| 27 December 2009
Note from Al: I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. I know I did, even though it was exhausting! But so much for the holiday feel-goods, as vacation time is over at TWFE HQ! It's Sunday and the Lions are playing. As always, I expect the Leos to harsh my mellow.
Kickoff: Sunday, December 27, 4:05 p.m. ET
Stadium: Candlestick Park, San Francisco
Television: FOX
Play-By-Play: Dick Stockton
Color: Charles Davis
Lions Radio Network: 97.1 FM The Ticket (WXYT-FM)
Play-By-Play: Dan Miller
Color: Jim Brandstatter
Sidelines: Tony Ortiz
2009 Records: Lions, 2-12 - 49ers, 6-8
Last meeting: 49ers 31 - Lions 13 (9/21/08)
Series: Lions 26 - 49ers 33 - 1 Ties
Lions' record in SF: 10-20-1
Line: 49ers -14, over/under 41
Semi-interesting factoids:
Straight from Lions PR: The Lions defense allowed 33-percent (4-12) third-down efficiency against the Cardinals compared with 46-percent (6-13) at Baltimore a week ago. The Lions allowed 340 yards of total offense to the Cardinals compared with 548 at Baltimore. The Lions forced three turnovers against the Cardinals, which resulted in seven points compared with one turnover at Baltimore, which resulted in zero points.
Straight from 49ers PR: RB Frank Gore is on the verge of setting several team records. Needs 1 more 100-yard game to tie RB Joe Perry (20) for the most in 49ers history. Currently ranks 2nd on the list with 19. Needs 58 rushing yds to record his 4th consecutive 1,000-yd rushing season. He set a franchise record with three straight 1,000-yd rushing seasons (2006-08). Ranks 7th in team history with 7,108 yds. from scrimmage in his career. Needs 32 yds to surpass RB Garrison Hearst (7,139) for 6th on the list.
Injury Reports:
Just the stats, please:
What I'm watching: Who else but Drew Stanton?
Could Stanton have the same sort of NFL debut as another Lions' QB of almost 3 decades ago? Could Stanton duplicate the coming out party of Eric Hipple, who accounted for 6 touchdowns (4 passing, 2 running) in his 1st NFL start?
Of course not!
Hipples' first start was one of those once in a lifetime, planets perfectly aligned, freak of nature events, never to happen again. I remember thinking after Hipple single-handedly destroyed Chicago at the Silverdome the Lions had FINALLY replaced Bobby Layne.
Well, it wasn't to be. As we all know Hipple had an OK career in Detroit, but was not Layne personified. Hell, he wasn't even Greg Landry personified. Hipple never again played as well as he did against the Bears on Monday Night Football.
Even if Stanton doesn't come out of the box like Hipple, it is possible Sparty's finest plays adequately. Actually, it's all I'm hoping for. The kid was been screwed over royally by the morons of the previous regime, and has the mark of Millen and Marinelli all over him. Stanton needs to show he is more than just another blown draft pick.
If Stanton can prove over the next 2 Sundays he can, at the very least, be an acceptable NFL backup, the Lions will have one less thing to worry about in the coming off season.
That's not too much to ask, is it?
Prediction: The Niners are far from being a juggernaut, and are a very beatable team. But they have one thing going for them...the Niners are playing at the 'Stick. As we know all too well, the Lions NEVER win on the left coast.
The quest for Ndamukong Suh remains alive!
49ers 24 - Lions 14.
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