Merry Christmas to all! What a wonderful time of year to spend time with friends and family, and watching the Lions. Last week was better than I think we all expected as the Lions played the Cardinals tough the second half of the game, unfortunately they didn’t show up for the first half. Still a loss is a loss, and with that lossthe Lions took command of the second pick of the 2010 draft.

This week they take on a reeling San Francisco 49ers club who is in need of win.  If this game were in Detroit I might  expect a post Christmas miracle and see a Lions win.  However, this is the lions who have lost 18 straight games on the road, and historically have never played well in San Francisco. The lone bright spot this week was that Coach Schwartz named Drew Stanton starter for Sunday, which increases the Lions chance of playing well, not necessarily winning but being competitive.  The running game took a step forward last week and I think they will play well this week as well. Calvin Johnson should have a good day against the 49ers secondary. The question as it has been for the past 8 years, the last 2 in particular is can the Lion defense stop Alex Smith and Frank Gore, this will be the key to victory, and if the Lions were not so late in the season, and had a healthy Stafford and Defensive Line I could see the Leos pulling the upset.  This will be a good game and will come to down to the final minutes of  the fourth quarter with either team pulling out a victory in the end.  Go Lions.

49ers 24  Lions 20

With the Arizona Cardinals set to invade Ford Field on Sunday, the outcome looks rather bleak for this much beleaguered Lions team. First of all the Cardinals are a good team battling not just for a playoff spot but, hoping to clinch the NFC West.  Second and most disturbing is the Cardinals have one of the strongest passing games in the league, and well the Lions have a pass defense that is beyond bad, in fact their terrible. This is compounded by the fact that Lions have no pass rush, which allows quarterbacks so much time in the pocket, that a few quarterbacks have been seen texting while they wait for their receivers to get open. Kurt Warner should have a field day on Sunday as he picks apart a defense that has allowed more passing touchdowns then any other defense in the league, Fantasy buffs are licking their chops for Sunday Afternoon.

On the offensive side of the ball well the Lion have . . . a banged up Calvin Johnson (who will be double teamed all day), and that is about it.  Daunte Culpepper did an outstanding job last weekend proving why he is the backup on this team as in the two starts he has had this year the Lions have scored a whopping 3 points.  Drew Stanton should have a good chance at getting a shot at playing for a roster spot next year if this game gets out of hand early.  Maurice Morris will get the bulk of the carries at running back and since he is a career backup the running game will probably be non-existent. Aaron Brown will get a couple touches at running back, but with his lack of size, and recent mental mistakes the running game will be hard to find on Sunday.  At receiver Calvin Johnson is the only threat the Lions have to make a play, and Brian Johnson and Dennis Northcutt have been MIA since week 1 will struggle to find open spots against a very good Arizona Defense.

This game could get ugly fast, but the Lions have been playing moderately tough at home this year and with Arizona coming off a bad loss last week this could be a game that a “healthy”  Lions team might be able to sneak out a victory, but with an amazing lack of talent on this team , and the Cardinals playing for a postseason spot, expect a double digit loss Sunday.

Cardinals 38   Lions 13