ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Detroit Lions became the only NFL team this year to finish the preseason undefeated, but that wasn't the biggest news about Thursday night's 14-6 victory over the Buffalo Bills.
The Lions got through the entire training camp and preseason schedule without suffering a significant injury to any player who was expected to make the 53-man roster.
As the Lions head into their regular-season opener Sept. 7 against the Atlanta Falcons, that was the most important thing.
But Lions defensive tackle Cory Redding said the 4-0 record means something, too. No, it doesn't count and everybody goes back to 0-0 in 10 days, but being undefeated isn't meaningless.
"It does mean something,'' Redding said. "We put in our work throughout the week to go get a victory. The meaning of that is to build something, so everything shows up on tape. Run to the ball, be in your gaps -- we practice to win. We have something to build on for the regular season.''
The other interesting developments of preseason were the Lions only turned the ball over once and also didn't allow a single opponent to score more than 10 points.
Lions coach Rod Marinelli said that in itself has meaning.
"It does. Two things -- if you tackle really well, it's hard to move the chains on a team when you don't have missed tackles,'' he said. "And you have to lead the league in effort and get a lot of guys to the pile.''
As far as the 4-0 record, Marinelli said it meant "nothing.'' When asked if he would concede that being 4-0 is better than being 0-4, he nodded.
"I would if the fundamentals are right,'' he said. "The winning part isn't the key, it's 'Are we laying a foundation?' That's the only thing. A foundation of tackling and run fits and trying to run the ball -- it's still not good enough -- and we're looking for blockers. The turnovers are critical and we have to keep reducing our penalties. That's the goal from day one, to get a foundation for this team. And we need to cover kicks a lot better.''
The Lions haven't been 4-0 in the preseason since 1990, not that it's much of an indicator of what's to come in the regular season. The Lions finished 6-10 that year.
There could be no team in the league that could wrestle this position away from the Detroit Lions.
Last year, the Lions did what no team in NFL history has ever done, 0-16.
It is not one year of horrible play that has landed the Lions in the 32 slot, but many.
William Clay Ford purchased the Lions on Novemeber 22, 1963 for $4.5 million dollars. Since that time, the Lions have won one playoff game. January 5, 1992 against the Dallas Cowboys, 38-6.
As important as it is to be consistent, the Lions are consistent in the worst way. The saddest part about this is that Barry Sanders, who is one of the best Running Backs in the history of the game, had to live his entire career on a team that was never successful.
The only bright spot in the history of the Detroit Lions is that Super Bowl XL was played at Ford Field. The closest Detroit has ever come to a Super Bowl.
1. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. A six-yard out route on 3rd and 8 is considered a "signature play".
2. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. I use my fandom as an excuse for things like high blood pressure, poor sleeping habits, and why I shouldn't have to pay my taxes.
3. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. Scott Mitchell doesn't seem so bad after all.
4. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. I can name the height, weight, and college of each of our offensive lineman, though I cannot name any redeeming qualities.
5. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. I get a lot of yard work done on Sunday afternoons.
6. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. When our offensive players talk about all the success they are having in practice, I'm tempted to remind them that they're practicing against THE LIONS!
7. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. My pre-game meal includes chicken wings, beer, and a bottle of TUMS.
8. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. If I don't have a hat to wear to the game, a brown paper bag is an acceptable substitution.
9. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. Andre Ware, Eric Kramer, Rodney Peete, and Joey Harrington. Now that's a legacy.
10. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. Having your quarterback make the Pro Bowl is overrated.
11. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. I boo my team in the first quarter and think nothing of it.
12. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. Our franchise has an impeccable draft record of never getting any value from the second or third rounds.
13. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. Matt Millen petitioned the league office to see if preseason victories could count towards his career record.
14. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. Brett Perriman was terribly underrated.
15. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. It takes a former player stealing a current one's bags for this team to receive national media attention.
16. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. Our most beloved and successful veteran is our kicker.
17. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. When I talk about past quarterback accomplishments, I invoke memories of the immortal Dave Krieg.
19. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. I've had serious discussions amongst my friends about which NFL team would be most appropriate to cheer for instead.
20. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. Opposing fans tell me Ford Field is a great place to celebrate a victory.
21. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. I'm the sports equivalent to that chick who can't get out of an abusive relationship.
22. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. Watching Rodney Peete demolish us in the playoffs was...fitting.
23. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. When I wear my Lions gear in other cities, I receive a polite laugh and an, "aww...that's cute."
24. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. My spouse has to explain to the kids why I'm always in such a bad mood on Sundays.
25. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. I took Jon Kitna two rounds too early in my fantasy draft.
26. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. I felt a mild sense of retribution after watching Johhny Morton's MMA debut.
27. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. When was the last time we won again?
28. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. I love our retired players, because they remind me of times when things were...um...slightly better.
29. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. I'm sometimes surprised by the boorish behavior of the other fans in my section, and then realize by the third quarter that I'm doing the same things.
30. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. Our third-string quarterback weighs more than our middle linebacker, and probably tackles better too.
31. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. Turning the Lions into a winning franchise on my Madden 2009 only increases my frustration.
32. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. I loved Mike McMahon, because for those 5 or 6 seconds he was scrambling around, there was a sense of hope that he might actually throw a completion.
33. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. Other fans around the country are unaware of my plight, because the NFL makes sure the Lions stay off of national television.
34. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. My insurance company does not accept my family's loyalty to the team as a reason my children should receive emotional counseling.
35. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. The half-drunk guy next to me thinks he can do a better job than Matt Millen. He's probably over-qualified.
36. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. I find every loss tragic, yet strangely comforting because of its familiarity.
37. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. My best experiences at Ford Field all year are during the MHSAA High School State Finals.
38. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. I actually know what shade Honolulu Blue is.
39. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. Corey Schlesinger was ranked as the third most popular current Lions player in a recent fan poll.
40. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. I have called players like Artoose Pinner and Jeff Garica bums, and then watched in horror as they performed like Pro Bowlers against us once they left town.
41. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. I criticize our front office for drafting wide receivers in the first round, and then realize that our wideouts are the only unit worth bragging about.
42. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. When I travel outside of Michigan and admit my fandom to others, they treat me as if I have a debilitating mental disease.
43. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. I have lasting Thanksgiving memories of times with the family, huge turkey dinners, and falling asleep on the couch watching the Lions lose.
44. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. When people mention going to the playoffs, I turn into Jim Mora.
45. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. My favorite cheer is "FIRE MIL-LEN!!!" With "LET'S GO RED WINGS!" a close second.
46. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. When our quarterback predicts 10 victories, I think he's referencing the team's 5-year plan.
47. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. There are three certainties every year. I will be excited at the start the season, disappointed at the end of it, and Detroit will lose at Green Bay.
48. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. Averaging 2.5 yards a carry is considered progress.
49. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. My favorite player of all time is Detroit Lions Backup Quarterback.
50. I'm a Detroit Lions Fan. Barry walked away. Why can't I???
Why pile on these guys? The 0-16 season is a record that will never be broken unless the NFL goes to 17 or 18 games, so maybe the best thing for the Lions to do is say “f-it” and think about 2009.
Any team that gives up 517 points in 16 games (the Steelers have yielded 492 in the last two seasons total) better makes some moves on that side of the ball, and the Lions have been active in free agency. On board now are OLB Julian Peterson, cornerback Philip Buchanan and MLB Larry Foote. Louis Delmas, taken with the first pick in round 2 of the draft, may be the top safety taken.
While the defense can’t possibly get worse, all eyes will be on top draft choice Matthew Stafford. If he turns into another Joey Harrington, Detroit fans will be wearing bags again and new coach Jim Schwartz will be gone by 2011.
The Lions are re-working their offensive line by signing other teams’ castoffs, but if Stafford winds up starting and gets any time to throw, WR Calvin Johnson should put up some decent numbers.
Surprising stat: The Lions won all 4 of their exhibition games last season.
Team strengths: For some unexplainable reason, the Lions seemed to play pretty well in their division last season. They could have easily beaten division champ Minnesota twice. If Stafford gets playing time early, he and Johnson could make things uncomfortable for secondaries in the NFC North. Also, Matt Millen is no longer making personnel decisions.
Team Weakness: The Dolphins went from 1-15 in 2007 to 11-5 and a playoff spot last season. The Lions are just too disorganized at this point to hope for anything approaching that type of turnaround.
