A History of Defeat

W, Detroit Lions 20, Minnesota Vikings 17 (OT)

One depressing thing about being with the boys in baby blue is history. Numbers don't lie someone once said. You are how they think you are when it comes to rivals and series history. Growing up in Highland Park, Michigan I once played on our middle school hoops team. There were only two such schools in the city and the other school was the home of what I'd later find out were ALL of the star high school basketball players. The feeling I (and the opposite for them) had going into the game knowing that the game would just provide layup practice for the team from Ferris must be the same for Central Division teams when we're on the schedule. I wonder if things like this are thought of? The only way to avoid repeating history is to be aware of it.

Black and blue
Detroit has been around as an NFL team for years (as the Lions since 1934) and a member of the "Norris Division (thanks Chris Berman)" most of those years. Seeing the series numbers between teams is sad, seeing that Minnesota has beaten us 10 straight times (longest current streak vs division rival) and historically we're 30-61-2 so more often than not we've been on the wrong side of the law.

This game was uneventful and eventful at the same time. The offenses struggled; Detroit because Jon Kitna got blasted and was woozy till a seemingly risky entrance back into the game late; and Minnesota's young QB looked like a second year player turning the ball over four times. So surprisingly (or maybe not), Minnesota took the game into overtime and threatened to keep history moving in the wrong direction.

Detroit prevailed though as Jason Hanson nailed a 31 yarder to pull victory from the jaws of defeat.