Week Thirteen: Detroit Lions (8-3) @ New Orleans Saints (5-6)

[buddha]

magic number is 3, right?

[number20]

12 minutes ago, NYLion said:

Oh, don't get me wrong. The 2023 Vikings is a big upgrade on what they were when Quinntricia left them in ashes but this is a one and done team. They have a long way to go to be a real contender IMO.

Yeah they might be one and done, but I have a sneaky feeling they just might win a playoff game this year, depending on who they get matched with. That's my ceiling for this year though, and to me that'd be a damn good season. 

Holmes needs to heavily address the D in next year's draft. There should also be a few decent defensive FAs available. Like the Pistons of the late 80s... just keep it going, just keep getting better each year

[TP_Fan]

3 minutes ago, buddha said:

magic number is 3, right?

Correct. 

[Sports_Freak]

11 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I get that. I get that they were better than likely they even thought they'd be at this point too. But in the NFL your window doesn't stay open forever, if long at all. For every Kansas City Chiefs that has a 5+ year run of success, you have a Minnesota Vikings who has the hot hand for a season or two and falls back down to Earth. 

If Chase Young ends up injured again or just not that productive in San Francisco then I'll shut my mouth and admit to being wrong. However, I just can't get over them having such a glaring need on the edge and still managing to pass up on a dynamic pass rusher that could have been had for a 3rd round pick. I'll be complaining about this one until Young proves me a fool. Had they traded for Young that would have signaled to me that they fully recognize their window is open and they are going for the NFC title now. 

We don't really know the details. Maybe the Lions made an offer and it was refused? We just don't know.

[Shinzaki]

Started having flashbacks to the 1970 Saints game when Dempsey beat us with a 63 yd FG...Thank God we held on

Edited December 3, 2023 by Shinzaki

[Sports_Freak]

4 minutes ago, number20 said:

Yeah they might be one and done, but I have a sneaky feeling they just might win a playoff game this year, depending on who they get matched with. That's my ceiling for this year though, and to me that'd be a damn good season. 

Holmes needs to heavily address the D in next year's draft. There should also be a few decent defensive FAs available. Like the Pistons of the late 80s... just keep it going, just keep getting better each year

A few key injuries really hurt a defense that doesn't have a lot of depth. I agree, we need to draft some defensive pieces. And a few FA signings very well could put us over the top. This offense is for real.

[number20]

Quiet day for Sun God today

[Sports_Freak]

Having Atlanta come back to Ford Field would be our best shot at winning a playoff game. But I think we would need to be a 2 seed and I'm not sure if that's possible. Maybe...

[Sports_Freak]

1 minute ago, number20 said:

Quiet day for Sun God today

Yeah, for him. 49 yards and a TD is still pretty good though.

[Sports_Freak]

34 minutes ago, lordstanley said:

So if the Lions do win the division (3 game lead), this all but ensures that they will be at least the #4 seed. 3 game lead over Atlanta (if they hang on vs the Jets) and New Orleans with wins over both. 

We swept the NFC south, didn't we? The Lions are 5-1 on the road, where it's very hard to win in the NFL. I refuse to apologize for a victory, especially on the road. Winning ugly is still winning...

[Jason_R]

3 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

A few key injuries really hurt a defense that doesn't have a lot of depth. I agree, we need to draft some defensive pieces. And a few FA signings very well could put us over the top. This offense is for real.

Yes, but Irvin came in and on a handful of snaps got a sack, a hit, and knocked Carr out of the game. That hit extended a NO drive but probably ended their comeback attempt. Also, CJGJ should be back for the last three games. Maybe Houston also. Defense has been bad but don’t expect for it to get worse. 

Once again, with Sorsdal in, the team had a hard time maintaining LOS. But when that starting five OL was all together it was a thing of beauty. 

[number20]

One of my bigger concerns for next season: the Lions lose Johnson, but keep Glenn. What will Goff look like without an offensive coordinator who knows how to cover his flaws? Next year's schedule will be tougher as well.

I'm also thinking the Bears won't be down for long. They suck today but are about to get a massive haul of draft talent

 

Edited December 3, 2023 by number20

[lordstanley]

25 minutes ago, romad1 said:

all this team needs is a month off between now and its playoff games.

