NFL Week 15 Thread

[Arles]

As a Packer fan rooting for Megadrop and the Lions to lose, that was an awful missed call.

[jbergey22]

Lions remind me of the Cowboys. Why are they not running the ball?

[jbergey22]

And Romo, I mean Stafford, comes through late after an awful performance to this point.

[kingfc22]

What a horrible play call on 3rd down.

[Atocep]

Uh, did Harbaugh forget what down it was?

[kingfc22]

What a kick!

[Abe Sargent]

SIXTY ONE YARDS - DANG

[Atocep]

No, Harbaugh apparently knew his kicker was going to be good from 61.

[Abe Sargent]

Someone needs to screw that guy tonight.

[jbergey22]

Sorry Lions fans. Brutal loss, brutal performance, and has to be very frustrating to see this talented team play down to the competition.

[Jas_lov]

And that's the season for the Detroit Lions. Rodgers will be back and the CHI-GB Week 17 winner will be the division champ. Schwartz should be fired tomorrow for not winning this division when he had it handed to him.

[TroyF]

NFL officiating at its best. The horrific "decision" to miss the call in the end zone costs Detroit the football game and gives the Ravens a win where they had zero business winning. What a comical joke. Flacco yet again plays like complete dog crap and gets a win.

Great, great kick from the kicker though. This really has to be the end of Jim Shwartz, doesn't it? I mean the guy cannot coach and any reasonable person has known it for the last three years. If this isn't the nail in his coffin, I'll be convinced he has dirty pictures of the owner.

[bhlloy]

And the Delmas play before half is a huge difference. Same old Lions - ridiculous penalties and turnovers

[hoopsguy]

Originally Posted by TroyF

If this isn't the nail in his coffin, I'll be convinced he has dirty pictures of the owner.

Wonder if there are different than the ones Matt Millen held onto for half a decade?

[mauchow]

And the Ravens were gifted a win by the refs against the Vikings, too... just sayin'

[ColtCrazy]

With Tucker's field goal, my team ends up scoring 201 for the week and is off to the final. Hoping my team didn't shoot its wad this week.

But, wow. Talk about faith in your kicker. The 3rd down play almost looked like they were settling for the long try. Helluva season for Tucker. AFC playoff chase is suddenly getting interesting. Big game in Baltimore next week.

[Buccaneer]

So this is what we end up with after the ref union struck and got their demands? Typical results.

Good news: Jets are eliminated!

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

Wonder if there are different than the ones Matt Millen held onto for half a decade?

Bravo, first thing I thought of too

[Arles]

To quote Lloyd Christmas: "So you're sayin there's a chance!"

[Arles]

Saw this on Twitter:

2 weeks left. Teams that control own destiny for division:
Cowboys
Eagles
Bears
Packers
Ravens
Bengals
Patriots
Saints
Panthers
Broncos

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Sorry Lions fans. Brutal loss, brutal performance, and has to be very frustrating to see this talented team play down to the competition.

Originally Posted by Jas_lov

And that's the season for the Detroit Lions. Rodgers will be back and the CHI-GB Week 17 winner will be the division champ. Schwartz should be fired tomorrow for not winning this division when he had it handed to him.

It is beyond frustrating being a Lions fan. It's like watching Darryl Rogers coach a team QB'd by Eric Hipple all over again. Getting flashbacks of my childhood.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Same old Lions

This sums it up.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by Arles

Saw this on Twitter:

Isn't that missing the Seahawks? I think they could still be a wildcard if they lose both and the 49ers win both.

[RomaGoth]

The sad thing is that it doesn't really matter what happens with Schwartz...keep him, fire him, makes no difference. The problem with this team is the ownership. Until Ford Sr. dies or turns over control to his son, nothing is going to change. It is a losing culture and has been for over 50 years.

The team has no discipline, and the money guaranteed to Stafford is like an albatross around their neck. His decision-making is just awful.

[cartman]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Isn't that missing the Seahawks? I think they could still be a wildcard if they lose both and the 49ers win both.

Yep. They have clinched at least a wild card. The more accurate description would be a list of teams that control their destiny for a playoff spot.

