I found an article from the Canadian Press talking about how terrible the Lions stink. If they weren’t so right, I’d say we should invade them and shut them up. Here are the highlights of the article.
The Detroit Lions raised hopes and expectations with a surprising 6-2 start. Since then, they have collapsed with six straight losses and reverted to being regarded as the same-old Lions. If Detroit doesn’t stop its second-half slide Sunday at home against the Kansas City Chiefs, it will likely make NFL history. No team has won six of its first eight games, then finished 6-10.
Without a win against the Chiefs, that will likely be their final mark because the Lions close the season at Green Bay. They have not won on the Packers’ home field since 1991, when Brett Favre was a rookie with the Atlanta Falcons.
Not counting the strike-shortened season in 1982, the last team to start 6-2 and lose the rest of its games was the 1960 Baltimore Colts. The NFL began using 16-game schedules in 1978.
Some statistics define the slump.
When the Lions were 6-2, they led the NFL with 14 interceptions, 24 takeaways and 90 points off turnovers. Their plus-8 turnover margin trailed only New England and Indianapolis.
Since then, the Lions are tied for last in the league with two interceptions, tied for 20th with nine takeaways, and 29th with 10 points off turnovers and a minus-8 turnover margin.
Despite having a defensive-minded coach, who perhaps can’t overcome team president Matt Millen’s moves, Detroit has allowed an NFL-high 319 first downs, 32 touchdowns inside the red zone and a .459 conversion rate on third downs.
San Diego beat Detroit 51-14, making this team the first in franchise history to give up 50 points twice in a season and the first in the NFL since the 1980 Packers.
“It’s inexcusable,” said Marinelli, who has tried to take the blame for his team’s collapse.
The Lions also were embarrassed at Washington and Philadelphia, losing 56-21 and 34-3 early in the season.
Now, they need to win to avoid infamy and to distance themselves a little from the only stretch in NFL history that compares to their futility.
If Detroit loses out, it will have at least 10 losses in seven straight seasons - all under Millen’s leadership - to hang around the Buccaneers for the unwanted distinction of worst franchise in NFL history over an extended period of time.
Tampa Bay had 12 seasons in a row with double-digit losses from 1983-94.
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