The NFL might decide that the Lions aren’t the same team that started 5-1 and will keep them out of the playoffs. 

[holygoat]

34 minutes ago, number20 said:

One of my bigger concerns for next season: the Lions lose Johnson, but keep Glenn. What will Goff look like without an offensive coordinator who knows how to cover his flaws? Next year's schedule will be tougher as well.

I'm also thinking the Bears won't be down for long. They suck today but are about to get a massive haul of draft talent

 

Why do so many assume that the next OC is gonna suck?

[number20]

16 minutes ago, holygoat said:

Why do so many assume that the next OC is gonna suck?

I don't know. Did someone say they assume the next OC is gonna suck?

[Motor City Sonics]

1 hour ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

Fox or Kelvin Sheppard I would think.

Ron Rivera will be available.  Maybe by tomorrow.  

[MichiganCardinal]

So a win at Chicago and a Vikings loss in Vegas next Sunday would set the stage for the Lions to clinch with a win on Saturday night against Denver.

[lordstanley]

Just now, MichiganCardinal said:

So a win at Chicago and a Vikings loss in Vegas next Sunday would set the stage for the Lions to clinch with a win on Saturday night against Denver.

Or a Vikings loss against the Bengals in Cincy, as they play earlier on the Saturday that the Lions host the Broncos. This assumes GB loses tonight to KC (or less likely, next week to the Giants): although maybe the Lions win the tiebreaker with the Packers anyways, I don’t know. 

[MichiganCardinal]

5 minutes ago, lordstanley said:

Or a Vikings loss against the Bengals in Cincy, as they play earlier on the Saturday that the Lions host the Broncos. This assumes GB loses tonight to KC (or less likely, next week to the Giants): although maybe the Lions win the tiebreaker with the Packers anyways, I don’t know. 

I didn't realize Minnesota played before us on Saturday. Lots of avenues for that Saturday to be a big party downtown.

[NYLion]

1 hour ago, buddha said:

magic number is 3, right?

I believe if the Packers lose once, the Vikings lose once and the Lions beat the Bears next week that they can clinch by winning the Denver game so I think the magic number is 4 or maybe it is 3 if @MichiganCardinal is right.

 

Edited December 3, 2023 by NYLion

[Motown Bombers]

1 hour ago, number20 said:

One of my bigger concerns for next season: the Lions lose Johnson, but keep Glenn. What will Goff look like without an offensive coordinator who knows how to cover his flaws? Next year's schedule will be tougher as well.

I'm also thinking the Bears won't be down for long. They suck today but are about to get a massive haul of draft talent

 

I'm concerned what Goff will look like without McVay and Todd Gurley. 

[Sports_Freak]

2 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

Ben Johnson pulls one out of the hat. THAT RIGHT THERE is how you use Jameson Williams.

Am I the only one who didn't like his backflip into the end zone?

[holygoat]

1 hour ago, Motown Bombers said:

I'm concerned what Goff will look like without McVay and Todd Gurley. 

Right. Also, why would Campbell hire an OC who is not on the same page as he is? The assumption that the next OC will not know how to work with Goff is baffling to me.

[buddha]

3 hours ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I get that. I get that they were better than likely they even thought they'd be at this point too. But in the NFL your window doesn't stay open forever, if long at all. For every Kansas City Chiefs that has a 5+ year run of success, you have a Minnesota Vikings who has the hot hand for a season or two and falls back down to Earth. 

If Chase Young ends up injured again or just not that productive in San Francisco then I'll shut my mouth and admit to being wrong. However, I just can't get over them having such a glaring need on the edge and still managing to pass up on a dynamic pass rusher that could have been had for a 3rd round pick. I'll be complaining about this one until Young proves me a fool. Had they traded for Young that would have signaled to me that they fully recognize their window is open and they are going for the NFC title now. 

chase young had zero tackles and zero sacks today.  got a pressure when he was unblocked.

[number20]

21 minutes ago, holygoat said:

Right. Also, why would Campbell hire an OC who is not on the same page as he is? The assumption that the next OC will not know how to work with Goff is baffling to me.

You mean like Anthony Lynn?