| 03 September 2009
Kickoff: Thursday, September 3, 6:30 p.m. EDT
Stadium: Ralph Wilson Stadium
Television: WWJ-TV 62 (CBS)
Play-By-Play: Matt Shepard
Color: Desmond Howard
Sidelines: Charlie Sanders & Steve Courtney
Lions Radio Network Flagship: 97.1 FM The Ticket (WXYT-FM)
Play-By-Play: Dan Miller
Color: Jim Brandstatter
Sidelines: Tony Ortiz
2009 Preseason Records: Lions, 2-1; Bills 1-3
2008 Records: Lions, 0-16; Colts 7-9
What I'm watching: For only one thing. Injuries.
Matthew Stafford is the "beginner" under center, and is expected to get about 25 snaps. The ball will then be placed (not quickly enough, if you ask me) in the journeyman hands of Brooks Bollinger. (Recently signed Pats washout Kevin O'Connell is not scheduled to play) With Daunte Culpepper out for tonight with a mysterious "carpet toe" injury, and Drew "Oft-injured" Stanton out 3-6 weeks after having his right knee scoped, the Lions are suddenly damn thin at the most important position on the field.
If the Lions could somehow send Stafford onto the field wrapped in a cocoon of bubble wrap, goose down pillows, and good intentions, with a protective layer of Kevlar underneath, I'd feel a little better about playing the $45 million rookie tonight. Stafford is the Lions' Faberge Egg, he's too valuable to risk in a nothing matchup. This game means squat.Actually, less then squat, if there is such a thing.
Which is why I'm still scratching my head over Brian VanOchten's column over at Mlive, insisting Stafford could "clinch" the starting job tonight.
A fair performance from No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford in the preseason finale at Buffalo clinches the starting quarterback job. He proved against the Indianapolis Colts last weekend he is fully prepared to start right from the start in the NFL
I'd venture a guess the Bills plan on treating this game as a necessary evil, and are doing the absolute max to avoid risk (Makes sense, as they were unfortunately stuck playing 5 meaningless exhibitions). No one wants to lose a player to a long-term injury (New school Lions fans: See Stewart, James and Garcia, Jeff. Old school Lions fans: See Danielson, Gary. Ancient Lions fans: See Eddy, Nick) in what will likely be a sloppily played game. I'd anticipate Buffalo's scubeenies receiving the vast majority of playing time, and Detroit doing the same.
So to base your starting QB on what's accomplished in the final exhibition game is silly. I'd be just fine with Stafford spending his 25 plays taking a knee (Even the Lions have to practice "Victory formation," right? Hey, it could happen!). For all I care, Bollinger could do the same. That's how God damn meaningless tonight's game is in the big scheme of things.
In fact, I have physical therapy scheduled tonight (A necessary evil, though my surgery riddled back is healing quite nicely, thank you!), so I'll be away from the TV for at least the 1st quarter. I don't think I'll be missing much. Trust me, if this were a meaningful game, of any kind, I would have already rescheduled my appointment.
So grit your teeth, cross your fingers, and hope anyone of regular season value gets though tonight unscathed. (Not that I'm rooting for injuries of ANY kind. But there's a difference between Calvin Johnson getting hurt, and Keary Colbert.)
Prediction: Nothing interesting happens, which is fine by me.
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