Split the Difference

by Mushy on Nov 17, 2009 2:24 PM EST Comment 33 comments

Okay, Sunday is over...the Lions suffered another loss and most of the dust has settled from Monday's most disgruntled fans (myself being one of them). Being the NFL junkie that I am, I couldn't help but watch what the NFL was claiming to be an NFL game on Monday night between the Baltimore Ravens and some team wearing jerseys the same color as the excrement they were playing like.

After the debacle that took place against the Rams I can't possibly go out on a limb and say that the Lions will absolutely, without a doubt, come away victors this Sunday against what could be the "other" worst team in the league. This much I am confident about...these are two pretty lousy teams getting ready to bump heads this Sunday at Ford Field.

I did a comparison like this after the Rams game and was shocked to see that it predicted an outcome similar to what actually happened on the field that Black Sunday. Basically I looked at the team stats (prior to the game) and compared one teams offense to the other teams defense. Hindsight is always 20/20 or better though, so that isn't even remotely impressive. Here's what that very crude comparison has to say about the upcoming game against the Browns.

Pre-Game Stats:

Detroit on Offense: 103YPG Rushing, 191YPG Passing, 15.9PPG

Detroit on Defense: 115YPG Rushing, 272YPG Passing, 29.3PPG

Cleveland on Offense: 98YPG Rushing, 116YPG Passing, 8.7PPG

Cleveland on Defense: 166YPG Rushing, 228YPG Passing, 25PPG

Splitting the difference between Detroit's Offense and Cleveland's Defense, then doing the same with Cleveland's Offense and Detroit's Defense results in the following...

...Predicted Outcome:

Detroit : 134.5 Yards Rushing, 210 Yards Passing, 20.45pts

Cleveland: 106.5 Yards Rushing, 194 Yards Passing, 19pts

To which I respond...oh $#!t...

Now I know someone will come up with a much more reliable, less crude mathematical way to predict the outcome of this game....but for anyone predicting this will be a blowout, think again. The Browns may be one of the worst teams in football, they may have been part one of (if not several of) the worst games of the season, but the Lions are simply not fairing too much better as a team so far this season. If they do come away with a win however...I for one will be doing my happy dance!

By the way...if the Rams vs. Lions game was so appropriately named "The Toilet Bowl", what would you call a 20-19 game between the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions?

Poll

How are you feeling about this upcoming game against the NFL's other worst team?

The Lions will massacre them!

12 votes

Close game but the Lions pull it off at home.

47 votes

Heartbreaker, the Lions lose a very close game.

7 votes

The Browns snap out of their season long funk and destroy the Lions!

2 votes

These two aweful teams find a way to tie 0-0.

9 votes

77 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pride of Detroit's main writer, Sean, or the site in general. FanPosts are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable fans.

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I voted the last option

But then again, our secondary is so bad it will make Quinn look good.

Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog

by Sean Yuille on Nov 17, 2009 2:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Bills vs. Browns

In the Browns only victory of the year they beat the Bills 6-3 in what I can’t even describe as a real football game. Both teams pitching a shutout is certainly possible, but I agree that the Lions have a knack for making bad players look good.

by Mushy on Nov 17, 2009 2:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If Shaun Rogers somehow runs back a 66-yard pick, I won’t be happy.

by n4ry4 on Nov 17, 2009 2:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Or blocks a field goal

Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog

by Sean Yuille on Nov 18, 2009 2:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We will win.

That is all.

by Russ Aronson on Nov 17, 2009 2:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Watching the Browns play last night,

I’m definitely worried. Their defense looked tough at stopping the run. "If we can get KS going, we all know Stafford will start getting trigger happy. Hopefully we can establish ourselves early and get a good tempo, or we could be in for another lose. The Browns, like the Rams, are much better than most of us think.This is definitely NOT a sure win.

by giggy09 on Nov 17, 2009 2:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Gotta disagree with one thing.

Maybe it’s just semantics?
I still think the Rams are every bit as aweful as I always thought they were, it’s the Lions that I underestimated in that game. Cleveland’s defense did look…can I say “stout”….but the Ravens looked generally disinterested on offense and I think they had a sense that Cleveland was going to get shutout offensively. Flacco only threw the ball 18 times and had a QB rating in the high 90’s. The Browns are pathetic offensively, (116YPG through the air?!) but the Lions pass defense has been almost as pathetic. You gotta believe both teams are looking at their opponent like “Wow…if we can’t beat these guys….?”

by Mushy on Nov 17, 2009 2:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Rams

Almost pulled off a win against the Saints on Sunday. They aren’t as bad as people think.

by giggy09 on Nov 17, 2009 3:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I watched that whole game...

…and the Saints were not taking the Rams seriously. Maybe that shouldn’t take anything away from the fact that the Rams DID show up to play, but I still contend that they are easily one of the three worst teams in the league.

"Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer." -Mark Twain

by Mushy on Nov 17, 2009 4:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Early vote for Game Name.

via Twitter “The Recession Bowl”.

