|
|
| |
|
|
|
FINAL
|
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
4th
|
Final
| | Oakland | 0 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 13 | | Detroit | 10 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 23 |
| | |
Scoring | | 1st Quarter | | DET | FG | JASON HANSON 54 YD, 2:06
Drive:
4 plays,
8 yards in
1:26
Key Plays:
O Smith interception at Oakland 43
DETROIT 3-0
| | DET | TD | OLANDIS GARY 2 YD RUN (JASON HANSON KICK), 14:02
Drive:
4 plays,
12 yards in
1:26
Key Plays:
Green 38-yard fumble return to Oakland 12
10-yard facemask penalty on Raiders' Harris on 3rd-and-11 gives Lions first down at Oakland 3
DETROIT 10-0
| | 2nd Quarter | | OAK | FG | SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI 55 YD, 15:00
Drive:
13 plays,
48 yards in
1:46
Key Plays:
Mirer 11-yard pass to T Johnson to Oakland 26
Mirer 6-yard pass to Garner on 3rd-and-2 to Oakland 40
Mirer 11-yard pass to Brown on 3rd-and-10 to Detroit 49
Mirer 4-yard pass to Rice on 4th-and-2 to Detroit 37
DETROIT 10-3
| | 3rd Quarter | | DET | TD | CORY SCHLESINGER 33 YD PASS FROM JOEY HARRINGTON (JASON HANSON KICK), 3:54
Drive:
7 plays,
66 yards in
3:54
Key Plays:
Schlesinger 3-yard run on 3rd-and-1 to Detroit 46
Bryson 12-yard run on 3rd-and-1 to Oakland 33
DETROIT 17-3
| | OAK | TD | CHARLIE GARNER 7 YD RUN (SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI KICK), 12:05
Drive:
14 plays,
79 yards in
8:11
Key Plays:
Garner 9-yard run to Oakland 30
Garner 14-yard run to Oakland 44
Mirer 10-yard pass to Rice to Detroit 45
Mirer 6-yard pass to Porter on 3rd-and-5 to Detroit 34
Crockett 2-yard run on 4th-and-1 to Detroit 7
DETROIT 17-10
| | 4th Quarter | | DET | FG | JASON HANSON 42 YD, 2:15
Drive:
11 plays,
44 yards in
5:10
Key Plays:
Harrington 9-yard pass to Ricks to Detroit 46
Harrington 14-yard pass to Bryson to Oakland 41
Harrington 8-yard pass to Bryson on 3rd-and-4 to Oakland 27
DETROIT 20-10
| | OAK | FG | SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI 24 YD, 5:46
Drive:
4 plays,
3 yards in
:52
Key Plays:
Asomugha recovery of Swinton muff punt at Detroit 9
DETROIT 20-13
| | DET | FG | JASON HANSON 39 YD, 9:08
Drive:
6 plays,
16 yards in
3:22
Key Plays:
Swinton 61-yard kickoff return to Oakland 37
2-yard pass interference penalty on Raiders' C Woodson on 3rd-and-2 at Oakland 27
DETROIT 23-13
|
|
Passing
| | Raiders |
Att
|
Cmp
|
Yds
|
Td
|
Int
|
Lg
| | Mirer, Rick | 28 | 15 | 125 | 0 | 2 | 12 | | Tuiasosopo, Marques | 11 | 6 | 65 | 0 | 1 | 22 |
| | Lions |
Att
|
Cmp
|
Yds
|
Td
|
Int
|
Lg
| | Harrington, Joey | 21 | 13 | 117 | 1 | 1 | 33 |
|
|
Rushing
| | Raiders |
Att
|
Yds
|
Avg
|
Lg
|
Td
| | Garner, Charlie | 15 | 66 | 4.4 | 14 | 1 | | Fargas, Justin | 3 | 12 | 4.0 | 7 | 0 | | Wheatley, Tyrone | 4 | 11 | 2.8 | 4 | 0 | | Crockett, Zack | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 2 | 0 | | Tuiasosopo, Marques | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | | Whitted, Alvis | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
| | Lions |
Att
|
Yds
|
Avg
|
Lg
|
Td
| | Bryson, Shawn | 12 | 53 | 4.4 | 12 | 0 | | Gary, Olandis | 15 | 46 | 3.1 | 19 | 1 | | Harrington, Joey | 4 | 7 | 1.8 | 9 | 0 | | Jefferson, Shawn | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 | | Schlesinger, Cory | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 |
|
|
Receiving
| | Raiders |
Rec
|
Yds
|
Avg
|
Lg
|
Td
| | Rice, Jerry | 8 | 71 | 8.9 | 12 | 0 | | Brown, Tim | 6 | 49 | 8.2 | 11 | 0 | | Porter, Jerry | 4 | 49 | 12.3 | 22 | 0 | | Johnson, Teyo | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 11 | 0 | | Garner, Charlie | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 6 | 0 | | Wheatley, Tyrone | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 |
| | Lions |
Rec
|
Yds
|
Avg
|
Lg
|
Td