[Arles]

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

The sad thing is that it doesn't really matter what happens with Schwartz...keep him, fire him, makes no difference. The problem with this team is the ownership. Until Ford Sr. dies or turns over control to his son, nothing is going to change. It is a losing culture and has been for over 50 years.

The team has no discipline, and the money guaranteed to Stafford is like an albatross around their neck. His decision-making is just awful.

I think Detroit needs an offensive mind to come in and work with Stafford. A lot like what McCoy did with Rivers in SD. If they did that, I think Lions would be a lot better. The pieces are there.

[Coffee Warlord]

Nah, Lovie Smith can go coach Detroit. I'd love it.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by Arles

I think Detroit needs an offensive mind to come in and work with Stafford. A lot like what McCoy did with Rivers in SD. If they did that, I think Lions would be a lot better. The pieces are there.

Stafford needs someone to teach him how to fuck up a handful of times each week. He has a great arm, but his decisions are terrible and he has no touch on the ball, everything he throws is a bullet.

This team has way too much talent to be making the same stupid mistakes each and every week.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

Nah, Lovie Smith can go coach Detroit. I'd love it.

No thanks.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

Stafford needs someone to teach him how to fuck up a handful of times each week.

He does that well enough.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by Matthean

He does that well enough.

Doh....meant to add the "not" in that sentence. I must have a case of the Matthew Staffords....

[Thomkal]

Some good news for my beloved Cards: Fitzpatrick passed his first set of concussion tests-still more to pass though.

[Bobble]

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

The sad thing is that it doesn't really matter what happens with Schwartz...keep him, fire him, makes no difference. The problem with this team is the ownership. Until Ford Sr. dies or turns over control to his son, nothing is going to change. It is a losing culture and has been for over 50 years.

The team has no discipline, and the money guaranteed to Stafford is like an albatross around their neck. His decision-making is just awful.

Explain this one to me. Admittedly, I work for Ford so I'm a little protective I guess, but the Fords aren't a Jerry Jones/Mark Cuban meddling owner. I can't see on-field discipline coming directly from the owner or even the General Manager. That's all day-to-day coaching, right?

[Chief Rum]

Bobble, I think the issue Romagoth and other Lions have with Ford Sr. has nothing to do with the day to day stuff (which they fully blame on the individuals coaching or GMing), but on the fact that he is the one that continues to hire the Schwartzs, Millens and Morhinwegs of the world. Ford's record of hiring good people to run his football operations is rather poor.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Bobble

Explain this one to me. Admittedly, I work for Ford so I'm a little protective I guess, but the Fords aren't a Jerry Jones/Mark Cuban meddling owner. I can't see on-field discipline coming directly from the owner or even the General Manager. That's all day-to-day coaching, right?

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Bobble, I think the issue Romagoth and other Lions have with Ford Sr. has nothing to do with the day to day stuff (which they fully blame on the individuals coaching or GMing), but on the fact that he is the one that continues to hire the Schwartzs, Millens and Morhinwegs of the world. Ford's record of hiring good people to run his football operations is rather poor.

The whole "The Ford family is the problem" thing is as old a bit as there is in Detroit sports. People always bring up the fact that ever since the Ford family acquired the Lions back in the 60's, or whenever, they've sucked.

The Ford Family hasn't made the best decisions in terms of hires over that time. They've showed far too much patience and loyalty to certain under performing hires, Millen being the prime example.

That said, that was largely under Ford Sr. and he's pretty hands off now. It's primarily Ford Jr. Even then, they aren't all that heavily involved.

They aren't going to sell the team, so it's really not an issue worth raising or discussing.

[molson]

I'm sure this is well known to Lions fans and I don't mean to rub it in or anything, but reading this, I just wanted to take a quick peek about what kind of historical ineptitude we're talking about, and I found - 1 playoff win since 1958. Good lord. It's almost a statistical anomaly more than anything else, I mean, there has been decent Lions teams along that timeframe.

