4 times for 59 yards (14.8 ypc) in this game.  Rookie RB Aaron Brown was outstanding in this game for the Lions with 47 yards rushing on six carries (7.8 ypc) with a TD run.  He also caught 2 passes for 51 yards and one of his catches went for a TD.  Rookie WR Derrick Williams pitched in with 2 catches for 35 yards (17.5 avg) and a TD. 

The Lions only gave up 228 total yards in this game and that was outstanding!  CB Chris Roberson and OLB Darnell Bing led the way for the Lions in this game with 5 tackles apiece.  I know this is only the pre-season but the Lions have to be happy with the result on the scoreboard.

The Lions played great defense in this game and that was the main reason for the win.  DE Corey Smith led the way for the Lions’ defense in this game with 6 tackles and 1.5 sacks.  Fellow DE Cliff Avril was also very active against the Bills with 4 tackles and 1.5 sacks.  The Lions also had 2 safeties in one game which is pretty odd.  The Bills finished up this game with 102 yards rushing on 30 carries (3.4 ypc) and they also completed 18 of 26 passes for 126 yards. 

Dan Orlovsky started this game for the Lions and he was so-so.  He completed 12 of 21 passes for 114 yards with a 9-yard TD pass to fullback Jerome Felton.  Drew Henson got his first action for the Lions in this game and he completed his only pass attempt for 11 yards.  Artose Pinner was the workhorse on offense for the Lions as he carried the football 23 times for 78 yards (3.4 ypc).  The Lions finished up this game with 80 yards rushing on 27 carries (3.0 ypc) and they also completed 13 of 22 passes for 104 yards.  The Detroit Lions finished off a very good preseason with a 4-0 record and they hope the success carries over into the regular season.

The Detroit Lions looked like a pretty good football team last Saturday afternoon against the Cleveland Browns.  Jon Kitna was very effective as he completed 9 of 11 passes for 98 yards.  Dan Orlovsky finished up the game and he was also very sharp connecting on 13 of 20 passes for 167 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 interception.  Brian Calhoun led the way on the ground for the Lions in this game with 61 yards rushing on 9 carries (6.8 ypc).  Rookie RB Kevin Smith was also very effective as he carried the football 10 times for 45 yards (4.5 ypc) and he had a sensational 35-yard TD run against the Browns.  Roy Williams led the Lions in receiving in this game with 61 yards on 3 catches (20.3 avg).  WR Devale Ellis (4 receptions, 60 yards) and WR John Standeford (3 receptions, 41 yards) both pitched in for the Lions in the passing game.  The Lions finished up with 129 yards rushing on 30 carries (4.3 ypc) and they also completed 22 of 31 passes for 257 yards.

The defense was also outstanding for the Lions in this football game.  Linebackers Ernie Sims (8 tackles) and Gilbert Gardner (6 tackles) led the defensive surge by the Lions in this game.  The Browns finished up with only 55 yards rushing on 16 carries (3.4 ypc) and they completed 27 of 46 passes for 195 yards.

The Lions really excelled in the 4th quarter as they outscored the Bengals by 17 points to pull away.  Jon Kitna completed all three of his pass attempts for 76 yards with a 27-yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson.  Dan Orlovsky was solid on Sunday Night as he completed 11 of 22 passes for 137 yards.  2nd year QB Drew Stanton was the real star of the show for the Lions against the Bengals.  Stanton completed both of his pass attempts for 58 yards including a 50-yard TD strike to WR Brandon Middleton.  Stanton also carried the football 2 times for 20 yards (10.0 ypc) and he scored on a 10-yard TD run.  RB Artose Pinner was the leading rusher for the Lions in this game with 52 yards on 13 carries (4.0 ypc).  Rookie Kevin Smith pitched in with 19 yards rushing on 4 carries (4.8 ypc).  WR John Standeford led the Lions in receiving with 85 yards on 4 receptions (21.3 avg).  Calvin Johnson also had an outstanding game as he caught 3 passes for 76 yards (25.3 avg) with a TD reception.  WR Brandon Middleton also was really effective late in the game for the Lions as he caught 2 passes for 58 yards (29.0 avg) with a TD.   The Lions finished up this game with 112 yards rushing on 31 carries (3.6 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 27 passes for 263 yards.

Linebacker Leon Joe led the way for the Lions’ defense with 8 tackles.  DE Rudolph Hardie was living in the Bengals’ backfield with 2 tackles and 2 sacks.  The Bengals finished up with 100 yards rushing on 21 carries (4.8 ypc) and they also completed 25 of 41 passes for 224 yards.  This was a nice win for the Lions.