| | Schlesinger, Cory | 4 | 53 | 13.3 | 33 | 1 | | Bryson, Shawn | 4 | 32 | 8.0 | 14 | 0 | | Anderson, Scotty | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 10 | 0 | | Ricks, Mikhael | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 9 | 0 | | Gary, Olandis | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 6 | 0 | | Hakim, Az-Zahir | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 | | Jefferson, Shawn | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 |
|
|
Tackles-Solo-Assists Sacks-Yds (unofficial)
| | Raiders |
T
|
S
|
A
|
Sk-Yd
| | Barton, Eric | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0-0 | | Smith, Travian | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0-0 | | Harris, Napoleon | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0-0 | | Cooper, Chris | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0-0 | | Gibson, Derrick | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0-0 | | Grant, DeLawrence | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0-0 | | Armstrong, Trace | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0-0 | | Coleman, Rod | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0-0 | | Woodson, Charles | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0-0 | | Brayton, Tyler | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0-0 | | Shaw, Terrance | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0-0 | | Woodson, Rod | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | | Gilbert, Sean | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | | Gbaja-Biamila, Akbar | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 |
| | Lions |
T
|
S
|
A
|
Sk-Yd
| | Bailey, Boss | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0-0 | | Smith, Otis | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0-0 | | Hall, James | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1-7 | | Evans, Doug | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0-0 | | Rogers, Shaun | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1-7 | | Green, Barrett | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0-0 | | Edwards, Kalimba | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1-5 | | Walker, Bracy | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0-0 | | Holmes, Earl | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0-0 | | Pritchett, Kelvin | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0-0 | | Walker, Brian | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0-0 | | Holt, Terrence | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0-0 | | Harris, Corey | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | | Davis, James | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | | Gooch, Jeff | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | | Wilkinson, Dan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0-0 |
|
|
Interceptions
| | Raiders |
INT
|
Yds
|
Avg
|
Lg
|
Td
| | Woodson, Rod | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 |
| | Lions |
INT
|
Yds
|
Avg
|
Lg
|
Td
| | Holt, Terrence | 1 | 30 | 30.0 | 30 | 0 | | Smith, Otis | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | | Walker, Brian | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
|
|
Punting
| | Raiders |
No.
|
Yds
|
Avg
|
TB
|
In20
|
Lg
| | Lechler, Shane | 4 | 205 | 51.3 | 0 | 1 | 59 |
| | Lions |
No.
|
Yds
|
Avg
|
TB
|
In20
|
Lg
| | Harris, Nick | 4 | 169 | 42.3 | 2 | 1 | 47 |
|
|
Punt Returns
| | Raiders |
No.
|
Yds
|
Avg
|
Lg
|
Td
| | Buchanon, Phillip | 2 | 6 | 3.0 | 5 | 0 |
| | Lions |
No.
|
Yds
|
Avg
|
Lg
|
Td
| | Swinton, Reggie | 4 | 43 | 10.8 | 22 | 0 |
|
|
Kickoff Returns
| | Raiders |
No.
|
Yds
|
Avg
|
Lg
|
Td
| | Fargas, Justin | 2 | 60 | 30.0 | 32 | 0 | | Jenkins, Ronney | 2 | 29 | 14.5 | 17 | 0 |
| | Lions |
No.
