Week 2 Ends in a Self-Inflicted Loss
by Joshua Lobdell, Contributing Writer and Loyal Lions Fan
Last week we learned that a win is a win is a win. This week the Detroit Lions are learning that a loss is a loss is a loss. However, with that being said the Detroit Lions, just three seasons removed from a historically bad 0-16 campaign, proved that they can hang with the NFL big boys. In fact we could argue that the Lions beat themselves in San Francisco last night.
The argument could go like this. Two pretty bad Lions mistakes led to two San Francisco 49ers touchdowns. Without those 14 points on the board, the Lions may have had anther comeback in them.
Of course the Matthew Stafford interception was a bad thing, but the Niners converted that turnover into seven points. The second 49ers TD took three point off the board as newcomer Drayton Florence ran into the kicker David Akers on his field goal attempt extending that 49ers drive, which would lead to the second Niners TD.
Since at one point in the first quarter this game was 7-6, and the Lions defense actually kept the 49ers out of the end zone in the second quarter (until that very unfortunate penalty) this game could have played out much differently.
It looks like the 49ers defense was able to force the Lions offense into being a tad too one dimensional. Calvin Johnson caught 8 balls (while 7 other Lions caught balls), but the running game only put up 82 yards, and the Lions offense was 6-15 on third down. In fact for much of the game the Lions offense looked out of sorts.
On defense the Lions allowed the Niners to average 5.5 yards per rushing attempt. Ndamukong Suh did have 1.5 sacks, but they could not come up with a big stop late when the really need it. Granted the Niners are a great football team, but the Lions had plenty of opportunities (even after their own mistakes) to win this game.
After only three penalties last week, the Lions committed 8 this weak for 67 yards, but at least one of them might have been the difference between being 2-0 and 1-1.
While a loss is a loss, Lions fans can at least take some solace in the fact that the Lions were in this game. Of course after the Tigers dropped a heart breaker in Cleveland yesterday afternoon, this Monday looks especially gloomy.
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