The Lions want to run the football more so they tried it out tonight and it didn’t go that well but they did win the time of possession battle holding onto the ball for 33:59 of the football game which helped them win.  Jon Kitna was sharp while he was in the game connecting on 6 of 7 passes for 106 yards.  He hit Roy Williams with a 20-yard TD pass to open the scoring for the Lions.  Dan Orlovsky followed Kitna in the game and he completed 8 of 11 passes for 81 yards.  2nd year man Drew Stanton finished up the game completing 5 of 6 passes for 27 yards.  Stanton also led the Lions in rushing with 26 yards on 6 carries (4.3 ypc) which proved that he’s getting healthy.  Rookie Kevin Smith rushed for 22 yards on 8 carries (2.8 ypc) in his first taste of NFL action.  Veteran RB Tatum Bell did not play too well as he rushed for 8 yards on 7 carries (1.1 ypc) last night.  2nd year WR Calvin Johnson had a huge game to lead the way for the Lions as he caught 4 passes for 78 yards (19.5 avg).  The Lions finished tonight’s game with the Giants having rushed for 84 yards on 35 carries (2.4 ypc).  They also completed 19 of 24 passes for 214 yards against the Giants.  The Lions have some work to do in the running game but they have time to fix it.

The Lions defense was bending but not breaking against the Giants.  Linebacker Leon Joe led the way for the Lions with 6 tackles.  Safety Greg Blue was also very active with 3 tackles and a sack.  The Lions played good run defense against the Giants who finished with 79 yards rushing on 24 carries (3.3 ypc).  The Giants did completed 21 of 32 passes for 231 yards so the Lions have to get better at defending the pass.  Overall this was a nice win against the World Champs to start the preseason for the Lions.

The Lions did not play a good football game last night.  J.T. O’Sullivan was forced to play the entire game again due to injuries to Jon Kitna and Dan Orlovsky.  He completed 15 of 26 passes for 175 yards with 1 TD pass.  Neither T.J. Duckett (9 car, 29 yards) or Brian Calhoun (8 car, 25 yards) ran the ball too well.  2nd year WR Brandon Middleton had his night in the spotlight as he led all Lions’ receivers with 5 catches for 50 yards.  The Lions finished the game rushing for 73 yards on 22 carries (3.3 ypc) and they completed 15 of 26 passes for 164 yards.

The defense was good against the run despite allowing 112 yards as it took the Bills 39 carries (2.9 ypc) to get those yards.  The Bills did throw the ball well against the Lions however completing 26 of 35 passes for 254 yards.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=270830008

The Lions were without Jon Kitna and Dan Orlovsky due to injury so J.T. O’Sullivan played the entire football game.  O’Sullivan completed 24 of 34 passes for 232 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 interceptions.  T.J. Duckett was the leading rusher for the Lions with only 16 yards on 5 carries (3.2 ypc).  RB Aveion Cason led the Lions with 6 grabs for 55 yards (9.2 avg).  Shaun McDonald (4 rec, 51 yards) and Troy Walters (3 rec, 28 yards, TD) both looked sharp again.  The Lions only rushed for 32 yards on 14 carries (2.3 ypc) and they completed 24 of 34 passes for 225 yards.

The Lions stuffed the Colts running game holding them to 48 yards on 19 carries (2.5 ypc).  The Colts destroyed the Lions thru the air however as they completed 39 of 50 passes for 360 yards.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=270825011

The Detroit Lions dominated the first three quarters of his game as they were leading 23-0 heading into the 4th quarter, but they had to hold off a furious comeback really behind Ken Dorsey and Brady Quinn of the Browns.  Jon Kitna looked sharp completing 12 of 16 passes for 137 yards and a TD.  J.T. O’Sullivan (3 of 7, 43 yards) and Dan Orlovsky (2 of 5, 34 yards) both found the 2nd week of the pre-season much harder than the first.  Tatum Bell led the Lions in rushing with 33 yards on 6 carries (5.5 ypc).  T.J. Duckett carried the football 9 times for 31 yards (3.4 ypc) with a TD and he also caught 2 passes for 37 yards (18.5 avg) as he was running the ball hard all night long.  Brian Calhoun carried the ball 9 times for 16 yards (1.8 ypc) on Saturday Night.  Troy Walters led the way for the Lions’ receivers with 4 grabs for 47 yards (11.8 avg).  Shaun McDonald continued his fine pre-season with 3 more grabs for 47 yards (15.7 avg) and a TD.  Overall the Lions offense looked o.k. Saturday Night as they carried the football 29 times for 101 yards (3.5 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 28 passes for 209 yards.

The defense was outstanding for three quarters but you would never know that by looking at the numbers.  The Browns only rushed for 77 yards on 23 carries (3.3 ypc) but they completed 31 of 47 passes for 317 yards. 

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=270818005