The now 0-15 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.
Even if you vehemently dislike the Ford family or Rod Marinelli, you're probably not openly rooting for the Detroit Lions to suffer through the humiliation of an 0-16 season. If you are, may Santa deliver you the proverbial lump of coal Thursday morning.
Detroit's last chance to avoid the embarrassing first-time achievement comes Sunday at Lambeau Field, where they will take on the Packers. Detroit hasn't won in Wisconsin since 1991, and they haven't won anywhere since 2007. They're a nine-point underdog to a team that has lost five straight.
Marinelli has already talked to his team about avoiding the 0-fer. Surely, the topic has been brought up as the team prepares for the Packers.
On the flip side, while they haven't talked much about it yet, the Packers have plenty to discuss this week, too.
The Lions have lost every regular-season game, many in spectacular fashion.
Green Bay knows all about this. Detroit led in the fourth quarter before the Packers scored the last 24 points of a 48-25 win.
So while Detroit talks about avoiding history, the Packers have to do the same.
The Lions are the only team ever to go 0-15. That means the Packers are trying to avoid being the first team ever to lose to an 0-15 team. Since "no one ever goes 0-16 in the NFL", the Packers are also trying to avoid being THAT team.
Shouldn't that be a bit of a motivator, too? If you're a part of this Green Bay team, and the chance to avoid a season-ending six-game skid isn't enough to get your ready, how about making sure you aren't the team that loses to the worst team (maybe) in NFL history?
Furthermore, which is the bigger motivator for a professional athlete? Seems to me that both the Packers and Lions are going into Sunday's game trying to avoid a measure of embarrassment. I can't imagine being in a position where I would have to use such tactics to get a team ready to play, but when you're 0-15 or 5-10, what other ideas do you have?
You can't tell your team to win in order to get an extra day off during the following week. The season is over after Sunday.
You're already paying them enough. You don't control the pursestrings, so you can't offer anyone a new contract for a good game.
Maybe this is why NFL coaches make millions of dollars. I'd hate to be in Marinelli's position, but Packers head coach Mike McCarthy isn't much better off. There's pressure on them both, and there's embarrassment waiting whoever doesn't get the job done Sunday.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-24-2008 @ 12:48PM
soulcitysigma1914 said...
from the packers standpoint, i think they should throw the game. if the packers pound these guys in a game that doesn't mean anything to them, Detroit will remember that forever and these two teams play twice a year. it'll make their historic rivalry more hostile than it really needs to be.
throw the game Green Bay, let them win
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12-24-2008 @ 2:09PM
A.J. said...
This game's going to be ugly and sloppy either way. I can tell you this much: If the Packers play not to lose, they might just lose. The Packers, despite their struggles, are obviously a better team than the Detroit Lions, and when you are a flat-out better team than your opponent, you have to put them away early.
Last year, Brian Billick and the Ravens treated the Dolphins with no respect and didn't go for the throat when it counted, which is why the Ravens lost - and probably the glaring game that lost Brian Billick his job.
The Packers should be aggressive, but not overconfident, After all, out of any lion you can face, the hardest ones to deal with are the ones that are wounded and caged.
As for the Lions themselves, stop waiting for something to go wrong. Teams will score touchdowns on you even if you have a good defense, which the Lions don't. But too many times I've seen the Lions up by more than one score. The defense has been playing good enough, if not great, and then the opposing offense scores and suddenly the defense completely falls apart as if they knew they didn't have it in them.
Also, there have been a couple of games where their opponents have played down to their level and practically offered them the win on a silver platter. Don't be rude to someone who offers you a gift - like a pick or an untimely fumble. Take it, and do something with it. For all the talk of lack of talent, you've got Calvin effing Johnson, who is probably one of THE hardest receivers in the league to cover just by virtue of being an athletic freak of nature. Red zone isn't a problem - just throw fade routes. Calvin Johnson is your best player right now and can even work against double coverage. Get him the ball.
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12-27-2008 @ 1:27AM
teamwhat2007 said...
Not only I am openly rooting for an 0-16 season, I'm counting on it. It's the only way things change in the 313. 0-16: change the Lions can believe in.
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