LIONS TRAP?

     The Giants (3-2) host the 1-4 Detroit Lions Sunday at the New GIANTS Stadium.  The Lions are 0-23 on the road the past three years.  This would normally be a danger game, an easy opponent to overlook.  This week should be different however.  The Lions won their first game only last week, showing a potent offense, and an opportunistic defense.  They also have lost to Chicago 19-14, Philly 35-32, and Green Bay 28-26.  This is not a bad team, it is an unlucky, young team with a lot of talent, that hasn't learned how to win. You don't get top ten picks in ten drafts and not get some talent on your team, even if their were some mistakes and injuries factored in.  They had the ball last possession against Chicago and had a TD called back.  They had the ball last possession against Philly, after recovering an onside kick, and threw 4 incomplete passes.  They have come from behind in every game, and have come up just short until last week.
     Tom Coughlin should be able to show enough film, recap the stats, and show enough highlights of this team to keep the GIANTS motivated.  They know the talent level is there, it's just a matter of imposing your will on this team, and keeping the pressure on for the entire game.  Get them down early, and keep working.
     The defense should continue it's growth this week.  Keith Bullock might be back available for the defensive rotation, but it will be the Michael Boley , Gerris Wilkinson show at linebacker most of the day.  The Lions have an explosive running back in Jahvid Best.  Best is best when catching the ball out of the backfield over the middle and on screens.  We will need the quickness of our defense to contain him.  Also the Lions have potentially the best receiver in the game in Calvin Johnson.  Every week he can be seen winning a jump ball over cornerbacks, mainly for touchdowns.  The Giants will have to continue the pass rush they have shown in past weeks, and shorten the field for the Lions offense.
     The offense will have to contend with a very good pass rush again this week.  This time the pressure comes mainly up the middle, and the linebackers are not much of a factor.  Look for many screens, to the WR's as well as Bradshaw and Boss.  The Lions secondary is their most glaring weakness, and again if the run is successful, and the O-Line stands up, look for Eli to have another big day.
     The penalties need to continue to diminish, the turnovers to disappear completely, and the dominant Defense must be so for 60 minutes this week.  The Lions should never be in this game.....but they have been in almost all so far, up to their last possession.

GIANTS favored by 10....no lock here

Enjoy!  Cowboy week next week