|
Yds
|
Avg
|
Lg
|
Td
| | Swinton, Reggie | 3 | 116 | 38.7 | 61 | 0 |
|
|
Kicking
| | Raiders |
XP/XPA
|
FG/FGA
|
Dist(Made/Fail)
| | Janikowski, Sebastian | 1/1 | 2/3 | 55 55 24 |
| | Lions |
XP/XPA
|
FG/FGA
|
Dist(Made/Fail)
| | Hanson, Jason | 2/2 | 3/3 | 54 42 39 |
|
|
Fumbles
| | | | | |
Rec
| | Raiders |
No.
|
Lost
|
Forced
|
O
|
D
| | Tuiasosopo, Marques | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | | Rice, Jerry | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Asomugha, Nnamdi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | Robbins, Barret | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | | | | |
Rec
| | Lions |
No.
|
Lost
|
Forced
|
O
|
D
| | Swinton, Reggie | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Harrington, Joey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Gary, Olandis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | | Evans, Doug | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | | Green, Barrett | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | Bryson, Shawn | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|
|
Officials
| |
Referee- Jeff Triplette,
Umpire- Scott Dawson,
Head linesman- Tom Stabile,
Line judge- Jeff Seeman,
Field judge- Duke Carroll,
Side judge- Greg Meyer,
Back judge- Richard Reels |
|
Attendance - Time
| | 61,561
; 3:03 |
|
Team Statistics
| Raiders | Lions | | First downs | 18 | 14 | | Rushing | 6 | 5 | | Passing | 11 | 6 | | Penalty | 1 | 3 | | 3rd-Down Efficiency | 5
-
14 | 4
-
13 | | 4th-Down Efficiency | 3
-
3 | 0
-
0 | | Total Net Yards | 265 | 229 | | Total Plays | 68 | 54 | | Average Gains | 3.9 | 4.2 | | Net Yards Rushing | 94 | 112 | | Rushes | 26 | 33 | | Average Per Rush | 3.6 | 3.4 | | Net Yards Passing | 171 | 117 | | Completed-Attempted | 21
-
39 | 13
-
21 | | Yards Per Pass | 4.1 | 5.6 | | Sacked-Yards Lost | 3
-
19 | 0
-
0 | | Had Intercepted | 3 | 1 | | Punts-Average | 4
-
51.3 | 4
-
42.3 | | Return Yardage | 11 | 73 | | Punts-Returns | 2
-
6 | 4
-
43 | | Kickoffs-Returns | 4
-
89 | 3
-
116 | | Interceptions-Returns | 1
-
5 | 3
-
30 | | Penalties-Yards | 8
-
51 | 3
-
30 | | Fumbles-Lost | 3
-
1 | 3
-
1 | | Time Of Possession | 30:46 | 29:14 |
|
|
News: 11/03/03
The job market isn't tight if you're an unemployed defensive back sitting by the phone.
Just wait. It won't be long before the Lions call.
Doug Evans got the call Thursday night in Seattle.
"I caught the red-eye to Detroit," he said. "I got in around 5:30 the next morning, took about an hour nap and started looking at films."
An 11-year veteran who has "seen it all," Evans snickered when coaches told him in those initial hours with the team that he would replace starter Dre' Bly against Oakland two days later if Bly's hamstring didn't respond well enough to treatment.
"I thought to myself, 'Yeah, right, that's going to happen,' " Evans said. "You don't usually replace your best corner with someone who's just barely off the plane."
But, Doug, remember that you're a Lion now.
Conforming to common sense has never been a requirement here. And barely 48 hours after convincing the Lions that he was indeed a living, breathing cornerback, he was in their starting lineup, reflecting the secondary's new motto: "If you've got a pulse, you've got to play."
"It doesn't matter if you just got here or if you've been here for 10 years," Evans said, "it's football, and the basics are the same. You can have your X's and O's, but it still comes down to you tackle, you hit and you catch."
But, Doug, remember that you're a Lion now.
Those were three basic principles pretty much foreign to his new teammates. That is, until they came across an opponent in the feuding Raiders with even less of a motive for finishing the season than the Lions had.
