Today, the Lions' march towards Joke all you want about 'em, but the Lions scored 36 points and put together a late fourth-quarter comeback against a top five defense, and got big plays on both sides of the ball in the process. Moxie? Hard work? Resiliency? These aren't your father's Lions. These aren't anybody's Lions, actually.
But oh, did it look like the bottom was falling out, as Josh McCown led the Raiders on a 21-3 run in the second half that put them up 21-20 after going down 17-0. Lots of people expected the Lions to put up points, but the Raiders were downright frisky on offense as well and, actually, both groups resembled legitimate NFL squads. It's true.
McCown completed 75% of his passes for over 300 yards, while LaMont Jordan had 159 total yards and ran at 4.7 yards a carry. But it was the Lions' new additions that made the difference. Defensive end Dewayne White intercepted McCown and then forced and recovered a fumble from the quarterback in the game's final 3:07, Shaun McDonald caught the game-winning touchdown with 4:15 left, and, though new tackle George Foster was called for a few false starts, he and acquiree guard Edwin Mulitalo helped pave the way for fellow first-year Lion Tatum Bell to, as Ryan Wilson points out, beast all up on that. The revamped line only gave up two sacks after averaging four a game last year.
Oh, and that Calvin Johnson guy? Seventy yards and a touchdown. Not a bad way to start a messianic career. All around, it was an encouraging day for both teams, and a really big day for the new blood in Detroit. They gave the Lions a victory, both tangible and moral, they could build off of. So I guess all it took was someone to tell Matt Millen what players to get? Better late than never, Lions fans. One down, nine to go.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-09-2007 @ 8:58PM
George B Vieto said...
Looks like the Detroit Lions could be the 2007 version of the New Orleans Saints and surprise many teams after years of failure. Time will tell if Jon Kitna is a good predictor of events or hot air.
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9-09-2007 @ 9:20PM
jimbrinkley7 said...
Is this the year of the LION?
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9-09-2007 @ 9:31PM
ken nelsen said...
as far as the raiders go, wait till next year. its time to throw in the towel already. as long as Al Davis is owner, the raiders dont have a chance.
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9-09-2007 @ 9:40PM
Tray said...
Oakland actually played decently. It may have been a loss but it's good to see the guys putting some effort into it. A few to many penalties and sacks for my taste though. They'll get better. Good win for the Lions(yeah! that was said in the same sentence). GO RAIDERS BEAT DENVER!
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9-09-2007 @ 11:15PM
Deuce Dan said...
Why is Kitna so happy about beating a team that won only two games last year? Is playing in Detroit a step-up from playing in Cincinnati? And who is his barber?
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9-10-2007 @ 12:05AM
Rick Elliott said...
The Loser Lions actually WON a game? Are you kidding? Who did they play, The University of Michigan?
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9-10-2007 @ 12:11AM
houchens said...
I watched the whole game. Kitna actually played better than the statistics will show. One of the interceptions registered to him was actually a bobbled catch by the receiver that ended up in the arms of a Raider defensive back. The pass was thrown on the mark. A couple of other passes were also dropped by receivers. Kitna showed leadership, guts, and skill. It was good to see a Detroit quarterback play well.
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9-10-2007 @ 2:16AM
EDDIE B said...
I CANT BELEIVE WE LOST TO THE LIONS!WOW THIS YEAR MIGHT ALLREADY BE OVER..........BUT JORDAN LOOKED GOOD AND THE D WAS OK ...IF OUR D WOULD TIGHTEN UP WE WOULD HJAVE WON! AND F@CK OL PUNK AZZ MOSS!
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9-10-2007 @ 6:44AM
embarrased said...
I'm glad to see the lions execute when it matters most....if we go .500 most of the fans will be in heaven...we deserve a turnaround and maybe this is the year...who knows...kitna looked great...hope he keeps it up
as for the comment by rick elliot.... are you from an area where the men are men and the cows are real skiddish...
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9-10-2007 @ 11:10AM
SandLotJones said...
I can't help but second guess what the fourth quarter score might have been with Dante at the helm. Three touchdowns in a game is an improvement for the team, but there was no points in the first half. On the first seven possessions, there were three punts, three missed field goals and one interception. The only bright spot is that on three of those seven drives, the Raiders showed they could hold the ball for 9 + plays and 40+ yards each. Three scores were followed by an interception and a fumble, both resulting in points for the Lions. No points in the first half and turn overs killed us. Three sacks is better than last year, but still three too many. I still wonder, could Culpepper have danced us closer to the end zone on the field goal attempts? Would we have had two interceptions and a fumble from the veteran pro bowler? Would he have been sacked three times? Would we have been scoreless in the first 30 minutes? Would he have been limited to three TDs in the third? Most importantly, could we have won this one with Dante under center? I wonder . . .
