Early Vegas Line: Lions favored by 2

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by irish

The point spread isnt designed to predict who wins by how many, its designed to even out the betting action on both teams.

Michael Wilbon always points this out on PTI & it's worth repeating. I think the line makes sense, most conservative gamblers would take the skins w/this spread.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by irish

The point spread isnt designed to predict who wins by how many, its designed to even out the betting action on both teams.

Right, and it's got nothing to do with respect, or a team getting dissed.

[Jontrem]

Bye week matters more I think if you have an elite coach and Jim Swartz isnt one of those at this point. I do however worry about this game especially Calvin Johnson having a huge game. I think Shanahan makes little Shanny pound the ball down the Lions throats, and torain has a big game and we win 27-17.

[rbanerjee23]

I'm not surprised -- there's a lot of playmakers on that Detroit Lions team and there hasn't been one game, IMO, that we should have won all season with the exception of the Houston game. Every one has been the other team losing, not us winning -- we should prepare for this game like we're going to play a division rival.

[Jontrem]

Originally Posted by rbanerjee23

I'm not surprised -- there's a lot of playmakers on that Detroit Lions team and there hasn't been one game, IMO, that we should have won all season with the exception of the Houston game. Every one has been the other team losing, not us winning -- we should prepare for this game like we're going to play a division rival.

Excellent point but wins are wins so I'm fine with this season so far!

[MTK]

Originally Posted by rbanerjee23

I'm not surprised -- there's a lot of playmakers on that Detroit Lions team and there hasn't been one game, IMO, that we should have won all season with the exception of the Houston game. Every one has been the other team losing, not us winning -- we should prepare for this game like we're going to play a division rival.

I really get tired of this take. Teams win or lose each week, it's that simple. There's no style points given for blowouts, and none taken away for close wins. You are what your record says you are.

[Gtothearry]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

I really get tired of this take. Teams win or lose each week, it's that simple. There's no style points given for blowouts, and none taken away for close wins. You are what your record says you are.

I agree and im tired of hearing how we have been given 4 games this year. We won and the other team didn't. Outside of the Rams Loss u could say we should've won against the Colts and Texans as well. If other teams are that good they shouldn't be giving us games. U win or u lose plain and simple.

[Chico23231]

^I with you Matty. I think its hilarious no one wants to give our defense or Haslett credit. Our D is making the others teams Offense look like sh*t. Our offense is a work in progress, no doubt, and dont just point to the defensive stats of yards allowed, its misleading. The talent of this football team lies on the defense...for the last ten years it has.

[MTK]

You don't have to apologize for winning games in this league.

[irish]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

You don't have to apologize for winning games in this league.

I agree, style points are for college games not the pros. Win by 1 or 100 it doesnt matter, its a win.

[freddyg12]

For years it seemed we were always counting up the near wins; 'if only we'd hit that FG, if only that bad call was challenged,' etc. This was the story w/Zorn & Gibbs II, and Spurrier to some degree. Even Norvelle said that if he'd had a good kicker he'd have won a lot more games in DC (he didn't mention cutting Akers).

Now that we're winning some close games & winning when some aspects of the team perform poorly, we should be happy. We're in this thing, even though this team has pretty noticeable deficiencies. I chalk it up to good coaching.

I was listening to Coughlin last night & thinking about the success he's had in NY. Shanny is on a parallel track, a disciplinarian, long-time afc coach that's re-established himself in the nfc east.

[Defensewins]

Don't care who is favored....but McNabb better button his chin strap cause the Detroit D-line is for real. Our offensive line has a long day in fornt of them.
You ever notice how McNabb has a routine or superstition about waiting until the last possible moment after the huddle breaks to button his helmet? I sometimes worry he is going to forget. Drives me nuts. Plus, I would rather him concentrate on reading the defense then looking to button his helmet. I am weird.

[KLHJ2]

I have no real expectations for this game however, I love it when the Skins are the underdogs because they play better. Just give me an entertaining game for a change.

[Gtothearry]

Strange but I always think that he is going to forget to snap the chin strap in place also.

[MTK]

A lot of QBs don't buckle their chin strip until they step up to the line, or put in a mouth piece if they use one. It's easier to communicate the play in the huddle without those things.

Kinda odd that some fans stress about that.