[Matthean]

My summation is this. I looked at using the rule of The Sports Guy and cheering for a different team. I looked at other historically inept teams and trying to figure out who to cheer for. I got down to two teams but never committed. Those two teams? New England and Tampa Bay. Four Super Bowl wins and a decade later and the Lions still haven't won a playoff game. I'm guessing the Browns are at least good for a playoff win before Detroit wins another.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by cartman

Yep. They have clinched at least a wild card. The more accurate description would be a list of teams that control their destiny for a playoff spot.

Then the Dolphins should also be on it. Even though they're #7 right now, if they win both and Baltimore wins both, then Baltimore will win the division. That bumps Cincy down to wildcard status and Miami beat them head to head.

[Chief Rum]

Today, it feels like everyone is going nuts about Baltimore, or so it feels to me.

So I am going to guess that this is one of those media-fellating darlings that will end up not making the playoffs, thus again making the various talking heads look silly.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by molson

I'm sure this is well known to Lions fans and I don't mean to rub it in or anything, but reading this, I just wanted to take a quick peek about what kind of historical ineptitude we're talking about, and I found - 1 playoff win since 1958. Good lord. It's almost a statistical anomaly more than anything else, I mean, there has been decent Lions teams along that timeframe.

Don't worry about rubbing anything in. It is well known. It is so very, very, very well known:

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Huh? 15 years? Are you kidding me?

We've going through this for the last 51 years. ONE playoff win since 1957. ONE.

So, dude, you don't know what pain is. The only talk like that I'll hear is from Arizona Cardinals' fans. They're the only ones who know the depths of such futility.

I will lend a Cleveland Browns' fan a shoulder as well, given the whole franchise moving thing and the fact that no Cleveland has won anything since forever.

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Nothing.

That said, the Cardinals are really the only other team in the Lions' league when it comes to decades long ineptitude. Sure, other teams have had long stretches of poor management and poor performance on the field, but nothing really comes close to the Lions and Cardinals.

Even during the Barry Sanders Era the Lions only ever won one playoff game (their only playoff victory since 1957). The Buccaneers suffered when they entered the league but they've won a Super Bowl. The Bengals have been to the Super Bowl twice.

I think the Cardinals, over the long term, have been even more mis-managed than the Lions. Between their one playoff victory and the moving of the franchise and over all suckitude, the Cardinals are worse. They are the only fans I feel more sorry for than Lions' fans (like me).

The above post were BEFORE the Cards made it to the Super Bowl.

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Damn straight I've been a bit testy. I wish the Lions were the LOLphins. That way at least I could forget about the present suckitude for a moment and look back fondly at the Super Bowl wins, playoff victories, all that fun stuff.

All I have to look back fondly on now is the Barry Sanders Era, which included one playoff victory (the Lions' only playoff victory since 1957) and ended with the Lions' ineptitude forcing Barry to retire long before his time.

Even those good times turned to ash in the end...

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

You're missing the point, old man.

First, as Radii mentioned, the Buccs team was an expansion team, not one of the longest running NFL (or otherwise) franchises ever.

Second, the is just the cherry on top of the shit sundae that is the Detroit Lions. This potentially 0-16 team is the culmination of 51 years of ineptitude. They have one playoff win in that time span and they have the worst record, ever, over the last, what, 7 to 9 years or so? Even worse than the Buccs '76 to whatever. Even worse.

So, while the 2008 Detroit Lions may not be as bad as the 1976 Tampa Buccaneers, the Detroit Lions, as an organization, will have officialy sunk to depths hereto unknown before.

That's what makes this whole thing just so speical. This is a Lifetime Achievement award, not some little one off thing. So, you can keep talking about 0-26, but it doesn't matter. You're missing the forrest for the trees.

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

We went over this last year before the Cardinals made it to the Super Bowl. It was between the Cardinals and the Lions and then the Cardinals made it to the Super Bowl and were excluded from the conversation.

The Lions have won one playoff game in 52 years. ONE.

They are the only NFL team in history to go 0-16.

Their incompotence essentially forced the greatest player in the NFL (at that time), Barry Sanders, to retire prematurely.

That pretty much settles it, no?

I guess it depends on how you define "snakebitten".

