Team 32: Detroit Lions

www.WeAreTheHecklers.com

The Lions have made NFL History, but the wrong kind. That is what the Detroit Lions fans heard a lot last year, as their team went an unprecedented 0-16. The 76 Buccaneers went 0-14, but it wasn't just losing, but the way the Lions lost. Well, Matt Millen has moved on to ESPN where he will do just fine. He's very similar to Isiah Thomas actually - great athlete, great sportsman, horrible executive. Regardless, the Lions drafted Matthew Stafford out of Georgia with the first overall pick. He brings a renewed life to a city that rides it's Red Wings everywhere, has the Tigers finally back to annual contention, and the Pistons have a recent NBA title.

How does the team look for this year?

Veteran Daunte Culpepper is listed as the starting QB this year. However, we're all just waiting to see how this kid with a monster arm performs. Stafford did not play an incredibly difficult defense during College, but he also didn't play anyone that was that weak. It seems his maturity is another huge piece that the Lions have not had in years - a mature leader. For Lions fans, the face of the franchise was the aforementioned Matt Millen. Maybe Stafford can throw it to one of the many WR's on that roster.

Last year the Lions finished 30th in Offensive YPG
Last year the Lions finished 27th in Points per game
Last year the Lions finished 32nd in Yards allowed per game
Last year the Lions finished 32nd in Points allowed per game, and by a margin of 3 points worse than the Rams.

They didn't really do anything right, but the Lions are renewed with new energy, and a slew of new talent will be brought on. This year? They will march on to 3 wins. One against the Browns (whom they play twice). They will beat the Bengals, and I can see an upset of St. Louis in week 8, right after their bye week.

As we all know, the night is darkest just before dawn. There is nowhere to go but up for the Lions.

- Dave

NFL Preview: Hecklers Rankings. 32 Team breakdown

www.WeAreTheHecklers.com

What is below is the first ever Heckler Ratings. I asked the five main contributors to come up with a preseason ranking, and here is how it shaped up:



With all apologies to the sloppy format, the content leaves us many questions about fan-dom.

A few bulletpoints:

• There are only two teams that were unanimous decisions, the Steelers and the Patriots at 1 and 2 respectively.
• Tom Brady wants to play every game of the preseason. However, it could be a case of Brady just doing what he does - saying "I want to do it all" before his coaches step in and say, "Don't kid."
• The second best team last year - well at least losers of Super Bowl XLIII, are tied with the Bears, but since their variance was lower, they slotted in with the middle spot at 16.
• Despite many saying LT is past his prime, he has had an impressive camp and looks to bounce back from the foot injury that has plagued him recently.
  
• According to NFL.com's fantasy rankings, LT isn't even in the top five. In the top five? Adrian Peterson and Matt Forte. The Bears, as mentioned before, are in the middle of the pack. Yet, word out of Bears camp is that newly acquired QB Jay Cutler has made his receivers look fantastic. Fantasy freaks, look for Greg Olson to make huge plays this year.
• The Lions will be horrible, but the worst ever? Not so much, that was last year.

These are just some quick hits, but with the NFL season starting in about a month, and the Hall of Fame game being this upcoming Sunday. I am proud to announce that over the coming month, We Are The Hecklers will heckle and break down all 32 teams. That's right, every single team will be analyzed. The order will be the reverse order of the Heckler Ratings. Look for the Steelers to be heckled this coming Monday.

- Dave