Paula Pasche

Five things to watch as Lions face Cardinals in Arizona

Cardinals coming off win at Green Bay

ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions have lost five of their last six and are out of the playoff picture. They will face the Cardinals, who are coming off a big 20-17 win at Green Bay, at Arizona at 4:20 p.m. on Sunday.

So that’s the Lions (4-8) against the Cardinals (3-9). Try not to get too excited.

Give credit to the Lions who have marched on this week just like any other week this season trying to put themselves in the best position for a win.

Arizona has been dealing with several injuries including wide receiver Christian Kirk and along the offensive line. It makes preparation more difficult for the Lions.

“You have to try to plan for things that you’ve certainly seen first and foremost off the tape and through their history of whatever games they played and situations they played that may be similar to the situations that they have now,’’ Detroit coach Matt Patricia said. “But there definitely are elements that can come up that you’re not going to have seen or have ready from a game-plan standpoint. You’re going to have to be able to adjust once you get into the game.’’

Here are five things to watch:

1. Take advantage of Arizona’s depleted offensive line. Offensive tackle DJ Humphries was just placed on injured reserve. The Cardinals now have none of their projected offensive line starters from training camp. “They’ve been able to block it up, use some extra guys in protection, been able to run the ball. Obviously, (they) just have a great back in David Johnson, have a great player in Larry Fitzgerald. The quarterback’s mobile, so he kind of can buy some time there, also. And I think they’re just using their strengths to their advantage in that situation to make up for whatever, maybe, deficiencies they have,’’ Patricia said.

2. Don’t take the Cards lightly. They’ve won seven of the last eight meetings with the Lions and have won eight straight against Detroit in Arizona. Quarterback Josh Rosen may be a rookie (the 10th overall pick) but he’s gaining experience each week. His numbers are less than gaudy with a 54.2 completion percentage and more interceptions (11) than touchdowns (10), but he was able to keep the chains moving at Lambeau Field.

3. Grab an early lead while the grabbing is good. The Cardinals have been outscored 181-92 in the first halves of their first 12 games. “We always want to start fast, you know? Especially on the road. They’re a good football team,’’ Matthew Stafford said. “Obviously, got a really good win against Green Bay at Green Bay, which is tough to do. A bunch of talented guys, a bunch of early-round draft picks, high-price, free agent type guys on that team have been good for a long time. So, we’ll have our work cut out for us.”

4. Set the pace in tune with Stafford’s abilities. The quarterback has usually been better running a two-minute drill, so step it up a bit. The Lions’ offensive line should be able to give Stafford time although the Cardinals do have a pass rush that ranks fourth in the NFL.

5. Running back Kerryon Johnson will miss his third straight game but the Lions have to stay with the run game. LeGarrette Blount, Theo Riddick and Zach Zenner each has his strengths so make the best of them. Although calling a draw on a third-and-19 perhaps is not the right time to stay on the ground.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 24, Lions 17

Detroit Lions Da’Shawn Hand claims he’s a snacks connoisseur and proves it

Flaming-hot Funyuns a favorite

ALLEN PARK — Da’Shawn Hand may be a rookie, but the Lions defensive tackle knows his snacks. In fact, he considers himself a connoisseur.

Oddly enough, his locker is next to NFL veteran Damon “Snacks” Harrison who earned his reputation over the years.

“You can ask the whole D-line, they get mad at me because I can eat. But see, I got a good figure. Hey, listen. It’s hard to come by. I ain’t saying nothing about Snacks’ (figure),’’ said Hand who is 6-foot-3 and a svelte 297 pounds, compared to the original “Snacks” who weighs 353.

Either Hand can’t narrow down his favorite snacks, or he’s looking for a sponsor.

“See it depends on what I’m in the mood for. I can always do a good fruit snack. You’ve got different types of fruit snacks. You’ve got the Welch’s, you’ve got Scooby-Doo. Then like Mott’s it just depends. Welch’s is a solid universe everybody likes that. Mott’s I’ve got to be in the mood for, I get kind of tired. then you’ve got fruit-rollups, oh man,’’ said Hand who was just getting started.

