Falcons at Lions
THE STORY: The last time the Detroit Lions faced the Atlanta Falcons, their season-opening 34-21 loss was a precursor to the NFL’s first 0-16 season. The Falcons won’t recognize these Lions, who have just as much fight in them as their coach. One week after Jim Schwartz’s postgame dust-up with San Francisco’s Jim Harbaugh dominated the headlines, the Lions hope to rebound from their first loss in 10 games – dating to last season – against the visiting Falcons on Sunday. Meanwhile, Atlanta, which has had an uneven start, is coming off a much-needed 31-17 win over Carolina.
TV: FOX, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Detroit -3.5, O/U 47
ABOUT THE LIONS (5-1): Detroit’s strong start has overshadowed the fact that it has struggled to run the ball (25th, 90.8 ypg). Detroit rushed for just 66 yards in the 25-19 loss to San Francisco, which forced Matthew Stafford to throw 50 passes. There is concern over the health of RB Jahvid Best, who suffered his second concussion of the season. If Best can’t play, Maurice Morris will likely split time with Keiland Williams after Tuesday's trade for Philadelphia’s Ronnie Brown was voided. Detroit is ranked seventh in scoring defense (19.0 ppg), but the Lions were gashed for 203 yards on the ground by San Francisco.
ABOUT THE FALCONS (3-3): The Falcons rediscovered their offensive identity last week, rushing for a season-high 166 yards and three scores. Michael Turner (139 yards, 2 TDs) recorded his third 100-yard game of the season. QB Matt Ryan entered the game having attempted the third-most passes in the NFL (196), but he threw just 22 times on Sunday. Star rookie WR Julio Jones is questionable to return from a hamstring injury that caused him to miss last week’s game. Jones is second among all first-year receivers with 25 catches. Atlanta’s pass defense is ranked 27th in the league (282.8 ypg). One matchup nightmare is 6-foot-5 Lions WR Calvin Johnson vs. the Falcons’ cornerbacks, none of whom are taller than 6 feet.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Ryan threw a touchdown on his first career pass in the 2008 win over the Lions, while Turner rushed for a team record 220 yards in his Falcons’ debut.
2. Visiting teams have committed 14 false start penalties against Detroit the last two weeks, tying the record for the most by road teams in back-to-back games since 1991.
3. The Lions’ attempted trade of RB Jerome Harrison for Brown was voided due to Harrison’s health issues. ESPN reported that a brain tumor was discovered during Harrison’s physical.