By: Jeremy T. Ballreich
Last season the Carolina Panthers ran for 320 yards rushing on the ground against the 30th rushing defense (this year the Lions boast the number 1 defense vs the run). Basically did to the Lions what the Lions did to the Packers last week in Primetime. To say the members of the team want to exact omniscient is to understate how much this game left a bad taste in their mouth. Ultimately costing the Lions to control their destiny in the Playoffs last season.
The gameplan:
Offensively:
Give their defense a steady diet of the 2 headed monster of Montgomery/Gibbs. Hopefully they work on how Gibbs decides to hit the hole in the NFL. What worked in college doesn’t work here. It’s the main reason Montgomery is so good. Will explain in another article soon! Biggest question coming into this week with health wise, Amon-Ra St. Brown has missed all week due to an abdominal strain. He wants to play. But HC Dan Campbell says it’s a gametime decision. If he makes him sit, I get it. Why make a minor injury worse by playing.
We also get to see recently reinstated Jameson Williams take the field vs. Carolina. They say they will limit his snaps to ease him in. I expect that snap count to at least double if St. Brown cannot play. His speed threat alone should make it so our underneath guys can feast through coverages.
On Defense:
The interior Oline for the Panthers hasn’t looked very good. They haven’t helped their rookie signal caller Bryce Young of Alabama look good either. Pressure is the key to rattling this man. Keep dialing up the pressures we’ve seen the last 2 weeks (2nd year in a row the Lions have lead the league in pressures, also the Lions have amassed 12 sacks in the last 2 games!)
And continue to stop the run. This run defense is starting to get as good as the vaunted 2014-15 Lions who averaged 59.8 yards per game on the ground. This year through 4 games and 3 teams that were running the ball well. They have 60.8 yards per game on the ground against.
Defensively we get to see Emanuel Mosely return to the secondary. Which should help to keep the anemic passing game in check.
I’m looking for the Lions to stomp a mud hole through the Carolina Panthers this week. Never coast through any quarter and keep the pressure on Young to make the offense look broken.
If everything goes right:
CAR 17
DET 38
If it all falls apart:
CAR 21
DET 17
Thanks For Reading!!!
https://youtube.com/@kneecapbitingwithsmokinjer2611?si=0HlVNxdOucg6WWzs
