Lions vs. Cardinals - Week 10

Welcome boys and girls to a less than full Ford Field for today’s football game. Let’s hope that the memo was sent to the Lions that today is a football

Welcome boys and girls to a less than full Ford Field for today’s football game. Let’s hope that the memo was sent to the Lions that today is a football game. Of course the Lions defense is expected to be stellar, as usual, and the offense, hopefully, will produce better than its usual fiasco. Word was that the Detroit Police were on hand to arrest the offense for stealing, since they have been taking a paycheck and not playing. Okay, that was a poor excuse of a joke, but what the hell; their play has been also.

The Lions won the toss and led by fan-favorite, Eddie Drummond, the Lions got great field position at their own 41. The Lions faced a critical 3rd and 2 and did the usual going for one and got it. Yet another terrible third down coaching decision. On a 4th and 1, Mooch had no choice but to give to the crowd and go for it. Kevin Jones did get it and much more, moving the Lions to the 10. Joey was able to put the ball in the end zone on a nice strike to Roy Williams, made possible by a nice step up in the pocket by Joey. The PAT was good and with 11:17 left in the 1st quarter, the Lions had the lead 7-0.

After each team exchanged meaningless drives, the Lions more prevalent by the terrible play calling, the Cardinals got the ball at the Lions 2. Trying to run the ball and get some breathing room, once again the Lions defense came out strong as Dan “Big Daddy” Wilkinson shed his blocker and tackled the Cardinal running back in the end zone for the safety. It was Big Daddy’s first safety in his long and successful career. That gave the Lions the 9-0 lead with 2:46 left in the 1st quarter.

After once again exchanging useless drives, the Lions got the ball back and with Joey playing very well and making wise decisions, marched down the field for the TD pass to Roy Williams. The PAT was good by Hanson with 11:13 left in the 2nd quarter. The Lions had the 16-0 lead. The drive lasted 5 plays and 69 yards. The Lions should give a game ball, however, to the Cardinals who had 2 off sides and 1 personal foul penalty.

Again after trading useless drives, the Cardinals got the ball and showed some great play by Warner. The Lions defense, however, did hang tough and stopped them when they began blitzing. The drive ended with a 51-yard field goal by Rackers. With 5:33 left in the 2nd quarter, the Lions had the lead 16-3.

With 2:34 left in the 1st half, the Lions got a turnover when Kalimba Edwards snatched a Shipp fumble. This gave the Lions, leading 16-3, an opportunity to move the ball and see if they could pad the lead. Mooch and his staff has spent the season in the 2-minute offense doing absolutely nothing as I have pointed out an incessant amount of times. This time, however, Joey and the gang did move the ball and the half ended on a Jason Hanson field goal.

Beginning the 2nd half, after allowing the Lions to look like contenders, the Cardinals came out with a chip on their shoulder. They marched down the field led by former MVP Kurt Warner to the Detroit 1. At the one, Warner gave the ball to J.J. Arrington and he moved it right into the end zone for the TD. The 2-point conversion was good and with 9:53 left in the 3rd quarter the score was Detroit 19 and the Cardinals 11.

Joey and the gang wasted no time marching down the field. Joey looked like an All Pro (remember that this is the Cardinals), but he had to make the play and he did. The drive ended on a 29-yard TD strike from Joey to Roy . It was Roy ’s 3rd so far on the day. The PAT was good, and the Lions had the lead 26-11.

Both teams struggled after the Lions score, but the Cardinals eventually were able to put together a nice drive. Rackers came in the game on a 4th and 6 and hit the 28-yard field goal. With 14:09 left in the 4th quarter the score was Detroit 26 and the Cardinals 14. For Rackers it was his 28th straight field goal of the season, he has yet to miss and is the main generator of points for this Cardinal team.

Once again, the inspired Lions offense moved the ball down the field led by Joey Harrington and the passing game. On a 2nd and 3 at the Cardinal 3, the Lions gave the ball to Artoose Pinner (stupid coaching had Kevin Jones out the whole drive) who accomplished nothing. On a critical 3rd and 2, Mooch and his staff kept Roy Williams out and the play failed. On 4th down, in came Hanson who hit the 20-yard field goal to make the score 29-14 Lions with 8:35 left in the 4th. The Cardinals orchestrated yet another drive for a TD and the PAT, but that was as close as it came. 

The Lions 29-21 victory was a great way to start the second half of the season. Now they travel to a game that Dominic Raiola told me was the biggest game so far as to judge this team.

Grades:

Offense: B
Defense: C
Special Teams: C
Coaching: B