SLR Predictions: San Diego Chargers at Detroit Lions
By Zac Snyder
Zach Berridge: Over the past four or five weeks, this game against the Chargers has become progressively scarier. The offense everyone expected them to have is finally making excellent defenses like the Ravens look silly. I can’t even consider the fact that the Lions are going to “want it more” because San Diego’s in the same spot. Phillip Rivers will likely tear Detroit’s secondary apart, so it’s going to come down to the front seven stopping Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert if they want a shot. It should be close and if history repeats itself, San Diego should implode in its last two games and we’ll all be asking yet again why Norv Turner still has a job. Lions 41, Chargers 35
Mike Olsen: The streaking chargers come into ford Field on Christmas Eve boasting a lethal aerial attack, and a stout pass defense. While the atmosphere will be hostile, and the Lions will be motivated, the Chargers provide difficult matchups for Detroit, especially with the injuries in the Lion secondary. The absence of Louis Delmas will allow Antonio Gates to run wild, and the possibility of John Wendling playing at safety has to be making both Rivers and Vincent Jackson salivate. The only hope for Detroit to lock up a wildcard spot on Saturday is for the offense to match the Chargers offensively in a shootout, or for the pressure up front to force Rivers to turn the ball over. The injuries in the secondary may be too much to overcome. San Diego Chargers 31, Detroit Lions 24
Chris Czar: This is a tough game to pick. I have a feeling the Lions will have to wait another week to clinch. The Lions defense has been awful lately and that’s not a good sign when you’re playing Phillip Rivers in December. Despite a solid effort by Matt Stafford and the offense, the defense fails to generate pressure and the Lions lose a heartbreaker. Chargers 38, Lions 35
Marty Medvedik: Did i read that right, that San Diego is an incredible 20-2 since 2006 in games in the month of December? Well the Detroit Lions have started a little December tradition of their own by going 6-1 in the last 2 years. Matthew Stafford is going to have to out duel Philip Rivers to win the game. This game means a lot to both teams and I hope the fans can be the difference. It’s that tight. This is when legends are born. Detroit Lions 35, San Diego Chargers 33
Zac Snyder: If it was possible to figure out the San Diego Chargers then they’d probably be able to avoid their annual early season troubles. Once again this year they are making a late season push to erase the memory of a mid-season swoon that threatened Norv Turner’s job and the Chargers’ playoff hopes. This game would be about the Chargers in years past but this is 2011 and the Lions have something to fight for. If there is anything to be said for these Lions it is that they have fight. Matthew Stafford is rolling, Kevin Smith is healing and the Lions clinch their first playoff berth since 1999. Lions 33, Chargers 27
Nate VanNorwick: This will be the game that seperates the men from the boys, the believers from the unbelievers, the pessimists from the optimists, the Bob Wojonowskis from the Drew Sharps. Do we dare believe in our Lions, or do we go with history? Fold our hopes, or raise our expectations?
Me, I am pushing all my chips to the middle of the table and calling. I am putting my faith in Stafford and Suh and Megatron to not let this team lose. The home field will be rocking, and San Diego is due for a letdown. I am calling it Lions 27, Chargers 24
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