Friday, November 28, 2008

0-16 seems very likely


After seeing the Lions absolutely get demolished on national television as well as Sunday's disappointing loss, a winless season seems very likely for the Detroit Lions. I hope it doesn't happen but I know a lot of people pulling for them to go 0-fer.

To me, this season is similar to in 2003 when the Tigers were close to setting a record for losses in a season. I was in college then and remember going to a couple of games during one of the Tigers final homestands and hoping it didn't happen. And it didn't and I was relieved.

I can't say I'm too optimistic about the Lions chances. Their remaining schedule is tough and filled with teams that are in playoff contention - Minnesota, Indianapolis, New Orleans and Green Bay. A lot of people say its impossible to go winless in the league but this could be the year. Or the Lions could be like last year's Miami Dolphins, who were also on the path to become the first winless team in NFL history. The Dolphins ended their drought in Week 14 of last season by beating the Baltimore Ravens. Maybe Week 14 will be the lucky charm for the Lions.

But the way this season has unfolded has been utterly surpising to me. I know the preseason is meaningless, but how can a team win all their preseason games only to go winless in the real season. And how can a team that started 6-2 last year have only won one game since that time.

On Sunday they blew a 17-0 lead and got beat by the Tampa Bay Buccanneers. And that isn't the first time they had a lead only to choke it away. In the Thanksgiving game they just got destroyed and let Chris Johnson run untouched for touchdowns.

Regardless of how this season unfolds, I'm more excited about the changes that lie ahead. Detroit is getting a new GM for sure and a new coach could also be possible. And if its a respectable GM drafting for them, the path to recovery could be in place. The Lions will have three of the first 35 picks in next year's draft which could be a good start to addressing their many problems -- if they don't waste their picks on players that ended up flopping like receivers Mike Williams and Charles Rogers.

Detroit News photos

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