The simple way was the effective way in the Lions' 23-13 victory.
They tackled. They hit. They caught.
"It was a great, great game plan on defense," coach Steve Mariucci said, "and we kept it relatively simple because we needed to. It gets a little tricky when you're alternating all of those guys. I take my hat off to the coaching staff for figuring out a way to play with a skillful team like the Raiders."
Interesting how the Lions suddenly grasped the simple equation that applying constant pressure on the quarterback -- particularly a bad one -- usually makes him ineffective. It's not impolite for a defender to step in front of a pass even if it wasn't originally intended for him. Nor is it rude to strip the ball free and claim it as your own.
The Lions' defense finally developed a spine. Too late to salvage anything for this season but never too early to help the coaches evaluate who wants to be around the big top for next year's next big tease.
Calling the defense patchwork would be offering excessive praise. This was a unit held together with chicken wire and gum. The other starting corner was venerable Otis Smith, whom the Lions plucked off the waiver wire just before the season opener. Rookie safety Terrence Holt was the third corner, often lining up opposite the best receiver the game has ever known, Jerry Rice.
Smith had an interception to start the game. Holt had one to end it. Holt got so excited after the game that he mistakenly went into the Raiders' locker room.
"We told each other before the game that we needed a complete team effort if we were going to win today," Holt said. "That's why we decided to introduce the whole team before the game and not just one unit. We got so many contributions from so many different people. That's what makes this feel so good."
Enjoy it. It might be their last win of the season.
The Raiders must really, really, REALLY stink to sink this low.
There's a rising insurrection within that team. The veterans have turned on head coach Bill Callahan, and they appear determined to take him down. Looking so uninspired against a defense that has struggled all season certainly isn't an endorsement for Callahan's continued employment.
The amnesia that accompanies victory is short-term. The personnel deficiencies and the inadequacies in execution remain for a team that will struggle to win four games this season. But Lions owner William Clay Ford won a brief reprieve. He believed that his players had forgotten how to have fun playing football and told them so following a practice last week.
"Oh, I don't think that anything that I said had anything to do with how we played," Ford said. "But we were playing tight before. We were cautious and scared to make mistakes. When they played loose, they played better."
It's amazing what the desperate will cling to. Having fun and keeping things simple are fine when you're playing against a team that has already quit, but it's impossible to feel any better about the Lions now than a week earlier.
RECAP:
Charles Woodson made the week miserable
for coach Bill Callahan. On Sunday, the Oakland Raiders gave
Callahan more aggravation.
Forced to go with Marques Tuiasosopo and Rick Mirer at
quarterback, the Raiders committed four turnovers, including
three interceptions, and fell to the lowly Detroit Lions, 23-13.
A year after reaching the Super Bowl under Callahan, the reeling
Raiders (2-6) have dropped four straight and are off to their
worst start since 1964, when they were 1-7-1.
The Lions (2-6) snapped a six-game losing streak and won for
just the second time in their last 16 games, dating to 2002.
The latest loss for the Raiders comes after Woodson, Oakland's
star cornerback, criticized Callahan in an interview aired on
"ESPN's "NFL Countdown" on Sunday.
"I think that we have a coach with a very big ego," Woodson said
in the interview. "He's not listening to the veterans and
that's what's sad about it. When you can't listen to guys with
experience like we have on offense then I think that's something
very wrong. That's the problem."
The problem for Callahan on Sunday was that he was stuck with
Tuiasosopo and Mirer since reigning Most Valuable Player Rich
Gannon is sidelined with a torn labrum and both quarterbacks
struggled.
"I thought they competed hard," Callahan said of his
quarterbacks. "We were trying to get Tuiasosopo ready to play
and he played very limited. I thought it was awfully tough for
Mirer with the situation he was put in today predicated on the
limited amount of repetitions throughout the week."
Making his first NFL start, Tuiasopopo had his second pass of
the game intercepted by veteran cornerback Otis Smith, who cut
in front of Jerry Rice near the sideline at the Oakland 43. That
led to a 54-yard field goal by Jason Hanson 2:06 into the game.
