Even with a win, the odds of the Lions making the playoffs have become very long. Still, to be at this point in the season with a shot, has to give some hope.

This week the Lions travel to San Diego to take on the Chargers. The Chargers started the season slowly and heard if from the fans and press. Still, at this point, they are now 8 - 5 and in complete control of the AFC West. Before the season, they were expected to challenge the Patriots and Colts for the AFC crown. After their sluggish start, they were written off, but I think, need to be considered contenders again, though its questionable if anyone will beat the Patriots.

The Lions come into the game riding a five game losing streak. They put up a good fight last week against the Cowboys but handed the game to them. With their impressive 6 - 2 start a distant memory and the playoffs fading fast, one has to wonder if they will be able to get themselves emotionally up for the game. I wondered that last week, but they more than came through in that department.

In the injury department, Chargers QB Philip Rivers practiced this week but is still questionable for the game on Sunday. However, LB Shawne Merriman, FB Lorenzo Neal and DE Luis Castillo will not play this Sunday. For the Lions, Roy Williams will be out again and will be joined on the sidelines this week by Troy Walters who suffered a concussion returning a punt last week. Fitzsimmons, Rogers and Kennedy are all probable for the game. Rogers missed his first practice of the year this week nursing some sore knees.

The Chargers have a potent offense with LaDainian Tomlinson at RB. He will get his yards. The big question mark for them has been the play of QB Rivers. It has been erratic. The Lions defense needs to keep the pressure on him (or his backup Volek). They need to try to rattle him and force him to make quick decisions. The defensive line has to step up take away the pass. I would like to see a bit more blitzing this week than is normal for the Lions. The Chargers run to set up the pass. We have to make the passing game not work for them. I say don’t load up and stop LT. Let him get a few yards, just make sure you stop the passing game. I hope the Lions use Greg Blue some more this week. He was electrifying last week.

On the offensive side, the Lions need to run the ball. Not run the ball to extremes, but have success. They don’t necessarily need another 164 yards rushing, but a 100 would be nice - enough to keep the attack balanced. I think we need to exploit the Jones / Duckett one-two punch. A balanced attack will give Kitna time to pass and be effective. When he has been hurried, he has made mistakes. Woody at right tackle has been a great find. He has done a good job protecting Kitna and opening up holes for the runners.

Another year long weak spot for the Lions has been special teams - at least the kickoff and punt coverages. We have a big zero in the return game too. I liked seeing Furrey dropping back to return punts after Walters got hurt. I hope he gets the job this week. We can’t afford to pooch kickoffs against the Chargers or any other team. We end up giving up way too much field position. I hope Coach Rod gave the specials a good talking to after last week. Sure, a little late, but maybe it can pay dividends late in the season.

I think the Lions manage to keep the game close this week. I think they stay close enough to perhaps win it. But, in the end, I think the defensive line fails to show up and we struggle to stop the Chargers. My shred of hope is that Rogers has been verbally abused in the press this week about his completely ineffective play, which he acknowledges. Sports Illustrated writwe Don Banks published his All-Bust Team for 2007 and Rogers was the only Lion to make the list. I can only hope that spurs him to have a career type game, but I won’t hold my breath.

In the end, I am picking the Chargers over the Lions by a score of 30 - 27. Go Lions - prove me wrong!