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Burning questions – whether the Lions are ready for the opener, how the units performed, players who stepped up, replacement refs and roster battles – in the Lions’ 38-32 win over Buffalo in Thursday night’s preseason game at Ford Field:
 
Q: The opener – Have the Lions done enough to show they’re ready to open the season against the Rams on Sept. 9?

A: If they haven’t, they have no one to blame but themselves.

The Las Vegas oddsmakers have them favored by nine points over the Rams. That’s a wide spread that means the Lions are much the better team.

Even considering that in Thursday night’s game both teams had their first units out after the early stages of the first quarter, it looked like the Lions played with energy. That’s something that was in question against Oakland last week and also against the Browns in the first game.

Q: What unit stepped up the most?

A: Early it was the special teams. On four kickoffs in the first quarter, the Bills started three drives at their 17, 18 and 20. And on the other, they lost the ball on a fumble at their 9-yard line. Ashlee Palmer knocked the ball loose, and the Lions recovered.

Patrick Edwards also had a 30-yard punt return. That was good work for the second straight week.

On the negative side, Theodis McKelvin blocked a field-goal attempt in the second quarter when he got around the corner, and Hanson missed from 51 yards in the second half.

And the Bills returned a kickoff 100 yards for a TD in the fourth quarter – after the coverage team was offside on a kickoff that had the Bills pinned inside the 20. That’s inexcusable – the penalty and return.

Q: For the offense - Matthew Stafford played one possession and ended it with a 24-yard TD pass to Calvin Johnson. Are they ready?

A: They were born ready, but the running game is still lacking. The passing game will have to lead the offense. That’s clear.

Mikel Leshoure played reasonably well in his second preseason game, but he won’t be available for the first two games because of a suspension.

The offense will ride on Stafford’s ability to get the ball to his receivers. That shouldn’t be a worry, but there has to be some semblance of an effective running game.

Q: The defense – It gave up a long TD drive on the Bills’ first possession. That’s been a problem. What were the good and bad signs?

A: Ndamukong Suh made a couple stops early, but the run defense gave up too many yards. C.J. Spiller gained 25 yards on his first three carries. Rookie cornerback Jonte Green was beaten by Stevie Johnson for a four-yard TD catch that ended Buffalo’s first possession.

It was a matchup of a veteran against a rookie, and Johnson won it easily with a quick cut to the sideline.
Green later redeemed himself with an interception return for a TD.

Q: Replacement refs – How did the zebras perform?

A: They looked better in the fourth game than in any of the three, and they should improve with experience and game time, just like the players should.

Q: TD replay review – There was a replay on Mikel Leshoure’s one-yard TD run in the first quarter. Was that because the refs might have made a mistake?

A: There was no mistake, and the play was another case of how the NFL has slipped up on a minor detail that has exposed the replacement refs to even more criticism than they deserve.

Under a rule passed this year, all scoring plays are subject to review.

On scoring-play reviews, the NFL would be smart to announce that the review is by rule so fans don’t automatically assume there is a real question of whether the refs have made the right call.

For a league that is so image conscious – to the point of fining players if their jerseys aren’t tucked in or socks don’t match – it would be a little thing to help maintain faith in the judgment of the officials.

The officials ruled a TD for the Lions in the fourth quarter. After another review, the play was reversed, and it was no TD.

Either way, it should be made clear that replay reviews are part of a new rule.

Q: Rookie review – How did the 2012 draft class perform?

A: They were promising but not perfect. First-round pick Riley Reiff got extended playing time at right tackle and right guard. Second-round pick Ryan Broyles is a natural receiver. He had three catches. Ronnell Lewis, a fourth-rounder, got in on a sack.

Jonte Green, a sixth-round pick, had the interception return but was beaten for two TD catches. That’s not a good ratio.

Q: Roster roulette – Final roster cuts are Friday at 9 p.m. What do you expect?

A: Who’s coming will be as interesting as who leaves. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are three players on the roster next week who weren’t in camp. That would be a running back and two defensive backs – on waivers or by trade.