I see Patriots passing a lot on this Sunday. The Lions have the best rushing defense and the 5th best passing defense, but they've took 2 huge blows losing Tulloch and Fairly for the season. Patriots just made the former best 2 offenses in the league look decent. All without Siliga and Chandler Jones. Imagine when those guys come back in about 2 weeks. People saying Browner looked bad this week, but it's hard to look good when an elite qb has like 8 seconds in the pocket. We were extremely dominant in the rushing defense again this week. Broncos and Colts combined for like 40 rushing yards against us.
Not going to lie. Wouldn't suprise me if this is another 20+ point blow out. If this game was being played at Detriot I would give a 30% chance to them, but @Patriots in the 2nd half of the season. As hot as they've been since 2007 right now. Really healthy looking. Detriot about to get blown out. Next week we'll be @Packers. Packer aren't the best in the league, but they're the only elite team in the NFC that has stayed healthy. Patriots vs Packers is looking to be the Super Bowl. Only Super Bowl that could be bigger than that would have to be Patriots vs Cowboys.
But man.... Brady vs Rodgers.... That would be something to see.
So glad we found our new Blount. I was really mad when Gray didn't made the 53 man roster after his good performance in the preseason. Ridley going out forced them to give him a shot because James White has been a disappointment so far. 3 games he let Tom be Tom and when he got his shot to run he wasn't bad at all. Now tonight Kraft told Gray to get ready for a huge night. As a guy nobody wanted for the past 2 years now. I really hope he keeps this up. If he gets around 30 yards againts Lions I won't judge him. Like I said. We're probably passing 85% of the time against the Lions and their terrible cornerbacks. Sure Lions blitz hard, but Patriots quick firing offense to curl routes with Lafell, and slots to Gronk, Amendola, and Edelman. It all is the weakness to any blitz-first defense. Like I said. Don't be surprised with a blow out.
When the season started, the Patriots had 3 holes to fill. They gained 2 more with injuries to Mayo and Ridley. What happened? Chung became a great safety. Hightower and Collins got EVEN BETTER, and we pick up great linebackers who have done a great job right off the bat. We have a new BEASTMODE powerback in Gray. We picked up a 2nd tightend with Wright. Then for the final hole, we have had several defensive tackles play great beside Wilfork, and now we added Alan Branch from free agency? When Chandler Jones and Siliga get back, don't be surprised if people call this a top 3 defense.
I've known and heard about Jonas Gray since I was in high school and he was something of a phenom at Detroit Country Day. Glad to see the guy succeed and with my favorite team no less.
I'm only worried about the Lions right now, they're defensive line is no joke and Suh is just an absolute monster, we've been through a murderer's row of good to great defensive lines but none get any better than what the Lions have this year. Fairley has a sprained MCL I believe so I don't know if he'll be back for the game, CJ Mosley is a good backup though. They have a good rotation of speed rushers that can really fly off the edge. Solder and Vollmer are good for one gaffe a game where they just flat out whiff trying to block guys like that. I don't care if we get 60 yards rushing total but i want at least 25-30 rushing attempts Sunday so the Lions pass rush doesn't pin their ears back.... WE CAN'T GET ONE DIMENSIONAL against a defense like theirs. DeAndre Levy is a great sideline to sideline backer and has been playing well. Their secondary is ok, Darius Slay has come on to his own, Rashean Mathis, Glover Quinn, and James Ihedigbo (Ughh 2011 secondary....) add a veteran presence in their secondary. Where I think we can take advantage is up the seams with Gronk and Wright all day long. I'd also like to use a bit more of Vereen out of the backfield and manned up against their LBs in space.
Part of the reason why we didn't really have a pass rush this week is because of Belichick wanting them to maintain the rushing lanes so mobile QBs don't break contain a la Geno Smith this year and Cam Newton last year. Stafford isn't as mobile as Luck so I do expect a bit more pressure against them.
As far as the Detroit offense, outside of the Giants game in week 1 they have been averaging about 17 points/game. With that being said they have all the pieces in place to have an explosive game. Theo Ridkitten has been playing better than Reggie Bush as their scat back. Megatron is dinged up but he can still threaten the deep third. Stafford completely ignored Golden Tate in the second half against the Cardinals.... I don't expect that to happen against us.
I expect to see a lot of mix ups of man and zone against the Lions. We have been doing an EXCELLENT job of disguising coverages and confusing the QBs we have played so far.
Browner adds a dimension of physicality and attitude that I love on defense, he'll get burned occasionally or get flagged. But come the playoffs I'll take it everytime.
Just for completely brushing my team off... don't expect the Offensive that showed up (or lack there of) in the Cards game. I don't think you're giving Detroit enough credit anyway, to be expecting a blowout. Stranger things have happened in this season in Football (*cough Jets beating the Steelers *cough). Last weeks game was fully winnable if the Lions had a better Offensive strategy, after all, holding the Cards to 14 points isn't a joke.
Ehh, I can't blame him and it's hard not to be excited... Especially with Gronk playing the way he has (MVP for the Pats this year). Detroit is a legitimate playoff team and trust me when I say the Pats are not gonna take them lightly. We're 0-0 this week and 8 wins gets you nothing in this league.
A lot of my friends are Lions fans, and I'm curious for your guys' opinions on Matt Stafford and his development. From what I've seen he's got all the talent in the world to be great, he just can't get it done on a consistent basis?
#We'reOnToDetroit
BTW, how do I put a GIF in my sig..... Gronk throwing Sergio Brown outta the club was probably my favorite play of the game.
