It's been about 24 hours since one of the low points in Lions history. Or was it ? Can we agree that 0-16 was the absolute nadir. It sure doesn't feel like it, because the klieg lights were not on that Sunday.
Before I say anything further, I have to say this: I know Matt Stafford for the most part played quarterback like Adam Sandler-not like Paul Crewe in the The Longest Yard, but like John Clasky in Spanglish. Ok, I never saw that movie, but in the trailer, Adam Sandler didn't look like he could throw a football.
I know Calvin Johnson couldn't catch a nip shot at Joe Francis's bachelor party.
I know with Bell and Bush in the backfield one of those 3rd and 1's could have stayed on the ground.
But I also know this
Officials aren't paid to worry about what a franchise's history is--at least we assume they aren't, because it sure seems like Tom Brady and Bill Belichick get more gifts than the Sultan of Brunei's 16 year old daughter. But ostensibly, they are paid to call penalties no matter what color the offender's jersey is.
And someone's gonna wanna knock me down and tattoo "Slappy" across my forehead in Honolulu Blue, but I think the Lions got robbed.
If they score that touchdown, Justin Tucker could still walk through the streets of Baltimore and people would think they knew him because he played a cop on The Wire.
Jon Gruden, who has a goddamn Super Bowl ring and is paid extremely well to be an unbiased observer said it last night: "That call may have cost the Lions the division title."
If they're in the lead,Stafford never throws that pick in the last minute, because he never would have been in that position.
Let me put it another way: If someone starts a grease fire in your house, and you panic and throw water on it, whose fault is it that the house burned down ?
I know I just made myself a William Clay pigeon, and put myself in a trap. There ya go all you "long suffering Lions fans"; altogether now, everyone say "pull".
Yeah, I know what you mean about wanting to avoid this, I've been defending them a whole lot re "the same old Lions" thing. It amazes me how many are saying that, f'ing annoying. And games like this don't make my case any easier to make, that's for sure, but I'll stick with it because I truly believe it. Any true long time fan knows that no way did we ever watch a game that meant something in December with the old Lions. Yes, there were a handful decades ago but I can't remember them.
ReplyDeleteBut as passionless as they played (which doesn't make sense), they didn't allow one TD. I think that is something. If you'd have told me beforehand that the Ravens would never reach the end zone once and the Lions would twice I would really like our chances.
And the game costing penalties/non calls have to friggen stop, they just have to. I have friend in Chicago who pulls for the Lions except when they play the Bears. He said to me a few weeks ago "the Lions get hosed big time by the refs once per game. Been that way for years" Even fans out of town are seeing it. I absolutely hate to be one of the blame it on the refs crowd, but damn, it's pretty brutal. I believe that absurd roughing the passer call cost them the game against the Eagles too.
None of it is an excuse for bad plays, but like you illustrated, sometimes the crappy calls force them into a position to take risks they normally wouldn't. I think it's obvious.
Regardless of everything, that was the most frustrating Lions game I've seen in years. 61 yards. F***...
I was stone silent after the game. It was just so frustrating I would never be able to express it, so I just shutup. After Gruden's comments, I noticed the ESPN.com recap of the game said nothing about the officiating, so you know Goodell's boys, if not Goodell himself rang the phone in Bristol.
DeleteThanks for backing me up on this one.
It was good to see them shining a spotlight on it during the game though. At least it helps show were not a bunch of homers.
DeleteIf my sister had a dick, she'd be my brother. The Lions did not do enough to win that game, make all the excuses you want. That is the absolute truth.
ReplyDeleteI'm down with Slappy. The Lions are a part of our family. The loser cousin who still lives in Aunt Ginnie's basement and shovels snow in the winter and cuts lawns in the summer. But family is family and if you are from Michigan the Lions are part of that. So suffer and bitch and wait. Wait for nephew Billy, who is flunking out, but has always had POTENTIAL, to get it together and fly right.
DeleteTil then, blaming the officials is like blaming Billy's school janitor. It is too much of a disconnect to build any consensus.
The Lions will never get to the Superbowl as long as they are owned by the Fords. Now we are blaming the correct person in our family. The parents. Now go kick your TV set. The Lions saga is boring.
The Lions did not perform up to the standards we should expect, especially from Calvin Johnson. But they kept Baltimore out of the end zone and were themselves denied a touchdown. I'd say that goes beyond "excuse" and becomes "factor" in a two point game. There were other factors certainly, and the turnovers are a huge problem. But a team can't lose by two after a no call like that--go through tape of every other game that weekend and see if such an egregious "no call" occurred in the end zone or anywhere else on the field for that matter-and not be able to point at it as a deciding factor. Overcoming obstacles always makes for a touching story, but don't all 32 teams deserve to play all 16 of their games without added obstacles ? It's a billion dollar industry and it's worth millions in revenue to the municipalities in which the games are contested. I could have this discussion about any other team in the league if that kind of situation arose. I'm not whining about "my Lions", and neither was Jon Gruden.
ReplyDeleteHere's a test comment.
ReplyDeleteSee:
https://productforums.google.com/d/topic/blogger/gOSIlcMeirw/discussion
All I know is, I'm originally from Michigan too, and even though I don't follow football (sorry!), I still root for the Lions, even though I live in Viking Land. :) My dad was a big Lions fan until he passed in 1991.
ReplyDeleteI hope your dad was able to enjoy '57.
DeleteI know the Lions can play better than they did Monday night, that is a given, but to say the officiating in the game (and NOT only that one) is not an issue that cost the team that game is just foolish. The saying goes never leave it in the hands of the judges carries weight here, but just as players have a job to do that they are or should be held accountable for, so do the officials ! Are coaches and players the only ones expected to be professionals in the Pro Football League? Players and coaches get fined for making mistakes at top speed in this game yet ref's who have the luxury of replay and correcting mistakes make bone head calls and non calls that cost teams BIG and its just "oh well" better luck next year guy's? Ridiculous.....Officials should be held accountable for the calls they make or fail to make in big games. They should have to be professionals too. GO LIONS....Better luck next year guy's...
ReplyDeleteI wish the league had more transparency, but at the same time if I was one of the zebras, I wouldn't want anyone to know my name or where I lived.
DeleteI've been a Ravens fan since the first year they were a team, and even I can admit that the Lions, and their fans, got hosed Monday night. I didn't watch all of the games this week, but I'm sure at least a couple of other teams got hosed, too. It's a fairly regular thing lately. The Lions had the misfortune to get a very bad call at a very bad time.
ReplyDeleteIt could just be that I'm getting old, but I don't remember the officiating being so bad back before the NFL was worried about things like players getting hit too hard, and calling a guy wearing pads and a helmet defenseless. Between getting reprimanded for not calling a foul because someone got knocked on their ass and catching hell for throwing too many flags, (not letting them "plat the game") I'm surprised they get anything right. I wouldn't want the job.
You make a point I hadn't even considered. They have more to look for with the same amount of officials on the field.
DeleteAs far as "the old days" go, it used to be that someone had to have a minimum net worth to be considered for a referee job, because they wanted people that were beyond being susceptible to bribes. The NFL got taken to court on it and relaxed their policy, meaning that they were forced to take people who were less personally successful. It had to have an effect.
Thanks for the message. It's nice to know it's not just us "slappies" that saw that game that way.