by Shawn Sillinger
Another year of promise, another year of disappointment for the Detroit Lions.
How do they keep doing it? Once again, the Lions have fooled us. Even some of the most meticulous football analysts thought Detroit?s defense was good enough to put the Lions in a position to challenge for a playoff spot. Instead, Detroit has been exposed after starting the 2006 NFL campaign at 0-3 straight up and 1-2 against the spread.
The telling blow was delivered by the Green Bay Packers in their 31-24 dismantling of Detroit this past Sunday. Packers QB Brett Favre looked every bit the 8-time Pro Bowler, tossing three touchdown passes to give him 402 on his stellar career. The Lions have now given up 65 points over their past two games (both ATS losses) after teasing fans with a narrow 9-6 season-opening loss to the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks.
If the Packers can rattle off 400 yards against Detroit despite having an inexperienced offensive live, things aren?t going to go much more smoothly in Week 4 against the St. Louis Rams. The Rams are hanging in there at 2-1 SU and ATS despite being equally challenged on the O-line. It?s been the defense that has kept St. Louis on the good foot; the Rams have allowed just 44 points after three games, putting them in the Top 5 in the NFC. All three games went UNDER the posted total.
Pity poor Jon Kitna. Once again given the opportunity to take a starting quarterback role, the 10-year veteran has been excellent for the Lions, putting up an 89.3 QB rating after three games and throwing just one interception. This was largely without 2005 first-round draft pick Mike Williams at wide receiver. Williams was activated in Week 3 and had just one ball thrown at him (it was incomplete). The former Trojans? standout may not fare much better in Week 4 against the Rams, who thus far have given up over 100 fewer yards per game than Green Bay through the air.
Making matters worse in Motown, offensive guard Ross Verba aggravated his injured hamstring in the first quarter of Sunday?s loss and did not return to the game. The Lions are already hurting on the O-line with Rex Tucker (knee) and Barry Stokes (hamstring) on the mend. Things could get very ugly this week if Verba cannot suit up in St. Louis.
The Rams are 5.5-point home faves with a total of 43. Kick-off is at 4:05 p.m. Eastern Time on FOX. Get your NFL bets in!
Article courtesy of BetUS.com.
Another year of promise, another year of disappointment for the Detroit Lions.
How do they keep doing it? Once again, the Lions have fooled us. Even some of the most meticulous football analysts thought Detroit?s defense was good enough to put the Lions in a position to challenge for a playoff spot. Instead, Detroit has been exposed after starting the 2006 NFL campaign at 0-3 straight up and 1-2 against the spread.
The telling blow was delivered by the Green Bay Packers in their 31-24 dismantling of Detroit this past Sunday. Packers QB Brett Favre looked every bit the 8-time Pro Bowler, tossing three touchdown passes to give him 402 on his stellar career. The Lions have now given up 65 points over their past two games (both ATS losses) after teasing fans with a narrow 9-6 season-opening loss to the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks.
If the Packers can rattle off 400 yards against Detroit despite having an inexperienced offensive live, things aren?t going to go much more smoothly in Week 4 against the St. Louis Rams. The Rams are hanging in there at 2-1 SU and ATS despite being equally challenged on the O-line. It?s been the defense that has kept St. Louis on the good foot; the Rams have allowed just 44 points after three games, putting them in the Top 5 in the NFC. All three games went UNDER the posted total.
Pity poor Jon Kitna. Once again given the opportunity to take a starting quarterback role, the 10-year veteran has been excellent for the Lions, putting up an 89.3 QB rating after three games and throwing just one interception. This was largely without 2005 first-round draft pick Mike Williams at wide receiver. Williams was activated in Week 3 and had just one ball thrown at him (it was incomplete). The former Trojans? standout may not fare much better in Week 4 against the Rams, who thus far have given up over 100 fewer yards per game than Green Bay through the air.
Making matters worse in Motown, offensive guard Ross Verba aggravated his injured hamstring in the first quarter of Sunday?s loss and did not return to the game. The Lions are already hurting on the O-line with Rex Tucker (knee) and Barry Stokes (hamstring) on the mend. Things could get very ugly this week if Verba cannot suit up in St. Louis.
The Rams are 5.5-point home faves with a total of 43. Kick-off is at 4:05 p.m. Eastern Time on FOX. Get your NFL bets in!
Article courtesy of BetUS.com.
