Lions: Brutal 2nd half

[RashanGary]

Packers (Brutal)
Packers (Brutal)
Saints (Brutal)
Bears (Really tough)
Chargers (tough)
Raiders (tough)
Panthers (average) (Newton is the type who can destroy a good pass rush)
Vikings (stinker)



5-3 looks tough.


Lions finish between 9-7 and 11-5.

[RashanGary]

Ours is really toughl.

Lions (really tough)
Lions (really tough)
Giants (really tough)
Bears (tough)
Raiders (tough)
Bucs (average)
Chiefs (stinker)
Vikings (stinker)


No great QB's though. It's good matchups for us. If we can skate to the playoffs, then get Neal going and the secondary clicking, we might be ready to rumble.

[Upnorth]

Like to see this happen.

[channtheman]

5 of our last 8 are at home, though. I put the Raiders at average and move the Chiefs up to average. If Rodgers continues to not turn the ball over and the defense stays the same, we might lose one or two because of our defense. If our defense improves to average, we could go undefeated. That Lions game on Thanksgiving will finally mean something for each team after so many years of the Lions sucking.

[Joemailman]

If Packers are 14-0 and have homefield wrapped up, will MM keep his starters in against Bears and Lions?

[RashanGary]

If Packers are 14-0 and have homefield wrapped up, will MM keep his starters in against Bears and Lions?

I'd love to see knicked up guys play about half the game down the stretch. Full out not playing doesn't make much sense to me. Wearing guys down doesn't either though.

[channtheman]

If Packers are 14-0 and have homefield wrapped up, will MM keep his starters in against Bears and Lions?

I would be really disappointed if we were 14-0 and lost games on purpose. Play every game.

[hoosier]

If Packers are 14-0 and have homefield wrapped up, will MM keep his starters in against Bears and Lions?

Probably depends on whether he can dagger the Bears's season with a win.

[Joemailman]

Probably depends on whether he can dagger the Bears's season with a win.

That's actually a good point. Could be the opposite situation of last year. Could be the same situation vs. Lions.

[channtheman]

That's actually a good point. Could be the opposite situation of last year. Could be the same situation vs. Lions.

These are good points. You don't want to face division opponents in the playoffs. Weird shit happens in the playoffs.

I'll add to my previous point though. If we are 14-0 we have a first round bye locked up. There is no reason to sit non-injured players for extensive amounts of time. They will get plenty of rest during the bye week. The guys that you would play in a playoff game but could use some extra rest, go ahead and sit them. But, for the love of God do not do what the Colts did when they were 13-0 and dropped 3 straight by pulling all the starters at halftime.

[pbmax]

Strength of Schedule as of last week (prior to Week 9) on Football Outsiders.

Team	PastSchd  Rank	FutureSchd	Rank
NYG 	-8.50%	  31	  13.30%	1
MIA 	6.10%	  6	  10.00%	2
DET 	0.50%	  18	  7.40%		3
SD 	-2.50%	  24	  5.90%		4
MIN 	0.90%	  16	  5.50%		5
DEN 	4.60%	  8	  5.40%		6
NO 	-7.10%	  30	  4.90%		7
TB 	10.60%	  3	  4.60%		8
GB 	-5.40%	  27	  4.50%		9
WAS 	-1.60%	  21	  4.40%		10
NYJ 	-1.40%	  20	  3.90%		11
KC 	-2.00%	  22	  3.20%		13
CAR 	-2.10%	  23	  3.20%		12
IND 	3.20%	  12	  2.00%		14
CIN 	-3.60%	  25	  1.60%		15
BUF 	2.30%	  13	  1.00%		16
CLE 	-9.20%	  32	  0.80%		17
PIT 	-6.20%	  28	  -0.20%	21
CHI 	8.60%	  4	  -0.20%	19
TEN 	-6.30%	  29	  -0.20%	20
STL 	12.10%	  2	  -0.20%	18
PHI 	4.40%	  9	  -0.40%	22
DAL 	3.90%	  10	  -0.50%	23
OAK 	7.10%	  5	  -0.90%	24
NE 	2.20%	  14	  -2.50%	25
ATL 	5.00%	  7	  -3.00%	26
ARI 	0.90%	  17	  -3.10%	27
BAL 	-0.10%	  19	  -3.40%	28
SEA 	3.50%	  11	  -5.20%	29
HOU 	-5.00%	  26	  -7.50%	30
JAC 	12.10%	  1	  -7.80%	31
SF 	2.00%	  15	  -10.60%	32