Every week the Lions Congregation meets to discuss all things Detroit Lions, painful as it my be.

This week Reverend Spielman of The Church of Schwartz asks the bloggers brave enough to watch the Lions on a weekly basis to give our opinions on the futures of Ernie Sims and Jeff Backus, as well as give our prediction for Sunday's Vikings game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Horror/Homer/Hefty/Baggiedome.

My answers are, as always, below. What will other Lions bloggers have to say?  Click on over to The Church of Schwartz to find out!

1. If Ernie Sims is ready to play in the next couple weeks, where do you put him?

This question may be moot, as reports are Sims has a hamstring tear which could take up to 8 weeks to heal. But where do I put Sims when he is ready to contribute to what's almost assured to be a 1-15 season?

At the the end of the year, I put Sims on the trading block.

Till that time, I continue to play him at OLB, but he's sharing time with DeAndre Levy...who is looking more and more like the future for the Lions at the position.  Levy has made more plays this season than Sims has in his entire Detroit career.

Sims will never live up to his high 1st round draft status. He is what he is at this point of his career, and what he isn't is something the Lions desperately need...a big time playmaker. Sims has been nothing more than a middling linebacker with Detroit. Good enough to get playing time, but not good enough to be a star.

The upcoming draft is going to be a solid one, and if Martin Mayhew can get a decent pick for Sims (a 3rd round selection) you jump at it.

With two years left on Sims' deal after the '09 season, it's time to cut bait on another Matt Millen draft pick, and move on.

2. Jeff Backus hasn't been horrific the last week or two. Is there any way he's back with the Lions next season?

Yes, it's quite possible. Even likely.

In order, the Lions' 3 biggest priorities in the draft and free agency will be as follows: Defense, defense and then, even more defense. Meaning the Lions can be competitive with the offense currently in place, including the much derided Backus.

Would I be happy with overpaid and utterly average Backus returning for another season? Not really, but there are much bigger issues the Lions must tackle, including their tackling. The defensive line and backfield are a joke. Even with the sometimes cringe inducing Backus holding down LT, the Lions' offensive line may not be great, but it isn't guffaw inducing.

The Lions will go with Backus for one more season, then we can all have a happy new year when one of Millen's worst long-term contracts finally goes bye-bye at the end of 2010.

3. Is there any possible way the Lions beat the Vikings this week?

No way possible. Hell, no. No chance whatsoever.Not going to happen.

Even in a league known for their "Any given Sunday" mantra, the Lions have no shot at winning in Minnesota. Detroit wins on the road as often as often as William Clay Ford makes a good General Manager hire.

Nothing ever changes for Detroit teams at the Baggiedome, bad things always, and I mean ALWAYS, take place...save for one thing. The Lions won't have a quarterback run out of the back of the end zone in this loss. Hey, it's progress...

Vikings 34 - Lions 17

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