JoeyBlueSkies

I am not a big Kerby fan. I don't like his game as a DB. Nonetheless, a dirty play is what #97 on the Vikings did to Amon-Ra St. Brown. He is a 300+ lb DL who kneeled repeatedly and intentionally on the chest of the receiver when he was on the ground. Maybe trying to break a rib. ARSB had to take himself out of the game and kept clutching his side. THAT is a dirty play. I might be lonely in this, but part of the beauty of football is the risk and brutality. As long as the hit is legal, I am ok with it. And so are many of the players. Much of the complaints about the hits are from fans whose teams lost the game. Many of Kerby's defenders online are retired defensive players who have nothing to do with the Lions franchise.

Lions play hard. No apologies for legal hits. As many former players have said on Twitter, the rules now necessitate DBs hitting guys low. Too many bad QBs throw hospital balls. Goff threw a hospital ball in his first game as a Lion and ended Tyrell William's career in San Francisco. Stafford has been throwing hospital balls since Georgia. Note, Calvin Johnson retired in his prime because his body was wrecked from playing with Stafford. Tom Brady has talked about how QBs have to protect their pass catchers with where they throw. I understand fans of teams that take these hits being mad. That doesn't change that the hit is legal and therefore not dirty. If you don't want to get hurt, stay away from the middle of the field. Like when Steve Atwater and Ronnie Lott played the game.

A little history. In the 50s (before the merger) the Lions and Browns often battled it out for the NFL Championship. The Lions' last title was in 1957 against the Browns. To get to the title game, my Lions had to travel to San Francisco to win the Conference, where they beat the Browns. As we all know, the Browns franchise became the Ravens when Art Modell moved the team. The Browns moved to Baltimore which was previously abandoned by the Colts, who moved to Indianapolis. That year, in the Western Conference the Colts, Niners, and Lions were all 7-4 in the regular season. Add in the Eastern Conference champion Browns, and these 4 franchises have a lot of ancient history with each other.

I voted for the Chiefs vs. the Lions. I am very amused to see how little fanfare there is for the Niners. I spend time on their SB Nation blog, where the Super Bowl victory has already happened ...😂

Do we get a game thread for the Conference Championship games?

The Vikings are my favorite NFC North team after the Lions. I want good things for you guys. Just remember, there are no shortcuts. A year of pain to clean up the books and get the roster younger is a good way forward. Teams that make compromises in the present to stay "competitive" end up with a low ceiling.

Goff has been very good against the blitz this year. When our entire OL was healthy, we tended to do very well. We did ok with Flores' blitzes twice this season.

I couldn't decide who I wanted my Lions to play. By kickoff, I was thinking GB. Then during the game, I kept going back and forth, mostly because Goff doesn't tend to play well outside. Now, if we win tomorrow, I am ready to go to Santa Clara and run the ball at the Niners front, which is not as good as it is rated against the run, in my opinion.

You're a good person and my new best online friend. ☺️

After decades of misery, I like to think we're entertaining to watch and easy to root for.

Ravens are scary. My Lions played them and it was over in the first quarter. A high-level running QB like Lamar puts the defense in so much conflict. I want to play him at Ford Field though. That crowd noise may help equalize things.

The Vikings under Flores have a pretty sweet blitz scheme working for them this season. We handled that reasonably well. We were missing Gibbs in Tampa and Montgomery went down. Goff sliced and diced Bowles' defense that day under the Bucs' blitz. Now, the Bucs are better. We're better too. Montgomery is back. Gibbs is established. We have a full offensive line that we didn't have in Tampa, and we've added Branch and CJ Gardner-Johnson back on defense, and Melifonwu has become an elite safety over the last 6 weeks. If the Ford Field crowd comes alive, it's going to be very difficult for the Bucs to get plays in from the huddle. Baker is not Stafford. Should be a great game, and I will be tremendously disappointed if my Lions should lose.

Back in the day, many kickers kicked barefoot. I'm a Lions fan. I don't think the Bucs can stop us if they aren't hitting Goff. If they can hit Goff, he will be inaccurate and turn the ball over. But if he is clean, the Lions should win easily.

What a great weekend loading. Bills/Chiefs I love outdoor winter games. I can still remember Chiefs kicker Nick Lowry barefoot kicking field goals in Arrowhead in the 90s. Ravens/Texans Imagine Stroud knocking off Lamar in the playoffs ... Niners/Packers Niners own the Packers in recent playoffs but LaFleur has that offense humming right now. Lions/Bucs Can Bowles stop the Lions' rushing attack?

Thank you, friend.