Turn off the Lights on your way out

L, Detroit 13 - Green Bay 34

This one I held a small sliver of hope for. Green Bay had nothing to pay for and Detroit had squeaked out a victory last week so maybe a bit of pride would surface. Maybe the Lambeau jinx would be broken before Brett Farve retires. Maybe I'll win a trip to the moon! Yeah, right.

The Lion players had already punched out and packed up their gear mentally for the end of the season. Green Bay had their starters in so fast you wondered if they worked it out in advance with Rod Maranelli. Even Green Bay's third string quarterback had multiple scoring drives to add insult to injury. Another bitter season comes to a close. The promise of the first half. The pain and despair of the second. What is it going to be?

The media seems to be harping on the fact the offense is pass happy; The offense turns it over too much; and the defense was horrific. Will coaches dissapear? What players won't be back? Questions, questions, questions...

Can you Stop the Rain?

W, Detroit Lions 25 - Kansas City 20

Vegas is the place. The in-laws are in town and that means a trip to Las Vegas. I'm not a gambler, but I'm betting on the fact that the Lions will be able to win this week's game against Kansas City at home. Although K.C. is having a down year, I would worry if the Lions had to be played their. A sigh of release for the confines of Ford Field.

Unfortunately, when a team doesn't have anything to play for who knows what will happen. And true to form, the Lions struggled mightily. Tony Gonzales ripped up the Lion defense and even though the starting Chief QB was knocked out the back-up came in and (you guessed it) had a career day.

From a sports book I looked on and clutched my seat as the Lions hung on for dear life as the Chiefs outgained them 407-236 and one offensive touchdown by T.J. Duckett and a special teams score to get a victory that was way overdue.

On the Road Again

L, Detroit Lions 14 - San Diego 51








We've be everywhere man (thanks Johnny Cash)! Oakland, San Francisco, Phoenix, Anaheim, Dallas and now San Diego. When the Lions change time zones, we try to get there. Some locations more than once, but this trip I was really looking forward to. Unfortunately, when I got the tickets the Lions were rolling. Last time the Lions were in San Diego, it was a Monday night with Barry and I couldn't afford tickets and couldn't get the time off (a mistake in retrospect). But now all is lost and today looks like another butt whipping.

San Diego has gotten it together and are on a moderate win streak and have last year's look so beware. The stadium looks cool from the outside but we can't seem to find a spot to park that is close. Game time approaching so we need to get what we can. LA Fitness will do and we began to huff it.

The fans were cordial and we (mainly Keith) flapped gums with a few die-hards but the talking ended quite quickly as the Chargers just gave it to LT and the touchdowns began to add up. The Lion defense couldn't do anything right (AGAIN) and before you knew it San Diego was on cruise control and resting starters. How insulting -- I wonder if the Lions get pissed at stuff like that in week 14?

Even the Charger back-up running back had a big day (Darren Sproles had 122 yards on 25 carries)! Looking at our road record when we're in attendance (1 - 8), I turned my attention to the 4 hour drive home -- UGH!

The Deal Breaker

L, Detroit Lions 27 - Dallas Cowboys 28

Just one win. One stinkin' win. The Lions can salvage what is turning into an incredibly splintered campaign that took us to the height of heights and to the depths of the low. One win and their back in control in the playoff hunt. Is that too much to ask?

Well, all deals will be off if we can't win this one today. I had been looking forward to this game all year (in addition to the Thanksgiving Day game) for a couple of reasons. One is that there are fans of all teams littered throughout my office and a colleague nearby is a big fan. Nothing against him but it is us or them today, sorry.

Expecting to win
My wife is a big Yankee fan and for the same reasons that I hope they lose each fall, I do the same for the Cowboys. My wife isn't enamored with the fact the pin-stripers have been to the playoffs 12 straight years playing in the fall classic maybe a half-dozen times she isn't happy unless they win it all. And with the Dallas team and their fans (even to a more flamboyant and obnoxious) their birthright is even more glaring. So victory is that much sweeter.

