Harry
ASFN Consultant and Senior Writer
It’s always challenging to predict the first game of the season. This year with the offensive secrecy its even more of a challenge. So most of my focus will be on the Lions. Starting with offense, the Lions hope to have a running game. Last season Kerryon Johnson was outstanding until injured. They’ve shielded him in the preseason but they expect a return to prominence. Of course the Cards expected DJ to rebound last season but that doesn’t always happen. Cards’ preseason weakness in this aspect makes this an unknown area. Like most teams if the Lions can’t run they’ll be hard pressed to win. Their passing game will be improved. First round pick Hockenson gives them a weapon at tight end. The Cards historically can’t cover tight ends. If you follow my pre-draft info you already know how I feel about Golladay. I wanted the Cards to get him. He’s a handful. The Cards don’t have a CB that can cover him. Expect frequent safety help unless Swearinger has to always be in run support.
The real hope here is the questionable nature of the Lions’ O-Line. They looked vulnerable in preseason. The Cards will need all the pass rush they can muster. Stafford can be rattled if the Cards can get to him often. I expect the Cards to have to put quite a few points on the board to win, maybe 30+.
Of course I’ve written previously what I expect from the offense, but it’s time for the secrecy to end and to see what the Cards have. The Lions have a weak defense but invested in a good outside rusher in Flowers and a decent inside rusher in Daniels. I don’t expect the O-line to do well against this rush. That means we’ll quickly find out if the Cards’ faith that Murray can elude a rush is well placed. I expect them to roll out Murray if they want to avoid injury. If they try to leave him in the pocket, especially expecting Edmonds to protect him, Murray will be lucky to survive the game. Detroit’s secondary has been vulnerable to normal passing games, if they start seeing 4 or 5 receivers there will be open targets.
It’s a fairly straight forward situation. Outscore them and, of course, you win. I’ll bite. Cards 34-27.
The real hope here is the questionable nature of the Lions’ O-Line. They looked vulnerable in preseason. The Cards will need all the pass rush they can muster. Stafford can be rattled if the Cards can get to him often. I expect the Cards to have to put quite a few points on the board to win, maybe 30+.
Of course I’ve written previously what I expect from the offense, but it’s time for the secrecy to end and to see what the Cards have. The Lions have a weak defense but invested in a good outside rusher in Flowers and a decent inside rusher in Daniels. I don’t expect the O-line to do well against this rush. That means we’ll quickly find out if the Cards’ faith that Murray can elude a rush is well placed. I expect them to roll out Murray if they want to avoid injury. If they try to leave him in the pocket, especially expecting Edmonds to protect him, Murray will be lucky to survive the game. Detroit’s secondary has been vulnerable to normal passing games, if they start seeing 4 or 5 receivers there will be open targets.
It’s a fairly straight forward situation. Outscore them and, of course, you win. I’ll bite. Cards 34-27.