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9-10-2007 @ 11:38AM
Bart said...
Well, a continuance of last year. Dante would not do any better, you got to have a team with heart, and the Raiders do not have it. They have to many so called super stars, at least in their own mind. Ism sick of the show boating and these overpaid so called athelits, lets go back to true Raider football. Get rid of some of the slackers and put in some players who want to really play, and are hungry for a win.
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9-10-2007 @ 1:04PM
sean said...
Look out JON.K the second generation of purple people eaters r here. Hope lions WR can handle the ball because they going to get slap around just like Jon. Alaa K.williams
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9-10-2007 @ 1:34PM
stanfordfan said...
We forget that the Lions continue to hold the longest winning streak in the history of all sports. For century upon century, they beat the Christians every time!!
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9-10-2007 @ 6:21PM
Randy Morris said...
A lotta good teams lost their opener, and for anyone to say "throw in the towel, wait till next year" is a stinkin' loser, or a lion fan. I moved to Michigan over 6 years ago, and I still wear my Raider jacket and hat, I am always and forever a part o' the RAIDER NATION. Lion fans win an opener and it's their super bowl. We have had a few losin' years, what have they had? Decades o' losin'. I am ticked over the loss, but I saw a better team by far from last year. I don't mean to slam Detroit, hey they played a heck of a good game, give 'em credit, but they are perenial losers, we are just goin' through a phase.
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9-11-2007 @ 3:10PM
Sam said...
As a Lion fan I can't understand all the hype. Does anyone realize that the Lions have won their season opener in 4 of the last 5 seasons.
Did the sports writers even watch the game? The same old Lions blew a 17=0 lead in true Lions fashion.
They didn't look good ar alll. Their backup quaterback from last year lit them up. That is sad. Its gonna be another long year for us poor Lions fan.
Im 32 years old, have only seen my team win one playoff game in my whole life.
Us Lions fans are destined to pass on without even a taste of getting close to the superbowl
I'll be at the Eagles game in 2 weeks proudly displaying my "FIRE MILLEN" T-shirt.
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9-12-2007 @ 12:12AM
Baloo said...
Consider this. The Lions O scored 2 more TDs then the Packers, Bears, and Vikings O combined. This was the first time we have seen the staring 4 receiver set together and they moved the ball at will against the BEST PASS DEFENCE in the NFL. With this line up there will always be a mismatch somewhere. And our previously defunct O-Line looked very comfortable against some probowl Dline in a hostile enviroment. We will have more time to throw and we will need less time for plays to develope.
Your Purple People Eaters can blitz all they want as well. Then watch Johnson line up in the slot while we laugh at the 5'9" 186lbs safty line up to cover him. In twice already I have seen CJ catch a short pass and then take a step and lunge with a defender hanging on for another 5-7 yards.
You can't cover them all. You can't get to Kitna faster then they can get open. Sunday's performance will prove to be underwhelming by the break week 6. Calvin will run a crisp fade. Roy will not drop passes. Mike "Fury" will not get called for pushing off. Martz is making sure of that right now.
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9-12-2007 @ 11:05AM
Sam said...
Lions O?
Did you even watch the game?
If it weren't for 2 timely turnovers by the RAIDERS O, the Lions would have lost in the same way as they have done over the last 6 years
"FIRE MILLEN"
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9-12-2007 @ 9:12PM
Baloo said...
Watched every minute. If you had watched you would have seen the Lions dominate all but 10 minutes of the game. Those 10 minutes started with a fluke fumbled catch by Roy Williams. And it ended with an excetional snag by the NFC Defensive player of the week who broke 3 tackles to return it 28 yards.
And please save the "If they didn't miss the three field goals it would have turned out diferently" Rogers blocked 1. Another was for a personal best 57 yards.
If you want to rant on how bad a team is, try the Eagles fan page and explain to people how to waive a fair catch.
See you on TV in two weeks looking dismal and dejected wearing your crapy stained T your scribbled on."
Me? I will be waiting to see the Lions face the Bears 3-0 to see a true test to the Lions O.
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9-13-2007 @ 1:06AM
Sam said...
LOL Shows how much of a Calvin Johnson bandwagon fan you are.
Your reading comprehension is pathetic. You actually think I'm an Eagles fan. Maybe if you knew ANYTHING about the Lions, you'd understand why us TRUE lions fans go to games wearing "Fire Millen" T-Shirts. Find another team to root for we don't want you fair weather fans.
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