Detroit Lions Weblog

Lions Tragic 4th Quarter Collapse is One for the Ages

On Sunday the Lions saw fit to continue their 0-5 season record and unbelievable 21-64 record during Matt Millen’s tenure, by deftly clutching defeat from the gaping maw of victory, like they have done expertly so many times before. The fact the Lion’s found a means to collapse spectacularly is no longer something to question, it’s just the fact that they continue to defy the odds in doing so that is astounding.

How many teams can squander a fourteen point 4th quarter lead? How many teams can block an opponent’s PAT attempt late in a game, which secured a 1 point lead, but yet find a way to still lose a game? The Lion’s are a team whose best and most consistent player, and obviously one of it’s few bright spots, can reduce himself to a bumbling, stumbling turnover-creating parody of himself in a matter of minutes and effectively transform himself into a Lion’s QB, Jekyll-like, before our very eyes.

The Lion’s are well on their way to being 0-for the season when they potentially have the opportunity to play a Joey Harrington-helmed Dolphin’s team on Thanksgiving Day. Can the disaster get anymore ridiculous?

Matt Millen is also well on his way to selecting another Top 5 draft pick in April 2007. Even if the Lion’s play .500 ball the rest of the way, let’s say 6-5 for kicks, they will be 27-69 during the Matt Millen tenure. Does he really deserve the opportunity to continue to lead this profound, unmitigated failure that his marked his tenure into 2007?

Lions Vs. Minnesota Preview

Another element of intrigue has been added to this week’s game for the Lion’s in Minnesota. It is quite possible that this Sunday’s game will get moved to Monday night due to the baseball playoffs that are also tentatively scheduled for Sunday at the Metrodome. As if the Lion’s needed any additional complications to arise before playing this game with an 0-4 record. The Lions have a miserable road record over the course of the last 5 years and they have played especially bad against Minnesota during those seasons. Gone from Minnesota’s roster are Daunte Culpepper and Randy Moss, whose seasons were usually made by spectacular by playing against the Lions. That being said, a struggling Viking offense is very likely to get back on track if the last 4 games performance of the Lion’s defense are held as an indicator.

The Viking’s ball control, West Coast style of offense is under good hands with veteran QB Brad Johnson at the helm. The Vikings have also added RB Chester Taylor, who possesses good hands and grinds out enough yardage on the ground to keep the chains moving. The Vikings have struggled to score points and seem to be lacking a big-play receiver or tight end to remedy the situation. It is imperative find a way to pressure Brad Johnson and force him to be uncomfortable in the pocket. If Johnson is not pressured, the Viking’s will likely possess the ball for close to 40 minutes of the game as Johnson spreads the ball around. Ideally, with the Lion’s solid run defense, they will limit Chester Taylor’s effectiveness and force Johnson into a lot of 3rd and long distance situations. In those situations, they could really pin their ears back and try to get after Johnson. Apparently, Rod Marinelli plans to pare down the Lion’s defensive scheme and attempt to utilize the player’s strengths from this point forward. Hopefully, with this in mind the Lion’s can keep an opponent like Minnesota under 30 points.

On offense, the Mike Martz offensive philosophy appears to be taking hold for the Lion’s personnel. Jon Kitna has turned in two of the better back to back games for a QB in recent Lion’s history. The emergence of WR Mike Furrey and the improving ground attack with RB Kevin Jones are also pleasant surprises. Against the Vikings, the Lion’s will face a much better defense than they have in the last two weeks. The Lion’s need to be able to count on scoring high point totals to account for it’s defensive deficiencies, so it is imperative that they limit their turnovers and the offense remains sharp and efficient like it has been in recent weeks. The Vikings have also added a Tampa Cover-2 zone defense so the Lion’s will have to be a little more patient in the passing game. There will likely fewer big plays to be had with Minnesota’s deep safeties and excellent corners, but if Kitna doesn’t throw any interceptions Roy Williams and Mike Furrey should eventually be effective.

Irregardless of both of the team record’s, this should be a close game. Depending on which team controls the line of scrimmage and establishes the tempo of how the game is going to be played, very likely will indicate the game’s outcome. Brad Johnson’s ball control, ball preservation style of game is not flashy–but without serious Minnesota defensive or special teams breakdowns–usually leads to victory.

