Three things the Lions need to do to win their season opener today against the Falcons:

1. Pressure the rookie. First-round pick Matt Ryan was handed Atlanta's starting quarterback job not because of his draft status but because he was the Falcons' best passer in the preseason. He's strong-armed and heady, but at the end of the day he's still a rookie. The Lions insist they won't deviate too much from their four-man rush, but they want to put pressure on Ryan all different ways from all different angles. The more uncomfortable they can make him, they more likely they are to start 1-0.

2. Contain Jerious Norwood. Michael Turner is the face of the Falcons' running game, but Norwood might be Atlanta's most singularly dangerous weapon. He averaged 6.0 yards per carry as a running back last year — tops among NFL players with at least 70 attempts — and ranked 11th in the league in kickoff returns (25.3 ypr). The Lions had issues covering kicks in the preseason and last year, and can't afford to let Norwood get loose today.

3. Take advantage of Calvin. Calvin Johnson looked like one of the top five receivers in the NFL this preseason, and with his combination of speed, strength and athleticism there's no reason that shouldn't carry over to now. He's going today against a couple young cornerbacks (Chris Houston and Brent Grimes) and a just-traded-for veteran (Domonique Foxworth). Six catches a week should be expected, with a couple jump balls thrown his way.