The 0-16 Lions have officially done it. This is 0for08, FanHouse's eye on the Detroit Lions and their quest for a winless season.
It had to end this way.
That is, to say, if this is actually the end.
The Lions are addicted to bad football. I've tried coming up with a justification for so many years of substandard play as well as faulty personnel moves on and off the field, and I've come to the conclusion that they're simply addicts. It doesn't make them bad people, it simply means that they've embraced what we deem destructive as suitable to their way of life. They are a gigantic failure of an organization comprised of hundreds of individual enablers.
This isn't to trivialize or poke fun at addictions of a much more serious nature -- addictions come in all shapes and sizes, from manageable to fatal, from heroin to Starbucks. This is a unique variety, and the Lions are deep in it. Those close to the team, as is always the case with addiction, have suffered the most, and they've tried all they could -- walkouts, websites, effigies -- to pull the Lions out of their hole. But the thing about addicts is that they have to recognize their problem, and that only usually comes when they've bottomed out, when they've fallen so far that they have to choose to embrace recovery.
As the first team to finish a season 0-16, it seems obvious that this Lions era has officially bottomed out. But do they think so?
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.
If the Detroit Lions are to avoid going 0-16, it will be thanks to Matt Millen's one and only great draft pick.
Wide receiver Calvin Johnson scored his second touchdown of the game in the third quarter today at Green Bay, and the Lions have now tied the Packers, 14-14.
Of course, these are the Lions we're talking about, and that means they're still probably going to find a way to lose this game. They were, after all, ahead of the Packers in the fourth quarter when the teams played earlier this season. They ended up losing, 48-25.
But with Johnson -- who despite playing with some absolutely horrendous quarterbacks this season is actually leading the league with 12 receiving touchdowns -- the Lions have a chance.
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.
The Detroit Lions need someone to step up and make a play if they're going to avoid finishing 0-16. In the early going, no one has.
In fact, the Lions' defense looked even more pathetic than usual in he first quarter today at Green Bay. With the Packers facing third-and-4 at their own 27-yard line, running back DeShawn Wynn took the ball around the right end and raced downfield, looking like he was zipping through a high school defense as no Lion could come close to tackling him. Wynn entered today's game with one carry for four yards this season, but he scored a 73-yard touchdown to get the Packers off to a 7-0 lead against the Lions.
On offense, Detroit has had the ball twice and punted twice. The Lions are closing in on 0-16.
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.
The Detroit Lions are most likely going down in history with, well, um, no one else by the end of Sunday -- a loss to the Packers would mean an 0-16 season, the first in the history of the NFL. You would think that they were horribly bothered by this turn of events.
Turns out, well, yeah, they kind of care (and maybe think they're "great" for some silly reason) but mostly, they're just getting ready to throw down after the season is over. And you can join, too -- thanks, Facebook!
On Sunday, December 28th, all of the Detroit Lions will converge on Downtown Detroit's very own, Esko Lounge to celebrate an end to their season. This will be an upscale event and will be hosted by starting safety, Dwight Smith, and Gosder Cherilus, a 2008 1st Round draft pick. Brought to you by Playmakers Entertainment and MIH International
Confirmed Lions in attendance include: Calvin Johnson,Chris Roberson, Daunte Culpepper, Rudi Johnson, Ernie Sims, and Kevin Smith, just to name a few. In addition, players from other NFL teams, the Detroit Pistons, and Tigers have also been invited.
Although the season did not end as they anticipated, this party is guaranteed to be a WINNER!!! Don't miss out!
"As anticipated" is such a vague and fantastically pleasant term considering the circumstances; not to mention ladies get in FREE -- so I suppose it's worth cutting the party planners a break.
Additionally, whoever is in charge of this little shindig is making sure that there will be no baggy clothing or jeans. This is, after all, a totally upscale party. Because nothing screams "high class" like "total losers" or "winless".
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.
A year ago, the Patriots were a game away from a perfect run through the regular season and just three games from duplicating what the '72 Dolphins hoped they'd never to see: another team matching their undefeated season.
The Giants monkey-wrenched the whole thing and somehow Mercury Morris avoided death by schadenfreude. But before New York pulled off one of the biggest Super Bowl upsets in recent years, the Patriots were scrambling to capitalize on the marketing opportunities that go along with a historic 19-0 season. Which inevitably led to stuff like this.
While no team came close to perfection this season (the Titans won their first 11 games before losing), the Lions (or, more likely, their fans) could be sitting on a gold mine as they attempt to become the first NFL franchise in the history of man to (avoid) go(ing) 0-16.
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.
Fellow FanHouse-r Bruce Ciskietouched on this earlier but the fact is that the Detroit Lions haven't won a game in Wisconsin since 1991. That means that in the Lions' quest to not be 0-16 for the season, they will have to win in a state they've lost in 17 straight times (18, if you count their playoff loss at Lambeau in 1994).
The 0-15 Lions take on the Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday.
Their last win in Wisconsin was a season before some guy name Brett Favre arrived in Green Bay. Favre would never lose to the Lions at home during his entire stay as a Packer. It was also the season Detroit won their last playoff game and wound up in the NFC Championship game. They'd lose to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Washington Redskins.
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.
Our unnamed resident FanHouse Packers fan is convinced that the Lions will avoid 0-16 thanks to the generosity of Green Bay's defense. I find that very hard to believe because Detroit hasn't won a game this season and are fresh off a 35-point home loss to the 8-7 Saints.
When you include the starting quarterback situation, the head coaching situation (or, if you're Rob Parker: the defensive coordinator/son-in-law situation), and the general apathy towards winning, well, oh-for-'08 appears eminently doable.
"If we win, man, I ain't catching the plane back home," Fisher said today. "I might walk. I'll walk back. I'll walk back to Detroit."
Asked jokingly whether the media can hold him to that, Fisher said, smiling: "That's a guarantee. I'll walk back to Detroit."
It's not an Anthony Smith-style guarantee, and certainly less eye-gouge-worthy than when ESPN employee Sean Salisbury's "promised" to walk naked from Bristol to DC should the 'Skins make the playoffs. But, if nothing else, it was a lighthearted moment for a team in desperate need of one. (Assuming you're not into the comedy stylings of Rob Parker, of course.)
It's probably worth mentioning that Fisher suffered a concussion against the Saints, although he sounds more lucid here than Marinelli has at any point this season.
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.
The Detroit Lions have been the laughingstock of the NFL this year and have nearly completed a winless season. Last year, the Miami Dolphins were the laughingstock who nearly went the entire season without a victory. If not for an overtime win over the Ravens, Miami would have been the league's first 0-16 team.
While the Lions are heading into Week 17 trying to avoid infamy, the Dolphins are looking for an AFC East title. A win over the New York Jets would put the Phins at 11-5 and make them division champs.
Miami did what the Lions are sure to do: flip the entire organization. Miami hired Bill Parcells to run the team, Tony Sparano to coach it and sprinkled in new coaches and players to execute their plan. Luck played a part as Miami, arguably, got the best end of the Brett Favre saga in the offseason. When the Jets dealt for Favre, they dumped now-Miami quarterback Chad Pennington.
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.
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The now 0-15 Lions have many believing that a winless season is not only possible, but probable. This is 
The now 0-15 Lions have many believing that a winless season is not only possible, but probable. This is 
The now 0-15 Lions have many believing that a winless season is not only possible, but probable. This is 
The now 0-15 Lions have many believing that a winless season is not only possible, but probable. This is 
The now 0-15 Lions have many believing that a winless season is not only possible, but probable. This is 
The now 0-15 Lions have many believing that a winless season is not only possible, but probable. This is 