"That was very big as far as momentum is concerned," Smith said.
"It's like a heavyweight fight. Whoever comes out and lands
that first big punch has momentum for a while."
A second-round pick in 2001, Tuiasosopo was 6-of-11 for 65 yards
before leaving in the second quarter with a left knee injury.
"He has an MCL injury, but the medical staff believed he could
go back into the game provided that he thought he was confident
enough in his mobility," Callahan said. "But he didn't have
confidence in his mobility. That's when we made the decision to
take him out."
Callahan then turned to the 33-year-old Mirer, who last appeared
in an NFL game in 2000 with San Francisco. Mirer completed
15-of-28 passes for 125 yards and was picked off twice.
"We made some yards, we just didn't make points," said Mirer,
the second overall pick in the 1993 draft. "You just get behind
and you get stuck forcing the ball sometimes. Those guys made
some good plays."
Rice, the NFL's all-time leading receiver, was also responsible
for a critical turnover that led to a touchdown. After catching
a short pass by Tuiasosopo, Rice had the ball stripped away by
newly-signed cornerback Doug Evans and linebacker Barrett Green
recovered the fumble and returned it 38 yards to the Oakland 12.
Four plays later, Olandis Gary scored on a two-yard run, giving
Detroit a 10-0 lead with 58 seconds left in the first quarter.
Evans, a veteran cornerback who was a starter with Green Bay's
Super Bowl-winning team in 1996, signed with the Lions on
Friday. Due to injuries to starting cornerback Dre' Bly as well
as reserve cornerbacks Jimmy Wyrick and rookie Rod Babers,
Evans started alongside the 38-year-old Smith.
"Doug Evans took the red-eye from Seattle, got here at five'o
clock in the morning on Friday, took a little nap, put his
toothpaste down over there and came here for meetings and
practice and then he's starting," said Lions coach Steve
Mariucci. "I tip my hat to the defensive coaching staff because
they had to put together a game plan that changed by the minute
this week."
"I still haven't met all the guys," Evans said. "I took the
red-eye and got about an hour sleep Friday. Everything happened
so fast. I'm just happy to get the opportunity to get back out
on the field again."
After turning two turnovers into 10 points in the first quarter,
the Lions scored 13 more on their first three second-half
possessions.
Detroit's Joey Harrington, who entered the game with 12
interceptions, completed 13-of-21 passes for 117 yards and a
touchdown with an interception.
"We didn't make mistakes on offense today and our defense played
incredible," Harrington said. "I couldn't have asked for
anything better from our defense. The play of the offensive
line was great too."
Harrington hit fullback Cory Schlesinger with a 33-yard
touchdown 3:54 into the second half to increase Detroit's lead
to 17-3.
"We faked it and threw it up the sideline to Cory and he did a
great job of sneaking by," Harrington said. "(Phillip) Buchanon
was up tight and he (Schlesinger) just slipped right into the
hole and made a typical Cory catch, made it a little interesting
with a little bobble in there."
Hanson also kicked field goals of 42 and 39 yards in the fourth
quarter, making him 9-for-9 this season.
"If anybody in the league is better than Jason Hanson, I'd like
to see him," Mariucci said. "He's rock solid and a great team
player."
Sebastian Janikowski kicked a career-high 55-yard field goal on
the final play of the first half and added a 24-yarder with 9:14
left in the fourth quarter for Oakland. The second one, which
pulled the Raiders within 20-13, came after Reggie Swinton
muffed a punt and rookie Nnamdi Asomugha recovered at the
Detroit 9.
Swinton made up for his muff by returning the ensuing kickoff 61
yards to the Oakland 37. That helped set up Hanson's 39-yard
field goal with 5:52 remaining.
After another disappointing loss, Woodson did not recant the
comments he made to ESPN.
"It was time to let everyone know what was going on," Woodson
said. "I know I said the things I said, but it's the feeling of
the whole team. I'm really just the spokesperson. The more
you talk to the other guys, the more you understand where I'm
coming from. I take nothing back I said. Everything I said I
mean."
Many of the Raiders preferred not to comment on Woodson's
stance.