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Don't worry about rubbing anything in. It is well known. It is so very, very, very well known:






The above post were BEFORE the Cards made it to the Super Bowl.

Awesomeness.

[molson]

They DID have a nice run there in the mid 50s.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by Bobble

Explain this one to me. Admittedly, I work for Ford so I'm a little protective I guess, but the Fords aren't a Jerry Jones/Mark Cuban meddling owner. I can't see on-field discipline coming directly from the owner or even the General Manager. That's all day-to-day coaching, right?

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Bobble, I think the issue Romagoth and other Lions have with Ford Sr. has nothing to do with the day to day stuff (which they fully blame on the individuals coaching or GMing), but on the fact that he is the one that continues to hire the Schwartzs, Millens and Morhinwegs of the world. Ford's record of hiring good people to run his football operations is rather poor.

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

The whole "The Ford family is the problem" thing is as old a bit as there is in Detroit sports. People always bring up the fact that ever since the Ford family acquired the Lions back in the 60's, or whenever, they've sucked.

The Ford Family hasn't made the best decisions in terms of hires over that time. They've showed far too much patience and loyalty to certain under performing hires, Millen being the prime example.

That said, that was largely under Ford Sr. and he's pretty hands off now. It's primarily Ford Jr. Even then, they aren't all that heavily involved.

They aren't going to sell the team, so it's really not an issue worth raising or discussing.

Pretty much what CR and HB are saying in a nutshell. The only good hire in my opinion was Steve Mariucci, and perhaps he was overrated, I dunno. All I know is that he didn't get near the time with his team as did other buffoons like Morninhwieg, Marinelli, and now Schwartz. Hiring Matt Millen as the GM was probably the biggest mistake in pro football in the last 40 years. Now, even if they get rid of Schwartz, who comes in next? Another clown? And we are still stuck with Stafford's contract.

Calvin Johnson is this generation's version of Barry Sanders in Detroit. The circle of life continues.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by molson

They DID have a nice run there in the mid 50s.

lol

[Bobble]

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

Pretty much what CR and HB are saying in a nutshell. The only good hire in my opinion was Steve Mariucci, and perhaps he was overrated, I dunno. All I know is that he didn't get near the time with his team as did other buffoons like Morninhwieg, Marinelli, and now Schwartz. Hiring Matt Millen as the GM was probably the biggest mistake in pro football in the last 40 years. Now, even if they get rid of Schwartz, who comes in next? Another clown? And we are still stuck with Stafford's contract.

Calvin Johnson is this generation's version of Barry Sanders in Detroit. The circle of life continues.

I get it. But in my history of watching, I haven't heard of too many choices (draft pick and hiring choices) that were widely recognized as huge mistakes. Charles Rogers, Roy Williams, Jahvid Best, Kevin Smith, Millen, Marinelli, Mornhinweg, Mariucci, etc, etc. I wasn't hearing, at the time, that these were obviously foolish choices.

This kind of futility can't be chance, I get that. But I don't see the man, what!? kind of choices that make it obvious who's to blame.

[Desnudo]

I remember the Millen hiring being widely mocked or at least derided although my memory may be fuzzy about when that started. The drafting of three wide receivers in a row was definitely mocked at that time and looks incredibly stupid in hindsight. I don't think any of the coaching hires besides maybe mariucci were seen as anything but mediocre.

Really what it boils down to is if you haven't had success after 50 years, maybe it's time to bring in an outsider senior exec to completely rebuild your operations.

[Matthean]

The fact that Mariucci couldn't do anything with the team also represents how bad it has been in Detroit. I honestly had hope for Schwartz, but boy he pissed that away real quick.

[Thomkal]

As a Cardinals fan whose team finally made it to the Super Bowl (damn you Santonio Holmes!), I can still commiserate with you and the other Lions fans H_B.

[NobodyHere]

Try living in Toledo, to the north you have Detroit and to the east you have Cleveland. Not too many quality games on Sunday afternoon.

It is the crossroads of pure NFL suck (among other things)

[fantom1979]

Sorry Toledo... at least you get to see the Tiger's future stars.