“Then Danish, you’ve got little cakes — you’ve got oatmeal cream pies, you’ve got zebra cakes, you’ve got little strawberry shortcake rolls. There’s just endless possibilities.’’

Onto salty snacks.

“Then as far as chips I like flaming-hot stuff. So you’ve got flaming-hot Funyuns (not regular Funyuns). You get that with a nice sandwich – ooohh.”

Then the understatement.

“I like eating. You opened up something,’’ Hand said.

“You know Italian subs — instead of ham you get turkey then everything else — pepperonis and all that stuff,’’ said Hand seemed to be enjoying his snacks soliloquy.

“How about Hand sandwich? Hands-on Club?” He’s right, so many possibilities.

Don’t forget candy.

“Chocolate, I’ll do Twix and maybe a KitKat, Butterfinger, Reese’s sometimes. When it comes to candy, I LOVE candy. Especially sour stuff — sour gummy worms, sour gummy bears, strawberry sour patches those are the best type for real,’’ Hand said. “If you’ve learned something today, I highly recommend you try it.’’

We’ve also learned that Hand knows his way around the snacks aisle at the grocery store.

Detroit Lions lose to L.A. Rams: Five things to know about loss

Defense solid but not quite good enough

DETROIT — It was a game not new to the Lions. They held on against a tough opponent, kept it close until the fourth quarter and then couldn’t get across the finish line.

Sunday’s 30-16 loss to the Los Angeles Rams dropped the Lions to 4-8 with losses in five of their last six games.

You know what they said afterward about needing to improve as a team moving forward. It’s been said in eight post-game press conferences this season.

“Give the Rams credit. That’s a really good team over there. They’re very explosive, very dynamic, and I think we tried to be in it all the way through it,’’ Lions coach Matt Patricia said. “Obviously, we didn’t get it done in the end.”

Five things to know about the loss:

1. The defense actually played pretty well through most of the game. Defensive back Quandre Diggs had a solid game with an interception, two pass defenses and six tackles. He wasn’t alone. Damon Harrison and Eli Harold each sacked quarterback Jared Goff. And, at least in the first half, running back Todd Gurley was kept in control. Although he finished with 23 carries for 132 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

2. Matthew Stafford kept the offense moving until late in the game. He was 20 of 33 for 245 yards, one touchdown and an interception in the end zone trying to make a play with 11 seconds left in the game. But when he was sacked by Aaron Donald in the fourth quarter, he couldn’t hold onto the ball, fumbled it and the Rams were able to recover at Detroit’s 24-yard line. Three plays later Gurley scampered in for a touchdown to put the Rams up 23-13 with 6:53 left. It was a killer play.

3. Fans were booing loudly when on a third-and-19 in the third quarter, Theo Riddick ran a draw play. It seems to happen quite often that the coaches are so conservative on third-down plays. The Lions settled for a field goal on that drive after Riddick picked up 8 yards. On a third-and-13 in the fourth quarter, Stafford passed short right to Bruce Ellington for 5 yards. It’s not just in this game, either. This is a theme with the coaching calls on third down.

4. Tight end Levine Toilolo stepped up with four catches for 90 yards. He caught one for 22 yards on a first-and-20 in the third quarter on a drive that led to a Matt Prater field goal. Then on the Lions’ next possession he caught one deep down the middle for 39 yards, getting Detroit to the Rams’ 23-yard line. Three plays later left tackle Taylor Decker caught a touchdown pass.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)

5. Rams defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh seemed to be quite fired up for this game, his first return to Ford Field since he signed as a free agent in 2015 and left town. Suh finished with six tackles (his season high is nine) and no sacks. He was whistled twice for personal fouls. With 1:41 left in the game and the Rams leading 30-16, Suh was penalized for roughing the passer. Inexcusable. Stafford was asked if his former teammate had anything to say to him: “Nope.” Then he was asked if he said anything to Suh. “Nope.” End of story.

NEXT UP: Lions at Arizona Cardinals (3-9) at 4:25 p.m. on Dec. 9. The Cardinals upset the Packers at Green Bay, 20-17, on Sunday.