Depressing, I know, but I found it humorous.

by Mushy on Nov 17, 2009 2:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Brady Quinn looked decent in the first half

Obviously didn’t score any points against Baltimore, but he had a few nice passes to keep the ball moving. As banged up as the Lions are on defense, and in the secondary, he could well do some damage.

With these Lions, I’ve stopped "expecting’ anything. A win, or a competitive game would be a bonus. There’s part of me thinking that, hey, they’ve won a game, it’s not going to be another 0-16 season, most of the rest of the season is gravy.

That said, this is the time where the future of this team, and of the Schwarz regime will be forged. Is this Lions team winning more games? They need to start by beating arguably weaker teams. They failed to take advantage against S.t Louis, so they really need to get it done vs. Cleveland, if only so that Cleveland can supplant the Lions as Jay Leno’s favorite NFL target.

Official BYB Juju Consultant...now accepting rally creature applications!

by ahtrap on Nov 17, 2009 3:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sorry guys

I also think we’re going to lose to the Browns due to our horrific pass defense. We’re gonna make Brady Quinn look like Steve Young or Joe Montana and lose this game, although not by much. It will be close but our ability to NOT STOP the pass will kill us once again. The only thing in our favor is the Browns don’t have SJax in their backfield.

I fear we lose a heartbreaker and Quinn throws for >200 yards.

NOTE: PLEASE don’t respond that I am not a true fan!!! I love the Lions more than anything I am just being realistic.

Signed,
Douglas C. Niedermayer (obscure Animal House Reference)

I spray paint my dog Honolulu Blue and Silver

Pic - me vs. Bears fans

by NYCLionsfan on Nov 17, 2009 3:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I, for one...

…won’t question your fanhood. While I’m really hoping the Lions learned a valuable lesson against the Rams, I can’t say that the lesson wasn’t really aimed at the fans. It makes my skin crawl to think it, but I believe this game could go either way. What’s worse, there is virtually zero chance that this game is on TV…which means my dumbass is probably dragging up to go downtown on Sunday and watch this one in person.

by Mushy on Nov 17, 2009 3:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mushy

If we had beaten the Rams I would have faith. We knew going into the St. Louis game that one person could beat us (SJax) and STILL our defense allowed him to run wild. I do think Staff will have a better game this week than he had against the Rams but I feel that won’t outweight our pathetic pass defense. I am fearing the worst.

I might have a stream lined up for the game. If I can get it I’ll post in Sunday at 1:00 on POD.

I spray paint my dog Honolulu Blue and Silver

Pic - me vs. Bears fans

by NYCLionsfan on Nov 17, 2009 4:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

cool, let us know,

cause this one won’t be on t.v. for sure.

by j16941 on Nov 17, 2009 5:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Will do. DET better win this week!!

I spray paint my dog Honolulu Blue and Silver

Pic - me vs. Bears fans

by NYCLionsfan on Nov 17, 2009 7:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Remember how he ended up.

I just wonder who is left to play.
May be if Quinn goes low again the refs will toss him???

by rbanner on Nov 17, 2009 3:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm glad someone else chose the massacre option besides me

Quinn has no one to throw to guys…

That team is awful. It probably won’t go how I voted, but shit, there is no one anywhere near the caliber of Steven Jackson on that team.

Trust me, we’re going to win this one soundly. And cement ourselves as the 31st ranked team in the NFL.

Go Lions!

by Nate D. on Nov 17, 2009 3:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

+1

by IAmGross on Nov 17, 2009 4:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes!

Faith! I like it!

I think we will win, but not by a ton. Our guys have to know that this is their shot.

by ATL Lion on Nov 17, 2009 5:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's hard to say

I’d like to think the Lions will turn up and put in similar performances to that of the games against the Skins, Bears (1st Half) and Steelers. But knowing us, that probably won’t happen. I voted for us in a close one.

2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
Zack Follett: he will hurt your mind.

by Hyperion Ecta on Nov 17, 2009 6:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Leos win a close one.

Not that they shouldn’t beat the Browns soundly, but the Lions seem to play down to the opposing teams ability. I would hope the whole team shows up for this game, but if the vets that cashed in the Vikings game early show up, who knows. They might have cashed it in for the whole season. Lets hope the rookies and the few that still care can get us a win.

by Lead Hunter on Nov 17, 2009 7:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hoping

I am hoping that we come out and have a solid win on Sunday. We the fans could use a boost, but I think the players could use one as well. Even a close win would be a win, but I would like a solid win (one that we are not sweating at the end of the 4th quarter) giving our guys the chance to celebrate a bit on the sidelines and enjoy a game for once.

A solid win on Sunday might set us up for a good game on T-day. The Packers are definately beatable, I just don’t know if we can do it. A little confidence and some rhythm might be just what the Dr. ordered for a competitive Turkey day game!!!

by Lions-fan-SLC on Nov 17, 2009 8:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs