The bye week came at a good time for Detroit’s banged up players. The week off gave more time to heal for Calvin Johnson, Matthew Stafford, Larry Foote, Daunte Culpepper and a host of other Lions players. Who does what in practice over the next few days will be an indication of who will be suiting up and who will be riding the pine next Sunday.

It’s an important period for Detroit. Coming off a scoreless drubbing against the Packers, the Lions are entering the “softer” part of their schedule. Three of their next four games come against teams that are also struggling: the Rams, Seahawks and Browns. It is fairly obvious that the Lions still do not have the talent to compete with the elite teams in the NFL. Therefore, they need to show that they are at least on par with or better than the basement dwellers to indicate that the Lions are finally on the path toward redemption.

Similarly, the Rams are still looking for their first win on the season, and Detroit looks like about as good a shot as they will get. They will still be recovering from the butt-whooping the Colts laid on them in Week 7. The Lions would do well not to underestimate St. Louis’s desire for some redemption.


Keys to the Game:

Stafford, Culpepper or Stanton?

Coach Schwartz has been maddeningly terse on injury discussions, and he is even quieter with such questions about his hotshot rookie quarterback. If Stafford can play, he gives the Detroit passing attack a much needed boost. If Stafford is a scratch, Culpepper’s performance against the Packers didn’t win him many fans. Starting Stanton would not only give the Lions another opportunity to evaluate him, it would also give them a better chance to win.

Stopping Stephen Jackson

Even in a blowout, Stephen Jackson managed over 100 yards against the Colts this past week. The good news: Coach Schwartz’s commitment to stop the run has paid off by forcing teams to beat Detroit through the air this year. The bad news: they have. Nonetheless, if the Lions can’t contain Stephen Jackson next week, whether on the ground or through screen and flare passes, their chances to win will be dismal.

Pound the Rock

Although the Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis is having a good rookie season, he’s still a rookie. The rest of the Rams front seven consist of young players or old castoffs (sound familiar?) including former Lions James Hall and Paris Lenon. The Lions should be able to successfully run the ball against the Rams, which would take a lot of pressure off whoever happens to be lining up behind center. The Rams young linebackers should also be vulnerable to delayed handoffs, screens, and passes to the tight end.