Here's a Thought: Lions Should Forfeit Colts Game, Take Two Weeks to Prepare for Saints

The 0-13 Lions have many believing that a winless season is not only possible, but probable. This is 0for08, FanHouse's eye on the Detroit Lions and their quest for a winless season.

Desperate times, I guess. The Lions are staring 0-16 right in the face, and with three weeks left in the season, there really doesn't seem to be any way out of it. They came close against the Vikings yesterday, but they have to travel to Indy this week, then host the Saints, before closing out this fiasco in Green Bay.

After a slow start, the Colts have won six in a row and barring an implosion, are virtually guaranteed a wild-card spot. Which is why NFL.com's Adam Schefter mentions the unmentionable: Detroit should forfeit against Indianapolis.

You know, like they're a rec league kickball team or something. But Schefter doesn't make this suggestion willy-nilly, he actually has a plan (Rod Marinelli asks: "What's a plan?"):

Instead of traveling to ... play a Colts team that ... features Peyton Manning at quarterback, against a team still fighting to lock up a wild-card spot, in the game it is least likely to win all season, Detroit should wave the white flag. It should save the travel costs and its players' health.

The Lions should take an unscheduled bye week, rest up physically, clear their heads mentally, and start gameplanning for the following Sunday's Dec. 21 home game against the New Orleans Saints.

As preposterous as the idea is - and it is something completely blasphemous in the world of football - it actually might reduce the chances that the Lions will finish this season 0-16.

As bad as it sounds from a competitive standpoint, it's not a bad idea. Unfortunately, the last time the Lions came off a bye (back in Week 4), they lost by 27 points at home to the Bears. Of course, at the time, nobody thought Detroit would be 0-for-13 so maybe the sense of urgency that comes with making history, coupled with an extra week of preparation, will be enough to get the Lions a win.

But even Schefter doesn't seem so sure; he can only muster a half-hearted "it actually might reduce the chances that the Lions will finish this season 0-16." Which is spoken with all the conviction of an executioner about to flip the switch on some poor dude strapped to an electric chair.

But at this stage in the proceedings, the Lions don't have a lot of options, and Schefter makes that point nicely: "Detroit repeatedly has given away games this season. It has, at times, not shown up. Might as well really not show up Sunday. It could help Detroit veer off its path to imperfection."

Desperate times, indeed.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-10-2008 @ 3:38PM

Skapanza said...

I'd rather be a player on a team that goes 0-16 than be a player on a team that felt a game was so unwinnable they gave up and didn't even attempt to compete. With all due respect to Adam Schefter, and i'm not a Lions fan, that is completely idiotic.

To be a professionally paid competitive athlete and be told by your coaching staff and administration that your team is not even going to try and play would be demoralizing, infuriating, and utterly embarrassing. I wouldn't be surprised if they forfeited and got hammered by the Saints due to the horrible feelings they'd have coming off a forfeit, not to mention the landslide of media mockery. To top it all off, it would cost millions of dollars to the league and screw over fans.

Schefter's plan is a drama-dependent media whore's dream, but is also stupid, pathetic, unrealistic, and based on the monetary costs, potentially illegal.

12-08-2008 @ 9:11PM

wingnut1 said...

Being from Detroit, I have the distinct pleasure of reading and seeing the Lions first hand. Let me start out by saying the players DO NOT want to be in the record books for being the first team to go 0 and 16. They are playing to win every game, did they make those horibble 4th and 1 calls, no that was Rod (I love this,this is what I play for) Marrinelli , you have to remember ,this guy was handpicked by Matt Millen, enough said. I feel bad for the good players (yes there are good players on this team) who don't deserve this. This team needs to be gutted from top (the Fords) to bottom (towel boys). We have to get the stench from Millens brilliant football mind off this team.

12-08-2008 @ 6:53PM

ryan said...

Skapanza,

Fair point. And while I can't speak for Schefter, I don't think he's serious, if for no other reason than the NFL would never allow it. But, yeah, the fact that we're even having this conversation tells you all you need to know about the 2008 Lions.

12-08-2008 @ 6:59PM

Eddie said...

Give all the Lions players the week off.

