Week Fifteen: Denver Broncos (7-6) @ Detroit Lions (9-4)

[Motor City Sonics]

Remember how we were rolling last year - and then we hit the Carolina game and it all went poof?      That's what happened to the Broncos yesterday.   That loss probably cost them the playoffs. 

[holygoat]

1 hour ago, djhutch said:

Did we ever find out if Patterson was a healthy scratch or if he was injured?  Is there anybody more nervous for his job than a Lions' kicker?

Campbell said Badgley was just kicking better in practice.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

8 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

Not in the trade, but Paschal had a great game tonight too.

Really happy to see Iffy and Paschal both step up. Iffy was a beast with 9 tackles and a nose for the ball, moving all over the field. He has really stepped up the last couple of weeks after being a guy fans thought wouldn't even make the team or would be cut eventually. I don't know if something clicked for him, but his play has really stepped up. 

[Motown Bombers]

I'm concerned about Mahomes without Bieniemy. Mahomes can be successful if he has a good offensive line and receivers. 

[Motor City Sonics]

8 hours ago, lordstanley said:

Now we just need Jack Campbell to show improvement next season. Branch will be fine. 

It takes a bit longer for defensive guys to catch on, especially anyone beyond the front line.   Front Line kind of does what the do with some variations but the other defensive positions have to be reactionary.   Those offensive guys act instead of react, so it's a faster learning curve.   Especially being a linebacker, where you kind of have to be all things to really compete.   He'll get it.  He actually has the potential to be Chris Spielman Jr.     He'd look a lot better if our line could actually get to the QB more often.   

I don't think this team can go too far in the playoffs.   A home playoff game against the 6th or 7th seed is a winnable game, but I don't think the Lions can beat Dallas, Philly or San Francisco.    This team probably won't really peak for another year or two.   This offseason is about getting another defensive lineman to get to the QB and keeping that O-Line together.  They might have to creative to do that.   

Priority

1. Pass Rusher

2. Secondary

3. More O-Line Depth

4. More LB depth

Don't need any shiny new toys like QB, RB, WR or TE.  They are set there for another year or two.  

 

The announcers talked about how all the good teams have gone through a rough patch, maybe that's all it was for the Lions.  I sure hope so.   I am hoping our Christmas present next week is an NFC North title clinching.     The way the Vikins fell apart yesterday, they might be in their own head a bit.  

 

[Motown Bombers]

 

[MichiganCardinal]

15 minutes ago, Motor City Sonics said:

I don't think this team can go too far in the playoffs.   A home playoff game against the 6th or 7th seed is a winnable game, but I don't think the Lions can beat Dallas, Philly or San Francisco.    This team probably won't really peak for another year or two.   This offseason is about getting another defensive lineman to get to the QB and keeping that O-Line together.  They might have to creative to do that.   

I think fair expectations are one playoff win. That said, the NFL isn’t the NBA. When you have one game - sixty minutes - to go balls to the wall and leave it all on the field, I’ll take Dan Campbell over anybody in the league to have the team ready to go.

While we can’t expect a win against San Francisco or Philadelphia (or I guess the perpetual frauds in Dallas), I think they are all beatable on any given Sunday. The Bengals showed us two years ago what a team that was still a year or two away from peaking can do when they get hot at the right time.

[buddha]

lol.  last week we were firing the entire coaching staff and this week were expecting "at least" one playoff win.

 

[Shinzaki]

Holmes after Gibbs and LaPorta dominate

 

[1984Echoes]

34 minutes ago, Shinzaki said:

Holmes after Gibbs and LaPorta dominate

 

And he just passed away...

Loved his acting...

[Cruzer1]

3 hours ago, djhutch said:

Did we ever find out if Patterson was a healthy scratch or if he was injured?  Is there anybody more nervous for his job than a Lions' kicker?

Patterson was benched for missing an extra point last week. There isn't much room for error here.

[Motown Bombers]

Montgomery is on pace for 1,000 yards rushing. Gibbs is on pace for over 900. It's possible the Lions could have two 1,000 yard rushers. 

[Jason_R]

We are reminded that this is a good OL — when healthy. Running up 180 yards on the ground is the kind of mauling you expect when your OL is the most expensive in the league. We’ll soon see if they hold up against the Dallas defensive front. 

[Motown Bombers]

 

[Sports_Freak]

Lions also had a defensive TD called back for being offsides.

 

Edited December 17, 2023 by Sports_Freak

[MichiganCardinal]

45 minutes ago, Cruzer1 said:

Patterson was benched for missing an extra point last week. There isn't much room for error here.

If you can’t make a 50-yard field goal you better be damn near perfect on extra points

[Motown Bombers]

I've seen this pointed out but the Broncos had Surtain on Williams a lot this game. Other teams are respecting Jameson Williams on the field and he really hasn't put up the numbers yet. 

[RandyMarsh]

1 hour ago, buddha said:

lol.  last week we were firing the entire coaching staff and this week were expecting "at least" one playoff win.

 

So you don't think it's fair to expect them to beat a likely sub .500 team at home in the first round? I think that is perfectly fine expectations. 

And the only people calling for all the coaches were the usual "sky is falling" crowd not guys like MC.

Edited December 17, 2023 by RandyMarsh

[Motown Bombers]

TP is calling for the coaches to be fired before they are even hired. 

[gehringer_2]

1 hour ago, Motown Bombers said:

Montgomery is on pace for 1,000 yards rushing. Gibbs is on pace for over 900. It's possible the Lions could have two 1,000 yard rushers. 

Lions were hoping for that waaaay back in '68 with Mel Farr and Nick Eddy but never actually got close.

[KnoxP]

2 hours ago, Motown Bombers said:

I'm concerned about Mahomes without Bieniemy. Mahomes can be successful if he has a good offensive line and receivers. 

Pretty amazing how the guy many have speculated could be the best QB ever, and still is damn  good in my opinion, finds himself in that group of 4 😳. 

[MichiganCardinal]

2 hours ago, buddha said:

lol.  last week we were firing the entire coaching staff and this week were expecting "at least" one playoff win.

 

 

37 minutes ago, RandyMarsh said:

So you don't think it's fair to expect them to beat a likely sub .500 team at home in the first round? I think that is perfectly fine expectations. 

And the only people calling for all the coaches were the usual "sky is falling" crowd not guys like MC.

I’ll admit that I was discouraged with the team after the Bears game. I never went so far as to call for firings I don’t think, though I came close with Glenn.

I can’t speak for everyone, but I think the last 13 months have spoiled me to an certain extent. That stretch of games against the Raiders, Chargers, Bears, Packers, Saints, and Bears, they were playing some ugly football. But they went 4-2. It’s probably not fair to demand pretty when they are finding ways to win. But it was a tremendous relief to finally see the team do what we’ve seen them do across the last three seasons, taking a good team like the Cardinals (2021) or Jaguars (2022) and outperforming them in every facet of the game.

My preseason prediction was 12-5 and a spot in the NFCCG. Might as well stick with that.

[number20]

3 hours ago, Motor City Sonics said:

 The way the Vikins fell apart yesterday, they might be in their own head a bit.  

 

I vaguely remember Hockenson feeling pretty good about being traded away from the Lions because he "wanted to win games"

[Sports_Freak]

Who the backup in Tampa? Mayfield really stinks.

[Sports_Freak]

1 hour ago, gehringer_2 said:

Lions were hoping for that waaaay back in '68 with Mel Farr and Nick Eddy but never actually got close.

Altie Taylor and Steve Owens too? Owens was the first Lion to rush for 1000 yards in franchise history.