Detroit Lions Weblog

Terrible First Quarter Cements Lions Sunday Road Loss

Just prior to Tigers pitcher Kenny “The Gambler” Rogers outstanding 2-hit performance Sunday, which cemented his permanent, exalted status in the pantheon of Detroit sports legends, there was a football game played that provides a stark and bitter contrast to the immense joy that has been provided by the upstart Detroit Tigers.

Many of us have been understandingly distracted from this painfully awful season by the 2006 Detroit Lions.   This organization has not reached the critical point of development that is necessary to overcome any sort of adversity or challenges that it may face on it’s path to victory.  It’s disgraceful that a team who has had top 10 draft picks in 5 of the last 6 years can currently be entering their bye week with a 1-6 record (22-65 during Matt Millen’s tenure).

The most damning aspect of Sunday’s road loss to me is the manner in which the Lions lost the game.   The Jets have struggled mightily all season to score points in the first quarter (They scored 14 1st quarter points against the Lions).   The Jets have possessed an ineffective ground game all year, and with the recent losses of DT’s Shaun Rogers and Shaun Cody, it was obvious to everyone with a modicum of knowledge about football that the Jets were going to attempt to change their fortunes against the Lions (They did, Leon Washington had 129 yards rushing with 2 TD’s). 

With all of this in my mind, the Lions compounded their early struggles with a rash of penalties and also surrendered a disastrous 44 yard pass play to WR Justin McCareins, who had been a complete non-factor in the Jets offense until Sunday.   In spite of all of Head Coach Rod Marinelli’s interminable bluster about instilling discipline and tenacity (i.e. “Pounding the Rock”), this team is noticeably lacking in both traits and will continue to lose games in bunches if it can’t find a means to become a more disciplined and determined team.

Fortunately, for most Lions fans, the team is entering their bye week.   They can watch the World Series in peace, without that telltale chronic pinch in their neck and insomnia resultant from an overwhelming sense of impending doom that accompanies all Lions fans wherever they go in life.   The Lions have a week in which to regroup and recuperate.   Hopefully, the team will receive an additional boost of resolve via the return of several key players after the week off.   Otherwise, the team’s future struggles may reside in that same philosophical place as trees falling in forests  (Can they really be heard if no one is listening?)……