Don't game plan, for the love of God don't watch any tape, and don't practice.

Show up on Sunday at Lucas Oil refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to get spanked like a redheaded stepchild.

Mix it up a little! Get some CB's on the other side of the ball, running routes and trying to catch whatever Daunte's cookin'. Run lots of fake FG attempts, but instead of doing them on fourth, run a couple on first and second downs. Fake punts especially work really well (just ask Tom Cable).

Mainly, just remember to have some fun out there. Celebrate when Reggie Wayne finds his way to the end zone. Bonus points (and fines) for pre-planning the celebration! Dance on the 50 yard line at the end of the game, just because you can. At the halftime prep talk, blow up some balloons, down a couple of cold ones and just let it slide, baby.

0-16 was never this much fun.

12-08-2008 @ 8:12PM

josh said...

quitting isn't exemplary in any fashion. surrendering only happens in war and alcoholism. funny article, bad idea

12-09-2008 @ 12:14AM

Lester Hall said...

It's about time for Detroit to change there name to the Dimples, that is how hard they play. Detroit will never win the Super Bowl till the Ford family sells the team.

12-08-2008 @ 10:20PM

Chris said...

I think it's kind of a dumb idea, for all the reasons stated above...and one other.

It would taint the losing record!!!

They'd have to put a big ol' asterisk next to the record.

12-08-2008 @ 10:29PM

Yohncc said...

Wing has the right idea as far as the Lions go, however, the Lions were losing long before Matt Millen got there.

Eddie I think should spank himself (and probably does) for his outrageous comments about the Lions. I bet he has forgotten about a game between these two teams in 1991 where Eric Dickerson a Hall of Fame running back was held to a career low -4 yards rushing against this same team that he now mocks.

If Eddie is concerned about the Lions "letting it slide"
perhaps it's because they are going to slide into the endzone on his Colts. Don't forget your 1-15 1991 Colts Eddie. I like them and they will most likely win, however you are a poor winner and I curse you forever to being the loser that you are. Go Lions!!

12-09-2008 @ 12:19PM

I'm not even a Colts fan!

If it makes you feel any better, I'm a Niner fan. So in a way, I feel your pain.

On the other hand, we have a chance to make history here. Don't screw this up for me.

12-09-2008 @ 10:07AM

Matt said...

I agree with Yohncc: the fact that the Lions held Eric Dickerson to a low rushing total in a 1991 game has all the meaning in the world come this Sunday. I'll bet the Lions "slide into the endzone" on the Colts at least six or seven times because of it.

I just hope, when the Lions demolish the Colts, that the Lions don't act like poor winners because of the losers that they are.

Yohncc sounds like a walking oxymoron, but without the "oxy" part.

12-09-2008 @ 5:44PM

luvmycolts said...

That is the funniest thing I've read all day long. the Lions demolish the Colts, and scoring six or seven times. Whew stop please before I bust a gut. Boy do I love sick days !!!

12-09-2008 @ 1:34PM

You do recognize sarcasm, right? Or do we need to strip the oxy away from you too?

12-09-2008 @ 9:27PM

steve said...

it does'nt matter what happens in the indy game, they will no way, no how defeat the saints. adam schefter is an idiot!!

12-10-2008 @ 4:11PM

Matt said...

"I agree with Yohncc: the fact that the Lions held Eric Dickerson to a low rushing total in a 1991 game has all the meaning in the world come this Sunday. I'll bet the Lions "slide into the endzone" on the Colts at least six or seven times because of it."

"Yohncc sounds like a walking oxymoron, but without the "oxy" part."

Does this make DoorMatt a moron for agreeing with me?

As far as cursing the 49ers go, I usually reserve that for when they beat up on the Lions.

To you luvmycolts, you will be even sicker if the Lions due beat the Colts on Sunday (provided they have a healthy quarterback of course).

Steve if you knew anything about the Lions History you would know why they could beat the Saints.

With all of this said, I still believe they will win at least one game this season. If not even this front office won't be able to screw the draft up (I think).

12-14-2008 @ 4:02PM

So, does anyone think the lions won't take something out of that close loss to the Colts? What an idiotic idea to suggest professional athletes avoid competition.