"I really don't want to elaborate on that," Rice said. "We're
going to deal with this situation in the house. Every guy is
entitled to his opinion. We're going to back him 100 percent,
but we're also going to back Bill. It's something that's going
to be worked out. He felt it was something that had to be said
and he did that."
However, Evans is happy to be working again, becoming the fifth defensive back the Lions have claimed off waivers this season.
"I know of all the problems that they've been having with the secondary," he said. "But maybe I'm the missing link. Maybe this can be the start of turning things around here."
But Doug, remember that you're a Lion now.
Scott's Game Commentary:
 Its official: the honolulu blue and silver aren't the worse team in the NFL. I have seen some major collapes over the years but how can one explain the Oakland Raiders. Isn't this practically the same team that went to the Superbowl in January? Granted they were without QB Rich Gannon, but is there another team with more injuries than the Lions? Going into the Oakland game, the Lions were playing without their top four CB's: Goodman, Cash, Wyrick and Bly. So one would think that the Lions secondary would get smothered. Wrong! Without Gannon, the Raiders could not come up with any big plays and gave up four turnovers which the Lions took advantage of in route to a rather easy 23-13 victory. Joey Harrington looked better than the past several games, but make no mistake: he was mediocre at best. Gary and Bryson did an adequate job running the ball, but I would be shocked if either are playing a year from now. The Lions started four rookies on defense and they did not disappoint. Linebackers Boss Bailey and James Davis, lineman Cory Redding and Terrence Holt all showed hope that they can develop into decent NFL players. To be honest with everyone, I was totally caught off guard that the Lions won the game. I went into the game dejected after Michigan State blew their change of beating Michigan. It was nice to see the Lions win, but it does not mean squat unless they can beat the lowly Bears this Sunday.
Grades:
Offense: --- C. The Offense had two decent drives: 66 yards in seven plays on the first possession of the second half, ending with Cory Schlesinger's touchdown catch, and 44 yards in 11 plays to a fourth-quarter field goal by Jason Hanson. Joey Harrington only had one interception the entire game and played better than he did the past few games (like he could play any worse). The receiving core is a joke! Bill Schroeder is almost guaranteed to be let go after this year. Is there any player that is more overpaid right now in the NFL than Schroeder? Az-Zahir Hakim and Shawn Jefferson also were non existant and probably are playing in their final season with the Lions. The offensive line played a good game and didn't give up a sack the entire game. Believe it or not, but the Lions for the 2nd year in a row have given up the least amount of sacks.
Defense: --- B. The Raiders for some strange reason did not test the Lions depleted secondary hardly at all. The Defense had three interceptions, a fumble recovery and three sacks kept the Raiders in check. Jerry Rice averaged 8.9 yards on eight catches. Tim Brown averaged 8.2 on six catches. Talk about two players that are showing their age in only a year! All in all, a very good effort for a depleted Defense.
Special Teams: --- B. Hanson is one of the best kickers in the league and it showed against the Raiders. He nailed three field goals and has been the Lions only consistant player throughout the years. Returner Artose Pinner made up for a botched return when Bill Schroeder ran into him by setting up a Lions field goal.
Coaching: --- B. With what they had to work with on defense, Kurt Schottenheimer did a great job patching the holes. On offense, the play calling was better since the Lions were able to burn time by running the ball effectively for once.
Overall: --- B. If there was a game the Lions needed to win, it was aginst a team falling to new lows every week. Oakland is a team spirling out of control and without Gannon, the Lions took advantage of them and got their first victory since week one. Although the Lions won, they did nothing to show they are on the road of recovery. Bottom line is they beat a team they should have. Next week, they'll once again go up against a team they better beat. The Bears may have a two game winning streak, but don't forget, they are a clone of the Lions. The Bears and Lions have beaten teams worse than they are: San Diego, Arizona, and Oakland. That is not saying much. Still, I would expect the honolulu blue and silver to win on Saturday. I will be in Las Vegas and may have to put a wager on the Lions giving two points. But, I may think twice since anytime I bet with or against the Lions, I lose. Why do you think the Lions won on Sunday? I took Oakland! Enough said.
Click
HERE to go back to my LIONS page!!
| |
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