By Mark Halpern
There are games where you can say you can lose and be all right. However, this game is more critical for the Lions because of what it can do for them in the standings.
This week, the Lions take on the Chargers, who have a talented offense, but their Defense needs to close games out for them. The Lions sit 6-2 in this weakened NFC North division, but they don’t have a huge margin of a lead in the division. They are a game and a half ahead of the Vikings, and the Cheese Heads won, so the margin of a lead can change with one game, and a win here puts the Lions 7-2 with the next five games against the Bears twice, the Packers, the Saints and then Denver who all have had subpar seasons and these should be games the Lions should win. Take my statements and put them together. That means the Lions could be 12-2 by Christmas, and what a holiday present for Lions fans.
The Defense has to have a big game because there are plenty of threats on this charged team. Justin Herbert leads this team and has an excellent complement of weapons like Ekeler, Allen, Palmer, and Everett. Shutting Down Ekeler is not easy, as he can hurt you running or receiving the ball, so you have to think Aidan Hutchinson will be busy following him around. Herbert can sling the ball very well, fast, and with distance, so the secondary will have to be at its best, as they will be very active.
The Lions offense needs to do just what they have been doing. Moving the ball on the ground with Gibbs and Montgomery, who will be back this week, gives them some fresh legs. Williams and St. Brown must get open, and Reynolds must play the slot. Of course, rookie Sam Laporta will be targeted early.
The Lions season can go one of two ways. Win, and they have a shot at a true runaway in the division, and if they lose, the closer the division will get.
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