Schwartz Will Start Stafford

Jim Schwartz the coach of Detroit Lions is not having second thoughts with his decision on starting Matthew Stafford.  After a day his rookie quarterback threw four interceptions in a loss game against the Green Bay 34-12.  Stafford separated his non-throwing shoulder at the end of a game Nov. 22 against Cleveland, but after a penalty made a return and throws a touchdown pass with no more time on the clock to win against the Browns 38-37.  It was one of five touchdowns for Jim who is a first pick in the NFL Draft for 2009 and became the second rookie quarterback to do so. 

He already felt better the day before and missed only less than a day’s practice time in the week leading to the team’s yearly Thanksgiving Day game.  TV cameras got a heated pre game argument between general manager Martin and Dante Culpepper backup quarterback before the Green Bay game.  Both of them did not comment after the game and Schwartz, said Thursday he understood why the veteran signal-caller will be upset of not starting.

Lions Stafford Rookie of the Week # 11

Matthew Stafford a quarterback from the team Detroit Lions was awarded as Week 11’s Rookie of the Week by Pepsi.  Stafford delivered five touchdowns and for 422 yards in the Lions’ hair line win 38-37 against the Cleveland Browns. While the other team contenders were Malcolm Jenkins a Cornerback from the New Orleans Saints, Mohamed Massaquoi from the Cleveland Browns and Bernard Scott a running backs from the Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals Beanie Wells are the other finalists for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week honors for the games that were played on November 19-23.

 When the regular season ends, a nomination of five players for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year honors will be selected. Fans can vote for the winner on NFL website for the whole month of January. The winner will be broadcasted while the press conference is taking place in South Florida for the Super Bowl XLIV.

Packers 27 Straight Points Rout Lions

The Detroit Lions are used to taking pride in playing on Thanksgiving.  But lately, they feel embarrassed when the national tunes are played while watch them.  Aaron Rodgers matched a career high with three touchdown passes and Charles Woodson got two of his team’s four interceptions that gave the Green Bay Packers the win over Detroit 34-12.  The Lions dropped six straight games on the holiday that set a franchise record to an average of 23.2 points and eight of nine in the game.

The latest defeat was a psychological setback for Detroit (2-9) only days after Matthew Stafford played his biggest comeback win since 1957.  Dominic Raiola the Detroit center said It was a different feeling in the locker room especially on national television to come out loosing.  Before its last loss, Detroit had four straight wins and nine of 12 on Thanksgiving.

The Lions Hopes Smith And Johnson To Play

Jim Schwartz the coach of the Detroit Lions says that he is optimistic that Calvin Johnson the wide receiver and Kevin Smith the running back will be able to play well on Sunday’s game at Seattle.  Johnson was not able to play for Detroit for the past two games because of a sore right knee but was able to practice all week. On the other hand, Smith, who was injured on his shoulder in last weekend’s game against the St. Louis Rams which they lost 17-10 missed the practice last Wednesday but took part in workouts last Thursday and Friday. 

Matthew Stafford the Quarterback was limited in practice this week because of a sore right knee but is anticipated to play versus the Seahawks.  The last time Johnson, Smith and Stafford was able to play together at the same time was during the first half of the game which they won (25-17) against the Washington Redskins on October.

Stafford Not Sure If Doctor Will Check MRI

Matthew Stafford a rookie quarterback of Detroit Lions said he did not know about a report that the test results of his injured right knee were forwarded to Dr. James Andrews for review.  Stafford immediately said after the Lions’ 26-0 loss to the Green Bay Packers this was the first time he heard of any report about Andrews.  The orthopedic surgeon will look at tests on the Matthew’s knee.  Stafford said he had no intensions to see the surgeon in person.  

Stafford said while talking with reporters that he is not worrying that surgery might be needed to repair the knee.  Stafford was not able to play for the second consecutive week since he was injured against the Chicago Bears.  This week, he already missed four of five practices.  Jim Schwartz said that he is not discussing his prognosis, he has a knee injury and he has not played for the last two weeks.

