Lions' Performance Not Embarrassing to Marinelli, But Maybe It Should Have Been
PHILADELPHIA--The Detroit Lions were exposed here Sunday as a pretender.
After beating the Oakland Raiders and Minnesota Vikings for a 2-0 start, the Lions had a chance to prove with a victory over the previously winless Eagles--or at least a highly competitive performance--that they're for real.
They're not.
At least not at this point.
Their defense was shredded by the Eagles in a 56-21 defeat, permitting 42 points in the first half. That's against an Eagles offense that had managed one touchdown in the season's first two games. And while the Lions put up some big numbers on offense--quarterback Jon Kitna threw for 446 yards and two touchdowns, and wide receiver Roy Williams had nine catches for 204 yards--they allowed Kitna to be sacked nine times. They also watched rookie wideout Calvin Johnson leave the game with what was called a bruised lower back after he fell hard to the turf following a spectacular leaping catch.
Just don't suggest to Coach Rod Marinelli that he should have been embarrassed by the performance.
"I don't get embarrassed," he said when he was asked that question by a reporter during his postgame news conference at Lincoln Financial Field. "I don't use that word. Don't use that word on me. That's your word, not my word. I have to go back and correct the things. That's what I do."
By Mark Maske |
September 24, 2007; 10:42 AM ET
| Category:
Lions
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Posted by: Rick Veatch | September 24, 2007 11:18 AM
There is a difference between a losing performance and a pitiable, embarrassing performance. The Lions gave up 42 points in the first half. The Eagles, in the first half alone, had a 300-yard passer, a 200-yard receiver, and a running back with more than 100 rushing yards and just under 100 receiving yards. There's a big difference between playing like that, and losing after giving up a lead but still having a chance to tie the game at the end. The Redskins' loss was disappointing. The Lions' loss was something else entirely.
Posted by: Mark Maske | September 24, 2007 11:34 AM
Now if only we could find rick "self-righteousness" veatch something new to do on mondays. Maybe he doesn't realize that on mondays "there are so many things to do!!"
Posted by: Redskins fans | September 24, 2007 1:39 PM
Don't worry about comparing the Lion's loss to the Redskin's loss because you will have a chance to compare the two teams when they play each other in 2 weeks. Should be interesting. The only thing I can predict is that the game will be more interesing to watch than the epic 15-12 field goal batter from a few years ago.
Posted by: Dougie Fresh | September 24, 2007 4:51 PM
Hey Rick,
This is the "NFL" Insider, meaning that he covers the whole league. There is a separate "Redskins" Insider blog that covers just that team. Read this past Monday's entry titled "Monday Morning H-back" in that blog and tell us again that the Post covers the Skins "with very furry kid gloves". Think before you post!
Posted by: Reading Comprehension | September 25, 2007 9:56 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
The Lions' performance might well have been embarrassing but it takes some nerve for a Washington Post writer to call another NFL team embarrassing after that fiasco yesterday at FedEx. The Post treats the Redskins with very furry kid gloves- why? Will Danny Boy take his team and go home if you are not nice? That is not a way to run a Sports Division. Yesterday was just another example of why I don't put a premium on staying home and watching
football with my sons on Sunday. My sons' little league football teams display more heart and focus than the Redskins do. It is a shame what has happened to this franchise. Gibbs should never have come back and gotten involved with Snyder. They are in two different worlds when it comes to character and class- and that is what this team has been missing for years- character to fight and sacrifice until the game is won. There is positive though- I never realized there was so much to do on Sunday afternoons!
In short, please do not call out the Lions as embarrassing when the clowns here deserve the same description but you are not allowed to say it.