Lions 2009 Season Win Total Prediction - 3
Here's a little story:
I have been a Detroit Lion's season ticket holder since #20, Barry Sanders, dazzled football fans everywhere with a playoff victory against the Dallas Cowboys. I saw numerous choke jobs (cough cough, playoff game against the Packers with the infamous Favre to Sharpe Hail Mary). Despite all the heartbreak and disappointment, each year I sign the check and set myself up for another year of misery. But, according to almost all of the publications and T.V. experts, the Lions offense would be so exciting this season they could make a push toward a division title. Well, four games into the season, Kitna was benched in the 4th game and the Lions have only been close to winning one game (the Packers). Outside of that they have been beyond horrible. One friend of mine has made a point to try and start the defense and the QB playing each week against the Lions. I personally took a shot on Kyle Orton on Sunday and was able to put up 30+ fantasy points.If you break down the first four games of the season, you find that the Detroit Lions have allowed teams to break records and have career days. Not bad considering they are only 4 games into the damn season!Game #1: Matt Ryan became the 1st QB in 8+ years to start his career with a touchdown pass. Turner goes for 220 with two TDs to break the team record for yards (the Falcons as a whole also set a team rushing record at 318) AND set the NFL record for most yards by a runner in their first start for a new team.Game #2: Aaron Rodgers said "Brett Who?" and tossed for a meager 328 yards (24 of 38) with 3 touchdown passes.Game #3: Detroit Lions kicked Mike Martz to the curb and ended up coaching the 49ers. So in game #3, Martz humilated his former team 31-13. San Francisco put up more yards in this game than they did in almost any game all of last year. How bad is the Lion's defense? Well, SF quarterback O'Sullivan was sacked 12 times in the first two games but only was taken down ONCE by Detroit.Game #4: Kyle Orton: Career day against the Lion's defense, 24-34 for 334 yards and 2 TDs (no INTS)Alas, another season of misery and disappointment. When the season is all said and done, I will (sigh) sign that check yet again on the promose of new management and some stud draft pick. Is there any hope for this franchise or will my children's children be forced to endure the same disappointment I have lived through?
Merely hours after the Pistons were swept by the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs, the Lions made their picks in the 2009 NFL Draft and unfortunately for them, Detroit wasn’t happy about the picks their team made.
After the embarrassing 0-16 campaign the Detroit Lions had last year, their fans were really looking forward to see their team address some of the issues that equated to such a disappointing 2008 season.
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressional leaders of both parties huddled behind closed doors on Capitol Hill today in an attempt to work out a bailout package for the Detroit Lions. Items being discussed include giving the Lions a four touchdown lead prior to kickoff in all remaining games, forcing Lions' opponents to play at least one half of each game wearing blindfolds, and taking the best players from teams enjoying a bye week and adding them to the Lions' roster.
Detroit owner William Clay Ford, who was observed leaving the Senate office building with Democratic Majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada), told reporters that any one of those options would be helpful. "Not a cure-all, for sure, but a good start."
By late yesterday, a deal appeared imminent. "We're hopeful we'll be able to reach an agreement soon," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California). "But it is doubtful we'll be able to have anything in place before Thanksgiving Day."
Speaker Pelosi's remarks sent the nation's football fans into a panic, as the prospect of another Detroit collapse on national television appeared certain. The Lions, who have not won a game all year, are scheduled to play the Tennessee Titans, who have not lost a game this year.
White House spokesman Dana Perino said the President would sign any legislation that would keep Detroit afloat, at least for the remainder of the season.
"The failure of Detroit to remain competitive is a failure the American people cannot abide. We've got to give them the tools to succeed."
The Tax Foundation - Congress Considers Bailout for Detroit Lions
Record: 0-16-0, Finished 4th in NFC North Division
NFL Season Summary
Scored 268 points (16.8/g), 27th of 32 in the NFL.
Allowed 517 points (32.3/g), 32nd of 32 in the NFL.
Differential -249 points (-15.6/g), 32nd of 32 in the NFL.
Takeaway/Giveaway Differential -9 (-0.6/g), 28th of 32 in the NFL.
Expected W-L: 2.8-13.2. (At least they exceeded expectations)