Lions To Bye Or Not To Bye

Calvin Johnson struggled just to walk out of the playing field. The wide receivers left the locker room of the Detroit Lions and walk with difficulty in a hallway and as he went up stairs, could not bend his right knee. What was good for the Lions is that, their most valuable player’s injury is not as bad as it looked like after missing much of the game which they lost last Sunday’s 28-20 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jim Schwartz the Lions coach said Monday that he could not say that Johnson’s injury is serious and said that the team will know the details on Wednesday.

But still Detroit did lose a key player, after listing Eric King, cornerback on season-ending injured reserve because of a left shoulder problem. King got injured on the second quarter against the Steelers. Matthew Stafford Quarterback, was not able to play against Pittsburgh due to a hurting right knee the other week, and Schwartz could not guess on the status of the rookie for this Sunday’s game at Green Bay.

Wait And See For Johnson’s Injury

Calvin Johnson the Detroit Lions wide receiver was limping while he was going off the field after injuring his right knee on last Sunday’s 28-20 loss against Pittsburgh Steelers, but Jim Schwartz their coach is not yet sure of the status of his star player.  Schwartz said that Johnson hurt his knee and he could not return to finish the game.  They tried to put sleeve and brace but to no avail. He just can’t feel comfortable. 

Johnson was all week limited during practice due to a thigh injury.  He tweaked his knee while doing across the end zone in the first quarter. He just pulled up and looked like he was in pain. He went off the field and his knee was treated on the sideline.  Johnson has one touch down, 22 receptions for 325 yards this season.  He left Detroit without two of its top offensive players last Sunday’s game.  And Matthew Staffordas the rookie quarterback was also out due to a knee injury.

Steelers defeat Lions 28-20

The Steelers manage to stop the surge of the Detroit Lions to win 28-20 at Ford Field. The win advances their record to 3-2 and keeps them right on track of the AFC North. The defense permitted a late touchdown, but the final drive was swarming over the Lions quarterback Dante Culpepper, running over him on three consecutive plays to keep them out of the end zone.

Coach Mike Tomlin said they executed the plays in detail. Plays have to be done in detail with good detail great plays happen. Putting together good combinations at the end with great detail and speed plus some good coverage behind and manage to finish the game out. It’s a signature of football winning, great defense and we were able to execute. Roethlisberger completed three touchdowns, 23 passes for 277 yards, rookie Wallace made one, the first of his career. Mendenhall started for the injured Parker and finishing with a touch down and 15 carries for 77 yards.

Pittsburgh (2-2) at Detroit (1-3)

The Pittsburgh Steelers won’t depart with the Vince Lombardi Trophy this time, but their second successive victory and first road win would suffice. Back at Ford Field on Sunday for the first time ever since their Super Bowl victory more than three years ago, the Steelers faces a Detroit Lions team that might be without its starting quarterback. Pittsburgh hasn’t played a road game against the Lions since a 19-16 overtime loss on Nov. 26, 1998, but the Steelers last played at Ford Field on Feb. 5, 2006, when they beat Seattle 21-10 in Super Bowl XL. While the buildup to Sunday’s matchup pales in comparison to that surrounding the Steelers’ last trip to the Motor City, coach Mike Tomlin sees plenty of value in a win over the lowly Lions.

Whoever starts under center for Detroit would be at a major disadvantage if Calvin Johnson can’t play. The third-year receiver was also held out of practice Wednesday after taking a helmet to the thigh in the fourth quarter last weekend. Johnson had season highs with eight catches and 133 yards against Chicago. Steeler’s wide receiver Hines Ward caught eight passes for a season-best 113 yards last Sunday. Ward, the Super Bowl XL MVP, needs 70 receiving yards Sunday to bind with Andre Rison for 30th all-time with 10,205. Pittsburgh has won 10 of its previous 12 meetings with Detroit.

