|
Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson hook up for three TDs in Detroit Lions' win over Redskins
Monday 11-01-2010 1:03am ET
DETROIT -- It turned into something of a laugher at the end, but
everything was riding on the line with 3:17 left in the game and the
Detroit Lions facing a fourth-and-1 situation at the Washington
Redskins' 10-yard line. Trailing 25-20, the Lions hopes of pulling out a
victory likely would come down to one play, this play.
"It's a slant-option,'' said Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford,
describing the play on which he hit receiver Calvin Johnson in the end
zone for a touchdown to give the Lions the lead. Including that play,
there were six lead changes in the game.
"That was an NFL football game, there was a lot of ebb and flow to
it,'' Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "A lot of things happened in that
game, both good and bad.''
Read the full article at MLive.com
Detroit Lions' comeback falls short vs. Giants, tie NFL record with 24th consecutive road loss
Monday 10-18-2010 9:21am ET
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- It's not like the New York Giants stumbled
across some brilliant game plan to beat the Detroit Lions 28-20 at New
Meadowlands Stadium on Sunday. It's not like the Giants had to draw up
some creative offensive plays or design some unique defensive strategy. The
Giants simply did what 23 other teams have done before them -- get out
of the Lions' way and let them stumble around and make the mistakes
that ultimately will lead to their own downfall. And so it was again Sunday as the Lions committed 11 penalties for 91 yards (the Giants had just two for 15 yards). Click here to read the full article at Mlive.com>>Shaun Hill throws three TD passes as Detroit Lions rout Rams for first win
Monday 10-11-2010 12:42am ET
DETROIT -- No champagne. No cigars. No chest-thumping. After
starting the season 0-4, the Detroit Lions laid the lumber to the St.
Louis Rams, scoring on offense, defense and special teams, and ran away
with a 44-6 win -- their greatest margin of victory in 15 years.
In the locker room afterward, the Lions were happy, relieved and realistic. Read the full story at MLive.comReferee Gene Steratore: Calvin Johnson didn't maintain possession 'throughout the entire process'
Monday 09-13-2010 11:40am ET
CHICAGO -- Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson thought he made
the game-winning touchdown catch and started to celebrate -- a little
too early, as it turns out. Whether he didn't know the NFL's rule or
simply forgot it in the thrill of victory, the officials ruled that
Johnson did not "complete'' the catch, so it wasn't a catch after all. Instead of the Lions winning in dramatic fashion, they lost 19-14 to the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Soldier Field. With 24 seconds left in the game, Johnson went up for the ball and
came down with it, landing with both feet in the end zone. As he went to
the ground, his knee hit. Johnson was holding the ball out in one hand,
keeping it away so the defensive back couldn't swat it away. As Johnson
rolled over with the ball in one hand, the ball hit the ground -- part
of a motion that Johnson was making to get up and start his celebration
-- and it came out of his hand. "I don't know what he was doing, but he probably won't do it
again,'' said Bears cornerback Zachary Brown. "Tough play, tough call,
it went our way and I'm not complaining.'' Click here to read the full articleThe loss of "NFL Matchup'' would be tragic for fans
Wednesday 05-19-2010 8:33am ET
One of the most depressing stories of the NFL off-season is the news that the league will no longer seek sponsors for the "NFL Matchup" show on ESPN. Now a decision has to be made by ESPN of whether they'll try to keep the show on the air. Wait, they can keep "Sports Reporters'' in a prime spot every Sunday, but they have to make a decision about "NFL Matchup"? What am I missing here?
The beauty of "NFL Matchup'' is that it isn't just entertaining, but extremely informative. Whether you're a casual fan or ultra geeky, there was always something interesting to see, a new twist on an offensive or defensive scheme or the highlight of a player's skills. The show was also very good at illustrating to fans -- and to some media members, too -- that you couldn't always believe your eyes during a game. You might see a blown coverage and think it was the cornerback who flubbed the assignment but, after looking at the film, it was actually the safety.
Somebody needs to save "NFL Matchup'' and not only keep it on the air, but give it the proper treatment it deserves -- a lot of promotion and more airings.
Lions not likely to pursue Shawne Merriman
Thursday 05-13-2010 8:13am ET
Without exception, whenever a player gets released or becomes trade bait, I get bombarded with the "Is he a good fit for the Lions?'' question. And the news that San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman is on the trading block was no exception.
I'd be surprised if the Lions took a serious look at Merriman. Yes, he'd be a big talent upgrade, but there are a lot of negatives, beginning with the money that he'd demand and the baggage that he'd drag with him. (And this isn't the kind of baggage that Tatum Bell can conveniently lug away.)
More than that, though, Merriman is a 3-4 backer who is a pass rusher and plays on the line of scrimmage. In the Lions' defense, they're looking for a player who can play off the line, cover backs and tight ends (especially in the NFC North -- as an MLiver has wisely pointed out).
