Tale of the tape
Week 2: Detroit Lions At San Francisco 49ers
| The Lions believe that Matthew Stafford can take them to a new level. He’s got a big, strong arm and excellent touch. If Stafford can stay healthy, the Lions can stay in the chase with Green Bay and Chicago in the NFC North. | Quarterback | Alex Smith outdueled Aaron Rodgers in the opening game of the season, and that’s no small feat for a player who has never had two consecutive good seasons. Smith has excellent mobility and a strong enough arm. He appears to have gotten over the edge and is an accurate enough passer to lead a powerful team. |
|---|---|---|
| The Lions have perhaps the best and most explosive receiver in the NFL in Calvin Johnson. He’s simply unstoppable. Running back Kevin Smith gives the Lions a decent ground game that can complement Johnson and Nate Burleson. | Offense | The ground game is in solid hands with Frank Gore, who will run hard every time is number is called. No disrespect to New England’s Rob Gronkowski, but tight end Vernon Davis may be the best player at his position in the league. |
| The Lions want to intimidate opponents with their strong and talented defensive line. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh can destroy the run and get a push up the middle while defensive end Cliff Avril has speed and explosiveness. The secondary is just ordinary at this point. | Defense | The 49ers may have the most consistent front seven in the league. Defensive coordinator will not let opponents run the ball and Justin Smith may be the most versatile defensive lineman in the league. Linebackers Patrick Willis and Aldon Smith are both sensational players. |
| The Lions continue to trot out Jason Hanson to kick field goals because they know he is dependable. Ben Graham is an ordinary punter and the return game is not special. | Special Teams | If the Philadelphia Eagles don’t regret letting David Akers go a couple of years ago, they should. Akers bombed home a 63-yard field goal against the Packers in Week One. Andy Lee is one of the best punters in the league. |
The winner is
Last year, Jim Schwartz took exception to Jim Harbaugh’s backslap after the 49ers defeated the Lions in Detroit. Schwartz wants this game badly but the Niners appear to be too well-rounded and too tough defensively.
More Tales of the tape
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NCAA Championship Game: #1 Louisville Vs. #4 MichiganRick Pitino has been here before, after making his 7th Final Four appearance, he’s now in his third go-round in the title game. He’s got plenty of experience on the big stage and he has the Cardinals playing high level basketball at the right time.
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Super Bowl Halftime Show Vs. Neil Diamond: Who Takes The Trophy For Better Entertainment?For years, both Neil Diamond and the Super Bowl Halftime show have been giving us, let’s say, mild overproduction (read: glitzy, flashy, and potentially unnecessary). So who’s got the edge between these two cheesy industry mainstays?
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Harbaughs Vs. Baldwins: Which Pair Of Siblings Stand Out?Harbaughs vs. Baldwins? Wow. What a battle! Let’s dig deep to see which pair of brothers has the upper hand.
TV Schedule
| Full Program Grid | |
|---|---|
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| 7:30 PM | omg! Insider |
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| 8:31 PM | Two and a Half Men |
| 9:01 PM | Person of Interest |
| 10:01 PM | Elementary |
| 11:00 PM | KDKA-TV News at 11 |
| 11:35 PM | Late Show with David Letterman |
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