If there’s a preseason game to watch, it’s the third one.
While the first two games see the starters take the field for far less than 50 percent of the snaps, in the third game, the starters for most teams handle well over half the action.
This could very well mean we get to watch Matt Stafford and co. for nearly three quarters.
Joining Stafford in the backfield in this game will be running back Mikel Leshoure. Leshoure will see the field for the first time in his NFL career Saturday night in Oakland, a much awaited moment for many Lions fans. The game kicks off at 7:00pm on Fox.
Yes, this is still a preseason game, but I’m betting that it won’t feel like one for at least a half of football. Coach Jim Schwartz has listed winning this game as a top priority going into it.
I’m betting that Detroit’s offense goes out and lights up the scoreboard in this one. Stafford and the first team offense should be hitting on all cylinders by now, and any team with Calvin Johnson on it can score points in a hurry.
No disrespect to Oakland, but this is a game in which the Lions should score a bunch. And win.
Suh needs to have a good outing against Oakland, or face questions heading into the regular season
Although the defense was able to hold Baltimore to just 12 points in their last outing, I still have questions that this game will hopefully answer.
Who is the starting corner opposite Chris Houston? It’s between rookie Bill Bentley and veteran Alphonso Smith. Will the real starting corner please stand up?
To continue the Eminem theme, where has Su(h)perman been? This is Ndamukong’s time to make an impact on the game.
Is Willie Young a starter? Better yet: is Kyle Vanden Bosch healthy? I doubt that KVB will play in this game, which gives fast Willie another chance to prove he belongs.
This isn’t a question, but keep an eye on Detroit’s special teams unit. They just signed Kassim Osgood, who has a long track record of solid special teams play.
This is it for Detroit. The fourth preseason game is usually used to decide the final roster spots, not play starters, so this is likely the last we will see of Stafford, Johnson, and the rest.
By the end of tomorrow night’s game, Lions fans will know if their team is ready to face St. Louis in the team’s season opener just two weeks away.
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