(Having said that, as another MLiver will likely point out, Merriman will probably sign with Detroit later today.) Lions ink Kyle Vanden Bosch
Friday 03-05-2010 12:32pm ET
To read about Vanden Bosch and see Killer's latest video, click here. Lions trade for Browns defensive tackle Corey Williams, release Phillip Buchanon
Friday 03-05-2010 12:30pm ET
ALLEN PARK -- In the span of a few hours, the Detroit Lions dropped one veteran player and picked up another.
On Thursday, the Lions released veteran cornerback Phillip Buchanon, leaving them without a starting cornerback on their roster. According to several media outlets, however, the Lions added to their defensive line by trading for tackle Corey Williams of the Cleveland Browns.
"We have nothing to report at this time," Lions spokesman Bill Keenist said.
The trade is contingent on Williams passing a physical. It has been the Lions' policy not to announce trades until all the conditions are met. According to the media reports, the Lions would send a low-round draft pick to the Browns. The Lions currently have two picks in the fifth round.
Don't Miss KMZ Weekdays 7-10 am
Friday 03-05-2010 12:29pm ET
Lions lose to Bears to finish 2-14, lock up No. 2 pick in draft
Monday 01-04-2010 11:14am ET
January 03, 2010, 8:45PMDETROIT -- Despite maintaining their status as the worst team in
National Football League history, the Detroit Lions will not be
rewarded for it.
After tying the game in the fourth quarter, the Lions were
outscored 17-3 in the final 9:37 and lost 37-23 to the Chicago Bears on
Sunday at Ford Field.
The loss dropped the Lions to 2-14 for the season and, coupled
with last year's 0-16, the Lions have recorded the fewest victories in
a two-year span since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978.
No
team in NFL history has given up more points than the Lions in a
two-year stretch.
Detroit gave up 517 points last year, the second worst in NFL
history. This year, the Lions coughed up 494 points, the fourth worst
effort in league history.
Despite the laundry list of "worst'' achievements, the Lions will
not get the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. They will draft No. 2, behind
the 1-15 St. Louis Rams. To rub a little salt in the Lions' wound, the
Rams' only victory this season was a 17-10 win against the Lions -- in
Detroit.
"Losing is losing,'' said Lions linebacker Ernie Sims, a four-year
veteran. "Just because we won two games doesn't make it feel better.
Losing is losing and that's what I've been experiencing ever since I've
been here. We need to turn this thing around. I'm sick of losing. Yeah,
I'm not perfect, I don't do everything I have to do to win, but I'm
only one person on the team.''
The Lions were down 20-10 in the second half Sunday, thanks to a
botched fake punt. Detroit had a fourth-and-eight at their own 38-yard
line early in the third quarter when they snapped the ball to upback
Kalvin Pearson and tried to run to the left. Pearson was stuffed after
just a 1-yard gain.
"We've had that called about 100 times this year but you don't
usually get a very good (defensive) look for it,'' Lions head coach Jim
Schwartz said. "That was called in a good situation. They gave us the
right defense for it and we didn't execute it and that hurt us.''
Lions receiver Calvin Johnson then did everything he could to help
get the Lions back in it. Johnson caught two passes for 29 yards to set
up a Jason Hanson 48-yard field goal. Then he really went to work.
On the first play of Detroit's next drive, Johnson went high in the air to snare a 17-yard pass from Daunte Culpepper.
"As soon as the ball was thrown, I said, 'There's no possible way that ball is going to be complete,' '' Schwartz said.
"It was probably one of the most amazing catches that I've been a
part of,'' Culpepper said. "He went up and he went out of his
atmosphere.''
Johnson wasn't done. He also caught a 12-yard pass on a
fourth-and-three situation in that drive and then capped it off with a
5-yard touchdown catch. Johnson would've had another touchdown catch
later in the game, but Culpepper overthrew him.
Johnson finished with six catches for 86 yards, falling just 16
yards short of hitting the 1,000-yard receiving mark this season. If
Culpepper hadn't made some mistakes, Johnson would've gotten it. In
addition to the 14-yard pass play in the end zone on which Johnson was
wide open, Culpepper's first-quarter interception should have been a
completion to Johnson.
Johnson was running an intermediate route up the right sideline
and stopped for the throw, but Culpepper misread the coverage and threw
deep for the interception.
After the Lions tied the score in the third quarter, the Bears
scored on their next three possessions -- two touchdowns and, after
rookie Derrick Williams fumbled a kickoff return, a field goal.
"We had plenty of chances to be able to take control of this game.
It seemed like every time we did, we made a (bad) play that let them
get the upper hand,'' Schwartz said.
|
© 2012
