AP Pro32 Comments About Lions

NEW YORK (AP) — Comments on the Detroit Lions by the AP Pro32 panel (ranking in parentheses):

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DETROIT LIONS (13)

Chris Berman (ESPN, 11) — Though they won, game one mulligan.

Clifton Brown (Sporting News, 10) — Expect Matthew Stafford to be sharper in Week 2, but a more consistent running game would help.

Cris Collinsworth (NBC Sports, 15) — Matthew Stafford has to be better for the Lions to have a chance.

Rich Gannon (CBS Sports/SiriusXM NFL Radio, 12) — Avoided a close call after some last minute heroics by Stafford.

Bob Glauber (Newsday, 16) — Matthew Stafford's poor decision-making led to three interceptions, but when it counted most, the Lions' big-armed quarterback was there. Clutch effort to pull this one out against the Rams. Careful, though. Can't get away with that stuff against the NFL elite.

Rick Gosselin (Dallas Morning News, 12) — The Lions have a dynamic three-tackle rotation on defense in Nick Fairley, Ndamukong Suh and Corey Williams. All had sacks in the opener.

Clark Judge (CBSSports.com, 13) — So the Lions had to go to the mat to beat St. Louis. It doesn't matter. They won. But they better look sharper, otherwise they'll lag behind Green Bay and Chicago in their division.

Ira Kaufman (Tampa Tribune, 14) — Matt Stafford's three picks against the Rams won't be lost on the ballhawking 49ers, who just battered Aaron Rodgers.

Pat Kirwan (SiriusXM NFL Radio/CBSSports.com, 15) — The Lions are probably going to call 50 pass plays a game and there are going to be days when Stafford throws multiple picks which will make any opponent difficult to beat. They are mentally tough and don't give up no matter how the game is going.

John Lynch (Fox Sports, 14) — The Rams had them on the ropes. Don't fret Lions fans, this is a very good team in Detroit which found a way to win and will do that a lot in 2012.

Alex Marvez (Foxsports.com, 12) — Matt Stafford's penchant for fourth-quarter comebacks continued with a 27-23 squeaker over St. Louis. It would be nice, though, if Detroit would stop regularly putting itself in that type of unenviable position.

Dan Pompei (Chicago Tribune, 12) — They are a better team than they showed in a close call against the Rams.

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