They are both the envy and bane of folks in other NFL outposts who have already fallen upon tough times in this young season. For the Lions (5-0) and the 49ers (4-1) are equal parts inspiration and frustration for those who can only wish their teams had jumped from the gate like Detroit and San Francisco.
The inspirational side says if the Lions and 49ers can rise from the nonplayoff ashes then anybody can. The frustration side says if the Lions and the 49ers can turn it around, at least in the early going, then why can’t (insert losing record team of your choice here).
Detroit and San Francisco will play a sort of “Hey, Look At Us Bowl” today. The Lions are only a handful of years removed from a winless season and haven’t been to the playoffs since 1999.
The 49ers’ glory days have faded plenty and they haven’t been to the postseason since 2002. Yet, first-year coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t bench Alex Smith, he made him a better quarterback — Smith has just one interception in 126 attempts.
So even some of the teams the hard-nosed Lions and 49ers have bullied in the early going can take heart; There really is always next year.
Must-see game of the week
49ers at Lions 11 a.m., KDVR-31
The skinny: The 49ers have won the past seven meetings between these two teams, but the two haven’t played on the Lions’ home field since 2006. With the Lions’ resurgence, Ford Field is taking on the personality of a brutal place to play. The Lions already have a hard-charging defensive front, and the crowd noise poses a significant problem for opposing offenses. The Bears were flagged for nine false start penalties this past Monday night — three in the first five minutes of the game.
The difference will be: If the new-and-improved Smith can maintain his composure in the 49ers’ offense. Coach Jim Harbaugh knows his defense is solid and running back Frank Gore can pound the ball, so he has had Ales Smith running a short, controlled passing game that has limited mistakes and kept the 49ers moving the chains. The Lions attack all the time and their own big-play offense puts the pressure on people and forces mistakes. The 49ers and Lions are each tied — with four — for fewest giveaways this season.
The call: Lions 23-16
Catch them if you can
Bills at Giants 11 a.m., KCNC-4
Somewhat lost in the exploits of the Bills’ high-scoring offense, is a defense that leads the NFL with 12 interceptions, including three consecutive games with an interception return for a touchdown. Giants QB Eli Manning is coming off a three-interception game in the loss to Seattle last week. The Bills have forced plenty of folks into pass-first mode and have scored at least 30 points in four of their five games this season.
The call: Giants 31-30
Texans at Ravens 2:05 p.m.
This is exactly the kind of game the Texans haven’t won enough of in recent seasons to fulfill any playoff potential they’ve had. They have looked more finesse than brawn at times and finesse just doesn’t get it done in Baltimore. The Ravens have won 12 of the past 13 at home and are 10-5 coming off a bye week since the start of the 1990 season.
The call: Ravens 24-17
Cowboys at Patriots 2:15 p.m., KDVR-31
A potentially volatile combination, at least from the Cowboys’ perspective. Dallas QB Tony Romo has shown propensity to turn over the ball when things get tight and few defensive minds are more capable of making a QB uncertain of where to throw the ball than Bill Belichick. Rob Ryan’s new defensive look gets a test because Patriots QB Tom Brady usually dispatches with most blitz packages.
The call: Patriots 33-23
Saints at Buccaneers 2:15 p.m.
For all the big wins Sean Payton has had in his tenure in New Orleans, he’s still just 5-5 against the Buccaneers in his career as a coach. That total includes a 23-13 Tampa Bay win to close out the 2010 regular season when Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman had just five incompletions. Saints QB Drew Brees has now had at least 20 completions in an NFL-record 25 consecutive games going into this one.
The call: Saints 28-24
Quick hits
Panthers at Falcons 11 a.m.
The Falcons, a preseason Super Bowl contender, needs this one badly, especially after a 14-0 lead last Sunday night turned into a 25-14 home loss to the Packers. The wing-it-around Panthers play like they have nothing to lose because well, they don’t.
The call: Falcons 30-27
Colts at Bengals 11 a.m.
The Colts have won the last seven meetings between these two teams, including 23-17 in Indianapolis last season. But Indianapolis’ march toward the Andrew Luck derby continues with Curtis Painter having completed just 49 percent of his passes thus far.
The call: Bengals 24-23
Rams at Packers 11 a.m.
Rams QB Sam Bradford’s bruise- filled season doesn’t figure to get any better in this one. Bradford has been sacked 18 times in four games, which ties him for the league lead with the equally battered Jay Cutler and Tarvaris Jackson.
The call: Packers 42-16
Jaguars at Steelers 11 a.m.
It’s hard enough being a rookie QB any week in the NFL, but Jaguars rookie Blaine Gabbert gets the rugged Steelers at Heinz Field in this one. The Jaguars have won in their last three trips to Pittsburgh.
The call: Steelers 28-12
Eagles at Redskins 11 a.m.
The Eagles’ first-year defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, who was the team’s offensive line coach last season, has his hands full with a Mike Shanahan offense coming out of the bye. Shanahan always has a new wrinkle or two after the week off.
The call: Redskins 27-23
Browns at Raiders 2:05 p.m.
If Browns RB Peyton Hillis really wants a new contract, then powering his team to wins in games like this would help, as would improving his 3.6 yards per carry average. Browns won’t win unless they slow down the league’s leading rusher in Darren McFadden — 519 yards at 5.7 per carry.
The call: Raiders 24-16
Vikings at Bears 6:15 p.m., KUSA-9
No matter how his season is going at the time, Vikings QB Donovan McNabb always seems to raise his game when he plays in his hometown. He’s 5-1 in career games in Chicago.
The call: Vikings 27-23.