This game showcased the promise of tomorrow. Detroit moved the ball extremely well and took a lead into halftime (20-14) but a sense of unease lingered in the air. A late Dallas score with less than 2:00 minutes left swung the momentum. T.O. wasn't effective so you'd expect the Lions be further ahead but as the game unfolded the Cowboys hung around and the drama built.

To rob Peter (stopping T.O.) the Lions had to pay Paul (Jason Witten). Tony Romo hit the talented tight-end fifteen times (for 138 yards) throughout the day but his last reception, a touchdown with 2:15 to go in the game was one catch too many.

Scotty ain't got no brakes!

L, Detroit Lions 10 - Minnesota 42

Growing up we had a gentleman who was the neighborhood drunk, Scotty. Being cruel kids, we would have fun at his expense and he would angrily was us away. We even made up a theme song that he enjoyed as he entered our area. We'd sing, "Scotty ain't got no brakes (and hoot our horns)" to which he'd do a little dance for us. It was all love but this weeks game was a throwback as well.

Minnesota has been a comedy of horrors that I wish I could swat away with an arm or dance, but everyone on the planet knew what was coming this week. A good old fashioned butt whipping. The Vikings obliged too. I almost didn't watch because . I held out hope that a pre-game speech or a week of practice and an injured Adrian Peterson would mean we had a chance. Road rule: Lions defense makes sub-par performers look like All-Pros. This was true today as well as QB Tavares Jackson shredded the Lions, dominating time of possession (37:02 to 22:58) and almost double their offensive output.

The Vikings exploded in the second quarter scoring 28 points and I think it is officially time to press the panic button...

Unsettling stat of the week - Detroit has given up over 30 points in every loss on the road this season. Lack of preparation, inexperience or lack of leadership? Maybe if I apologize to Scotty for teasing him, that will change things...

A Familiar Script

L, Detroit 26 - Green Bay 37

Big game in the Motor City. Thanksgiving. National Audience. Two Playoff teams? This holiday is my favorite holiday because it doesn't mean crazy uncle Robert or aunt Suzette or traveling to the in-laws crosstown. For me it means my team for everyone to see. Most of the time, no one wants to see them and by this point of the season their season is OVER.

If you know me, you know there is one team each year, even more than my dislike of Minnesota, that I'd trade just about anything for. A win against Green Bay at home would be nice, but to break the long road streak and end the curse could get our fortunes going in the right direction. Before Ford Field, the Lions would torment Brett Farve, sacking him into loads of turnovers but since the move he has done very well in Detroit.

I didn't feel good when the Lions quickly scored twice and even moved all the way down to the one yard line on a drive. After outplaying the Packers in the first quarter one scored by the Pack erased all doubt and began gathering dark clouds over the season.

The defense looked anemic, unable to stop the pass or run and by half-time I turned off the set. Farve connected on 20 consecutive passes and set a record for 3-TD games. This season has changed dramatically and I began searching the schedule for our next win...

A Game You're Supposed to Win?

L, Detroit Lions 10 - New York Giants 16

As mentioned a while back, there is always a close game you win that you shouldn't and one the you should. This game falls into the later category. You'd figure after the bitter taste of last week's game would result, if this team is indeed a playoff team, they've GOT to win this one.

The Giants are a very good team but they are struggling a bit right now so my hopes were up. Unfortunately, you quickly see that the Lions are uptight and fall behind. This game is similar to the early Bears game where you expect the offense to come alive in time to snatch victory from a demoralizing defeat. No one told the G-men though. The sacked Kitna over and over and over and controlled the tempo of this sluggish game.

Afterwards, Jon Kitna expressed an arrogant opinion (from a team still trying to define itself) by saying "we are better than this team" in the locker room. It is my hope that Michael Strahan's retort is true (he said that this [Detroit] was the worst 6-2 team he had faced). We'll see.