Dec

15

Detroit Lions vs San Diego Chargers NFL Week 15 - Preview

Posted by Kevin Mack

December 15, 2007 |


Detroit Lions logoSan Diego Chargers logoDetroit Lions 6-7 vs San Diego Chargers 8-5

Sunday December 16, 2007 @ 4:15
San Diego, California, Qualcomm Stadium
TV Fox with Sam Rosen, Tim Ryan and Chris Myers

  • Detroit Lions face Must Win against San Diego Chargers

Your ‘Lion Eyes’ blogger has been saying for 5 straight weeks that the Lions really needed to win that weeks game to remain in good shape for the NFC playoffs. Now they face a must win game against the San Diego Chargers or it is likely Detroit will be eliminated from the NFC playoff race because of NFL Playoff tiebreaker situations. Detroit’s best hope is to beat the Chargers and have Minnesota and Washington lose. Not too likely but there is always hope. New Orleans or Arizona will lose as they play each other. 

  • Detroit Lions Offense vs San Diego Chargers Defense

Detroit found success running the ball last week in the loss to Dallas with RBs Kevin Jones and T.J. Duckett. San Diego will be missing LB Shawn Merriman so the run stuffing will be left to DT Jamal Williams and LB Stephen Cooper. San Diego had some difficulty stopping Tennessee running the ball last week and Detroit hopes to exploit the NFL’s 19th ranked rushing defense. QB Jon Kitna will pass with the League’s 7th best pass offense getting passes to WRs Shaun McDonald and Calvin Johnson. San Diego leads the league with 22 interceptions with CB Antonio Cromartie having a league high 9. If San Diego can stop the run or if the Lions get behind an abandon the running attack, they will be able to get pressure on Kitna and that usually causes sacks, fumbles and interceptions. San Diego will look to add to their league best 35 takeaways against the Lions. Kitna has been sacked more than any QB in the NFL and San Diego is near the top of the league in getting sacks. Detroit’s offensive line play was much better last week with a 152 yards on the ground and only giving up 1 sack. Detroit has not had trouble moving the ball between the 20s for most of the season, but when they get in the redzone they too many times have to settle for Field Goals.  

  • San Diego Chargers Offense vs Detroit Lions Defense

San Diego with RB LaDainian Tomlinson will look to run the ball against the Lions who have trouble defending the run on the road. San Diego will be missing Tomlinson’s lead blocker FB Lorenzo Neil and the Lions have LB Ernie Sims which will make things more difficult on the ground for LaDainian. If QB Phillip Rivers and TE Antonio Gates are healthy they should have lots of success against the Lions pass defense. The Tampa Two defense the Lions employ seems to leave the TE free as well as RBs out of the back field so Rivers also will be able to get the ball to Tomlinson if needed. Detroit will attempt to get pressure on Rivers from DEs Dewayne White and Jared DeVries.  Rivers will probably have a good day as all QBs the Lions face seem to have their best day of the season against the Lions defense.

  • ‘Lion Eyes’ Blogger’s Thoughts

I just don’t think Detroit has much hope of winning this game. The Lions probably put all their eggs in one basket last weekend to try and upset the Dallas Cowboys. The effort needed to beat the San Diego Chargers on the road most likely will not be present from the Lions after the brutal loss to the Cowboys. Detroit seemed to prove that they can stay in games with Quality NFL opponents with a balanced offensive attack last week. Detroit needs to do the same to be successful against the Chargers. San Diego is banged up a little bit and the Denver Broncos lost already this week so maybe the Lions have a slight chance. This is the NFL and anything can and often does happen. QB Phillip Rivers will just be able to give the ball to RB LaDainian Tomlinson often to keep the chains moving and keep the Lions offense off the field. After the NFL record tying day that TE Jason Witten had last week against the Lions Tampa Two defense, expect more of the same with Rivers throwing to TE Antonio Gates if the Lions slow down Tomlinson. Also Rivers will be able to throw screens and swing passes to Tomlinson as the Lions defense has not been able to handle those plays all season. I can only hope the Lions find a way to upset the Chargers and come back to Ford Field next week to play the Kansas City Chiefs at 7-7 and still an outside chance of the NFC Playoffs. Like I said there is always hope. 

You can go to Charger_girl’s post over at San Diego Chargers to see what her preview has to say about the Lions and Chargers matchup.

  • Las Vegas Odds
    • San Diego is a -10 point Favorite to beat the Lions

Cast Your Vote in This Week’s Poll, Please

Which Team will Win the Game on Sunday December 16, 2007?

  • San Diego Chargers (71%, 15 Votes)
  • Detroit Lions (29%, 6 Votes)

Total Voters: 21

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Injury Report Source: Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions NFL Week 15 IR Logo

Pos. Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday
WR Roy Williams - Out Knee No Practice No Practice No Practice
WR Troy Walters- Out Concussion No Practice No Practice No Practice
S Kenoy Kennedy - Probable Knee No Practice Limited Practice Full Practice
DT Shaun Rogers - Probable Knee No Practice Limited Practice Full Practice
TE Casey Fitzsimmons - Prob Shin No Practice Limited Practice Full Practice

San Diego Chargers NFL Week 15 IR Logo

Pos. Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday
FB Lorenzo Neal - Out Fibula No Practice No Practice No Practice
DE Luis Castillo - Doubtful Ankle No Practice No Practice Limited Prac
TE Antonio Gates - Quest Back No Practice No Practice Limited Prac
LB Shawn Merriman - Out Knee No Practice No Practice No Practice
DT Jamal Williams - Quest Ankle No Practice No Practice Limited Prac
WR Buster Davis - Probable Achilles Not Listed Limited Practice Full Practice
G Mike Goff - Probable Foot No Practice Limited Practice Full Practice
QB Phillip Rivers - Quest Knee No Practice Limited Practice Limited Prac

NFL Injury Report Logo

Reported Status Percent Chance to Play
Probable 75% Chance Player will Play in Game
Questionable 50% Chance Player will Play in Game
Doubtful 25% Chance Player will Play in Game
Out Player will not Play in Game

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