GAME PREVIEW: LIONS (2-1) vs FALCONS (4-0)

WHEN: Sunday, October 10, 1:00pm
WHERE: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA

2003 STANDINGS: Lions (2-1) - 1st place, NFC North. Falcons (4-0) - 1st place, NFC West.

LIONS LEADERS: Offense - Harrington, 562 passing yards and 6 passing TDs; Kevin Jones, 101 rushing yards; Williams, 17 receptions, 277 receiving yards and 4 receiving TDs. Defense - James Hall, 3.5 sacks; Goodman, Keith Smith and Bracy Walker, 1 INT.

FALCONS LEADERS: Offense - Vick, 605 passing yards and 2 passing TDs; Dunn, 299 rushing yards and 5 rushing TDs; Alge Crumpler, 16 receptions and 250 receiving yards; Crumpler and Justin Griffith, 1 receiving TD. Defense - Kerney, 7 sacks; Aaron Beasley, 2 INTs.

LIONS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense - 82.7 yards per game (28th in NFL); Passing Offense - 178.7 ypg (23rd); Total Offense - 261.3 ypg (29th). Rushing Defense - 99.7 ypg (7th); Passing Defense - 277 ypg (31st); Total Defense - 376.7 ypg (30th).

FALCONS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense - 174 yards per game (1st); Passing Offense - 135.8 ypg (31st); Total Offense - 309.8 ypg (21st). Rushing Defense - 62.8 ypg (2nd); Passing Defense - 247 ypg (27th); Total Defense - 309.8 ypg (10th).

LAST MEETING: Dec. 22, 2002; Falcons, 36-15. At Atlanta, Jay Feely connected on five field goals, one shy of the Falcons record, and Dunn had a career-high 30 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Lions - 1-0 on the road; Falcons - 2-0 at home.

INJURIES: Lions - OUT: LB Boss Bailey (knee); RB Kevin Jones (ankle). DOUBTFUL: CB Andre' Goodman (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: CB Dre' Bly (knee); RB Cory Schlesinger (hamstring). PROBABLE: DE James Hall (hand); DE Robert Porcher (flu). Falcons - OUT: CB DeAngelo Hall (hip). QUESTIONABLE: LB Jamie Duncan (pectoral); CB Jason Webster (knee). PROBABLE: S Cory Hall (back).

GAME PREVIEW:

Lions Travel to Atlanta to Tame the “Vick Experience”

The Detroit Lions (2-1), travel to the Georgia Dome to take on the 4-0 Atlanta Falcons and the Michael Vick experience. Until Dre’ Bly’s status is known, it is hard to tell what tactic Dick Jauron will take to slow down Vick. Vick’s passing game is not what creates concern, although he threw for over 300 yards the last time he played the Lions in 2002. It is his legs that drive defensive coordinators crazy. Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett provide a good inside-outside running game. With the likes of Peerless Price, Dez White and rookie Michael Jenkins to throw to, along with tight end Alge Crumpler, Vick has talented weapons at his disposal. Atlanta has switched over to a version of the west coast offense this year, hoping Vick can pick it up quickly.

The Lions need to jump out aggressively right off the bat on offense and put some quick points on the board. Jones’ injury will have Pinner and Bryson carrying the rock against the Falcons. Atlanta has one of the better defenses against the run. They just have to keep the defense honest, but they will need to do a better job of picking up the blitz. Joey needs to spread the ball around a little more than he has. Roy Williams, Tai Streets, Az Hakim and Stephen Alexander give Joey a great arsenal to work with. Roy Williams needs to play like he has the last few games and Joey needs to do a good job of managing the game.

The Michael Vick marketing machine is what you hear the most about Atlanta, but it is their defense that has them undefeated. The same opportunistic type of play that secured the Lions two wins. If the Falcons have a weakness to exploit, it would be their secondary. Panthers’ quarterback Jake Delhomme was 23 of 38 for 308 yards last week. If Joey duplicates those numbers, the Lions should be in good shape.

Written by: Mark Orlando, Staff Writer