Pregame thoughts: Steelers @ Lions - He's in, or he's out, no in-between

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Written by Al Beaton

Saturday, 10 October 2009 23:10

GAME INFORMATION

Kickoﬀ: Sunday, October 11, 1 p.m. EDT
Stadium: Ford Field
Television: WWJ-TV 62 - CBS (Yes, it's one of those games. AFC team visits an NFC team, visitors network gets the broadcast. I just know I'll tune in first to FOX, then wonder for a split sec just where in the Hell is the game?)
Play-By-Play: Dick "Oh my!" Enberg
Color: Dan Fouts
Lions Radio Network Flagship: 97.1 FM The Ticket - WXYT-FM
Play-By-Play: Dan Miller
Color: Jim Brandstatter (Does Brandstatter ever sleep on a football weekend? As I type this, he's still in Iowa after calling the Wolverines' loss to the Hawkeyes. Yet he has to be in downtown Detroit, at Ford Field, early in the AM? Damn...)
Sidelines: Tony Ortiz
2009 Records: Lions, 1-3; Steelers 2-2
Last week: Steelers 38 - Chargers 28, Bears 48 - Lions 24
Point spread: Pittsburgh -10.5, over/under 44 points

What I'm watching: Who's at quarterback for the Lions. As I write this post, we still have no idea.

This season is all about 2010 and beyond. Which mean 2009 is all about developing Matthew Stafford into a legitimate NFL quarterback. Missing games is the last thing the bonus baby, or the Lions, need. Stafford cannot afford to miss ANY playing time.

The second to last thing the Lions need is even a hint of a quarterback controversy. If Daunte Culepper plays, and plays well, we might hear calls from the sports talk radio peanut gallery for the formerly obese, now pleasantly plump, former Viking/Dolphin/Raider/couch potato to take over for Stafford. I sure as Hell hope not, as Culpepper is gone the moment the season ends. He's not stupid, even if signing with the Lions was...

Culpepper is quite aware Stafford is the QB of the present, and the future. There's no reason to play the big boned one, save for an injury severe enough to miss games...and we're not sure if Stafford's temporarily dislocated kneecap is that severe. As The Schwartz is playing coy with his star rookie's knee injury, claiming his starting QB will be a "game time decision," we won't know Stafford's status until we find out Detroit's inactive list late Sunday morning.

If we see Drew Stanton isn't listed as inactive/emergency QB, then Stafford is out. Because if Stafford's knee is in good enough shape to allow him to be number 2 on the depth chart, then he's in good enough shape to start.

Either Stafford starts, or he sits. He's in, or he's out. There's no in-between.

Prediction: Ford Field is going to look like the Super Bowl of a few years ago. Downtown Detroit is going to be invaded by lovers of the Terrible Towel. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Ford Field turns into Steel City west, with at least half of the crowd Pittsburgh fanatics. It'll be a virtual road game for the Lions. Some home field advantage, huh?

Doesn't matter who starts under center for Detroit. The Steelers toy with the Lions like a cat toys with a mouse...before kitty snaps it's neck in half. On Sunday, the kitty is the one biting the dust.

It's going to be another long afternoon for Lions fans...what's left of us, anyway.

Steelers 35 - Lions 17.