Detroit Lions @ Oakland Raiders: Pregame thoughts

To find out anything Lions, you need to be following the former Detroit News writer now working for the team, Tim Twentyman, on Twitter. He has today's inactives:

Twentyman adds a little more info when giving the Lions' inactive list.

After the roster carnage of the past few weeks, it's refreshing to see the Lions are starting to get somewhat healthy.  After missing much of the secondary, it's 3/4 back, just missing Louis Delmas. But Harris has shown to be a capable replacement. 

Kevin Smith in the backfield is a big addition...as long as he can last longer than the few plays he did against the Saints. Matthew Stafford and the Lions' offense were as potent as they have been all season against the Panthers with Smith finding holes both on the ground in the passing game.

We have proof some things never change...like the Black Hole in Oakland. Proof supplied by, of all people, Jim Schwartz!

The Raiders fan's reaction to the Detroit team bus reminds me what the late, great Don Meredith said about an Oilers fan dlipping him the bird, "They're number one in the nation!" 

Everything is breaking the Lions way this afternnon. The Bears and Gaints are losing late in their respective games. The Lions could find themselves taking control of the wild race, along with Falcons, 2 games up with 2 games to play...if they can knock off the Raiders.

The 13-0  Packers are also losing to the Chiefs. If the Pack goes down to defeat, it wcould make week 17's game at Lambeau Field all but meaningless for Green Bay.

The Lions found themselves in a similar situation when playing the Saints, when it appeared no one wanted to win a wild card...and neither did the Lions. They may have another opportunity, rare in the NFL .

Keep you fingers crossed, knock on wood, whatever it takes...