Vikings 27 Lions 20

Week 5 : Detroit Vs. Minnesota Statistical Match-Up

12. Detroit Offense Vs./ 14. Minnesota Defense

Yardage
Yards 1290/1158
YPG 322.5(16)/ 289.5(10)

Scoring
PTS 71/ 65
PPG 17.8(17)/ 16.3(9)

Passing
YPG 252.0(7)/ 200.5(14)
TD 4(17)/2(5)
SACK 14(27)/ 6(26)
INT 3(14)/ 2(23)

Rushing
YPG 70.5(29)/ 89.0(11)
TD 4(10)/ 3(17)

12. Minnesota Offense Vs. 27. Detroit Defense

Yardage
Yards 1290/ 1474
YPG 322.5(16)/ 368.5(26)

Scoring
PTS 63/ 115
PPG 15.8(27)/ 28.8(28)

Passing
YPG 226.0(11)/ 282.0(30)
TD 3(20)/ 10(32)
SACK 7(11)/ 6(26)
INT 5(24)/ 0(30)

Rushing
YPG 103.0(18)/ 86.5(10)
TD 3(13)/ 1(3)

————–Turnovers————–
———–TakeAways——GiveAways—–/+/-
——-INT–FUM–TTL—-INT–FUM–TTL–
DET—0—-4——4——-3—-5—–8—–/ -4
MINN–2—1——3——–3—2——5—-/ -2

Time of Possession
DET 28:27 Opp 31:23
MINN 30:19 Opp 29:41

3rd Down Eff.
DET 14/47 (29.8) Opp 19/51 (37.3)
MINN 18/60(30.0) Opp 17/56(30.4)

Penalties
DET 31/281 Opp 27/249
MINN 38/275 Opp 38/273

Detroit is + 6 1/2 PTS at Minnesota and the Over/Under is 40 PTS.

This Too Shall Pass

Sometimes in the life of an avid sport’s fan there comes a breaking point. This weekend was one of the cruelest in recent memory for me (at least that I can recollect). My beloved Detroit Tigers gagged away their precious opportunity for their first division championship in 19 years by finishing 19-31 and improbably, losing their last 5 home games. My alma mater Michigan State, a 26 point favorite to win their homecoming game against Illinois, clutched defeat from the jaws of victory by turning in one of their most inexplicably uninspired performances in recent memory. This loss, entering into the toughest part of their schedule, has sparked a firestorm that will be so potentially damaging to the school’s football program that it may take another five years and a new head coach to regain any semblance of stability.

That leaves the Lion’s, stalwarts at playing just well enough to lose. Admittedly, the team is playing a thrilling brand of offense that will light up scoreboards and make them competitive against nearly any team in the NFL. The emergence of a bonafide offense provides me with a lot more hope that they can finish this season respectably, as long as they are able to reverse their defense’s trend towards profusely bleeding out points, which effectively undercuts any success that the team’s offense has enjoyed to this point.

The Lion’s defensive statistics are nearly surreal. After 5 sacks from their front four in the opening game, they have garnered 1 sack in the last 3 games. Opposing QB’s have completed 71.3% of their passes for 10 TD’s and 0 INT’s. This output makes the Lion’s four opposing QB’s collective passer rating an astonishing 121.9. The Lion’s defense has allowed 99 points in the last three games. Unfortunately, defense’s who allow this type of production can’t expect to win very often, not even in the Arena League.

This type of output really puts a lot more pressure for the Lion’s offense to perform at a high level and decreases their room for error. The Lion’s 3 turnovers were a major factor in their loss to the Ram’s especially considering that the Lion’s were unable to create any Ram’s turnovers. Their was not one Lion’s fan who has not seen the script to the ending of yesterday’s game played out before.

The game’s ending is what is most troubling about yesterday’s loss. As a Lion’s fan, I have come to expect losses like the team suffered Sunday. It’s like a visit from a familiar friend or a cup of warm tea, things that may create some initial discomfort but overall are pleasureable experiences. Rod Marinelli has to make it his first priority to find ways to change the culture of this team so games with familiar endings, like Sunday’s, become a distant memory.