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| The Lions final game of the season. They lose 31-21 to the Green Bay Packers. |
It was a meaningless and cold game in Green Bay, which were unusual words to say considering the Packers were one of the most consistently successful NFL franchises since the early 90s. The 0-15 Lions were facing the 5-10 Packers. Both had turbulent seasons, Aaron Rodgers beginning to take helm in Green Bay.
Detroit came close to salvaging something from what was a season that couldn't get any worse. By the 3rd quarter, the game was tied at 14. The Detroit Lions were trying to avoid becoming the first franchise ever to lose every game in a 16 game season. The last time a team lost every game in a season were the god-awful 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. By the middle of the 4th quarter, it seemed all hope was lost for Detroit. They were down 24-14, but were able to pull within 3, at 24-21. Then, Donald Driver received a pass from Aaron Rodgers, and scored on a 71 yard pass. And so, Detroit's painful season ended, at 0-16.
The Lions' season was one of the most turbulent. Perhaps the worst general manager of all time, Matt Millen, was fired earlier in the season at 0-3. J.T. O'Sullivan, who was cut earlier that season by the Lions, lit them up in a game in San Francisco vs the 49ers. Jon Kitna would be lost for the season against the Chicago Bears in week 5. Dan Orlovsky would take helm in Detroit, and infamously ran backwards for a safety against the Minnesota Vikings. The Lions came very close to winning a game. Jumping to a 23-13 lead by halftime in Chicago, it looked like the Lions might beat the Bears. It would only be an illusion, as the Detroit defense choked away the lead, and the Bears won 27-23.
Things could only get worse. They lose embarrassingly at home to Jacksonville 38-14. In one of the lowest points, the Lions were humiliated and annihilated by the Tennessee Titans at home on a nationally televised Thanksgiving game. They were manhandled 47-10, with the Titans intentionally running up the score. The Lions played yet another close game, Leading Minnesota at home 13-10, the Lions yet again melted down, losing to Minnesota 20-16. Despite this, the Lions put up a close fight against Peyton Manning's Colts, only to lose 31-21. Drew Brees and the Saints would vaporize the Lions 42-7, and at that point had been the first NFL team to start off 0-15, and the first NFL team since the 2001 Carolina Panthers to lose 15 consecutive games. It was a low point, but it wouldn't be rock bottom. Rock bottom would be the aforementioned game in Green Bay, losing 31-21.
Despite what seemingly was the worst ever part of Lions history in an already sad season, the Lions would not be hopeless. Matt Stafford would be drafted the next year, and Stafford would develop a strong connection with stud wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Despite a 2-14 season in 2009 and a 6-10 season in 2010, the Lions would make the playoffs for the first time since 1999 in 2011, finishing 10-6. Despite this, they regressed 4-12 in 2012. Calvin Johnson broke Jerry Rice's wide receiving record that season, though.
It's 2013 now, the Lions are trying to make their move in a stacked NFC North. Though the offense may have an upgrade in Reggie Bush, and the defense may be stout, Detroit will never forget what happened in 2008. 0-16. A signature of the Millen era.