Pittsburgh (-10.5) vs. DETROIT

The ratings favor Pittsburgh by 15 points in this game, but that’s assuming the Steelers play at their normal high level. That’s probably not likely with Pittsburgh coming off 4 consecutive challenging games, who won’t be able to avoid an emotional letdown against the lowly Lions. Pittsburgh is only 5-11-1 ATS as a road favorite ever since 2006, including 2-9-1 ATS after a win and 2-8 ATS against a non-division foe.

Daunte Culpepper gets the start in place of injured rookie Matthew Stafford and that’s likely to mean fewer interceptions (Stafford threw 6 picks in 3 1/2 games). If Pittsburgh doesn’t endure a letdown then they will probably cover the spread, but the Steelers apply to a negative 27-64-3 ATS road favorite letdown situation and Detroit applies to a 90-36-4 ATS blowout bounce-back situation that plays on teams after losing by 20 points or more (there is obviously more to that angle that just that). With the math favoring Pittsburgh and the situation favoring Detroit maybe it is to best avoid this game.

Vince Young: Time to Buy a Fantasy Sleeper?

We’re now four games through the 2009 season, and the Tennessee Titans don’t have a win. After finishing last year with the best record in football, it’s safe to say this season has started as an huge disappointment. While the Titans lost their defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, to the Detroit Lions and the glue of their defensive line, Albert Haynesworth, to Washington as a free agent, the offense has been really poor so far this season. The next two weeks don’t get any easier for the Titans. They’ll host the Colts in Sunday Night Football next weekend before travelling to New England. Based on their year-to-date performance, there’s little reason to think the Titans won’t be 0-6 when they reach their bye week.

Which is why coach Jeff Fischer might strongly consider making a move under center, re-inserting Vince Young as the team’s starting quarterback. Even with Young as QB1, the Titans likely won’t turn things around on a dime. The Colts and Patriots are both playing great football right now, and will be tough to beat, even on Tennessee’s best day. But as an advice to fantasy owners of any player on the Titans offense is to watch the waiver wire for any changes that might be made in Tennessee. If Young becomes the starting quarterback for the Titans, depending on your roster, he might merit a roster spot.

Bears’ Hester Has Shoulder Area Injury

The Chicago Bears keep piling up wins and injuries. Their bye week couldn’t have come in a more perfect timing. Although they’ve won three straight, the Bears could use some recuperation time after Devin Hester became the latest high-profile addition to the injured list with an injury to the shoulder area during Sunday’s 48-24 win over the Detroit Lions. Coach Lovie Smith supposed Hester “should be fine,” but whether he’ll be ready for Atlanta in two weeks remains to be seen. The same goes for backup running back Adrian Peterson (sprained right knee) and receiver Johnny Knox (right shin) after they left Sunday’s game and defensive lineman Israel Idonije, who had what Smith said was “minor” arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Monday.

By the time Hester was gone from the game, the Bears had already lost Peterson, who was to undertake more tests on his knee. Knox followed them to the trainer’s room in the second half after starting the third quarter with a 102-yard return for a touchdown, the second longest on a kickoff in franchise history. As for Idonije, he had been hurting with a knee problem the past few weeks and was questionable for the Lions game. He wound up with a sack and forced a fumble.

Cutler Leads Bears Over Lions

On Sunday, Jay Cutler threw two touchdown passes and ran for one more, and the Bears pulled away in the second half to hammer the Lions 48-24 on Sunday a week after Detroit stopped its 19-game losing streak. Matt Forte rushed for 121 yards and rookie Johnny Knox returned a kickoff for a total of 102 yards and Chicago went into its bye week with 3 straight victories.

The Lions were celebrating a victory over the Redskins that stopped a losing streak that matched the second-longest in NFL history a week earlier. This time, they were stunned and shocked after watching quarterback Matthew Stafford, the first overall draft pick, twisted his right knee while being sacked in the fourth. Adewale Ogunleye sacked Stafford with third down on the Bears 6 and forced Detroit to kick a field goal that cut into Chicago’s lead to 34-24. Stafford was replaced by Daunte Culpepper on Detroit’s next drive, a melancholic sight for a team that has taken its share of sorrows over the years.

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