Like most of the other slappies in Detroit, I watched the Lions yesterday. Even after my earnest pleas for fans to give them the proverbial finger, I couldn't follow my own advice.
Yesterday afternoon, I indeed saw the Lions tie their own record - their 24th consecutive road loss. The previous record, set during the Morningweg/Mariucci regime, coupled with the current streak, gives the Lions a two wonderful stretches of football futility. Together, that's 48 road losses - an equivalent of 3 entire NFL seasons. Wow.
Okay, the mockery is over. I do want to maintain some level of objectivity. Despite the team's 1-5 record, they're improved. They're no doubt a better football team. They actually had multiple chances to win that game yesterday. The problem is that - every time Good Fortune smiled on the Lions - they found a way to negate it with a penalty.
- With the Lions driving at the end of the first half, Kevin Smith burst up the middle for ten yards to the NYG 30 yard line. Oops... Stephen Peterman decided to get one more hit in after the play. Personal Foul. 15 yards. Instead of driving for a touchdown, the Lions were lucky to get back into field goal range.
- On their first possession of the 2nd half, the Lions looked great driving down to Giants' territory. On a key 3rd and 3, Stanton hit Burleson for a whopping 28 yard gain! Oops... Gosder Cherilus lined up incorrectly. Illegal formation. On the next play, Stanton fumbled, and the Giants' seized momentum once again. (This call, by the way, was a bit harsh. This is one of those cases that the refs seem to be nitpicking on the Lions, while they let other, more successful teams slide.)
- Now the kicker... on the ensuing possession, the Lions' defense stood tall on a 3rd and goal from the 3. They forced an incomplete pass, and seemingly forced a field goal attempt. Wait, not so fast. Apparently, Cliff Avril lost his cool on the play and was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct. It's impossible to tell actually what happened or what was said, but this is another one of those bizarre - only the Lions - type penalties. The penalty gave the Giants four more attempts from the 1 yard line!
Petty refs or not, the Lions need to find a way to avoid these mistakes. They've shot themselves in the foot for decades now. Will it ever end?
well, despite the penalties, its less painful to watch them than the past couple of years. they seem to be able to put some drives together. and when you're down to your 3rd string QB...your expectations can't be too high. (was it me or was Stanton trying to rifle the ball into players hands?) and again, if you disregard the penalties, they seemed on par with the Chargers. i hope that's what Schwartz is talking about this week at practice. btw, heard Follet is ok and able to move all his extremities.
ReplyDeleteSchwartz, besides hopefully FINING the players for the penalties (esp. Peterman and Avril), should be telling the team to figure out how to win these games. They're close. But close of course won't cut it.
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