Detroit
21
Miami49
Detroit
Miami
News: 9/9/02
And this was barely midway through the second quarter of the season's first game.
Now in all fairness, nobody expected much from the Lions against Miami. The Dolphins are contending for the Super Bowl, and the Lions are merely contentious. And when James Stewart was a last-minute scratch because of a temperamental knee, even less was anticipated.
Hope, if any at all, would be judged by the degree of self-inflicted powder burns on the Lions' feet afterward.
If they're not executing any better, then at least are they playing a tad smarter? Are they cutting back on the penalties? Are they learning how to curtail their turnovers?
But nothing even remotely uplifting emerged from the Dolphins' 49-21 victory. Not one granule of optimism came from the players or those directing them. No one has the tiniest clue how to turn around a franchise that remains a laughingstock.
"We were awful," lamented a disgusted Matt Millen. "It pisses me off."
When asked to think of one positive -- just one teeny-weeny positive -- the Lions' president resembled his team. He came up blank.
The Dolphins "didn't do anything that surprised us," Millen said. "We knew that they were going to try to run the ball. And that was supposed to be one of our strengths, stopping the run."
Let's see, how can everyone blame exiled defensive coordinator Vince Tobin for the Dolphins' 182 rushing yards?
It's all about the scheme, right? Isn't that what the apologists rationalized when Tobin's head was served on the sacrificial platter after last season? His system supposedly didn't play to the Lions' strengths, and new coordinator Kurt Schottenheimer's more aggressive strategy would better exploit the defense's, ahem, talent.
But new schemes can't manufacture athletic ability or reverse the diminishing effects of age.
Enough with the excuses. The Lions' defense can't stop anyone.
Outside linebacker Brian Williams, a newcomer in the Lions' three-down circus, expressed shock that anybody could run wide on this team as easily as Miami did. Luther Elliss shook his head in dismay, sincerely stunned that the Lions couldn't contain the Dolphins' ground game.
It doesn't matter who's quarterbacking this team, folks. Arguing about whether Mike McMahon or Joey Harrington provides the best opportunity to win is wasted breath. As long as the defense remains soft in the middle, slow along the perimeter and old at the corners, the Lions will stare at sizable deficits this season.
Chris Claiborne couldn't hide his discontent. Now that he's the middle linebacker, he knows he becomes the face of a defense that must stop the run. But he was pulled in third-down situations Sunday, and he didn't like it.
"There's nothing I can do if Ricky Williams makes a big gain on third down and I'm not out there," Claiborne said. "All I can do is stay pissed on the sidelines if we're defending against the pass and they decide to run on third down and get big yardage, because if reflects upon me."
But there's one flaw in Claiborne's reasoning. And it's that only one yard of Williams' 111 for the day came on third down. The other 110 came on first or second down, when Claiborne was on the field.
But Claiborne's reflexive "it's not my fault" response is a telling sign that this locker room is ready to blow quickly if the Lions can't get an early victory. Marty Mornhinweg held the Lions together better than many thought possible through last season's 0-12 beginning. But the grace period is over. There must be some tangible evidence of improvement soon or the confidence that veteran leaders Elliss and Porcher exhibited last year will quickly dissipate.
A dejected Porcher declined to talk as he left the locker room. Before he left, he ran into former teammate Tracy Scroggins.
"How ya hangin'?" Scroggins asked.
"Surviving," Porcher responded.
One game into the season and the Lions are already gasping for air, indicative of their AARP-sponsored starting cornerback tandem of 34-year-old Eric Davis and 33-year-old Todd Lyght. Maybe if they ditched their oxygen tanks, they might have had a better chance of keeping up with the Dolphins' receivers.
"You can't be happy with a game like this," Lyght said.
It's a good thing the Lions played only the second-best football team in Miami. Can you imagine the pain inflicted had they faced the No. 1-ranked Miami Hurricanes?
But there was one positive emerging from another lifeless Lions season opener.
Only 60 more quarters remain.
The Miami Dolphins are off to another fast start, and Ricky Williams may make them tough to slow down.
Williams rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns in his Miami debut, Jay Fiedler threw three touchdown passes and the Dolphins won their opener for the 11th year in a row Sunday, beating the Detroit Lions 49-21.
Williams carried 20 times, scored on runs of 1 and 2 yards and set up another touchdown with a 37-yard run, the second-longest of his career. Backup tailback Robert Edwards, playing his first game in four seasons, scored the Dolphins' final two touchdowns.
Miami extended its home winning streak in August and September to 16 games. Opponents often wilt in the subtropical heat, but stamina wasn't a concern for the Lions because they trailed 21-0 after just 20 minutes.
Detroit also fell behind 21-0 in its opener last year against Green Bay, lost 28-6 and went on to a 2-14 season.
The Lions' Joey Harrington, the third pick in the April draft, made his debut with 10½ minutes left. He directed a 77-yard touchdown drive but completed just 4 of 11 passes for 41 yards.
Miami's streak of season-opening wins is the second-longest in NFL history behind only the Dallas Cowboys, who won 17 openers in a row from 1965 to 1981. The Dolphins have won every opener since 1992, and this one ranked among their most impressive starts, even considering the overmatched opponent.
New offensive coordinator Norv Turner directed the Dolphins' highest-scoring game since a 52-14 win over the New York Jets to open the 1995 season, Don Shula's last as coach. Miami led 28-7 at halftime, and 19 seconds into the third period it was 35-7, thanks to a Brock Marion interception and Williams' second touchdown.
The Dolphins' punt team scored when a kick deflected off the leg of Lions blocker Chris Cash and was recovered in the end zone by Trent Gamble.
Edwards, returning from a devastating knee injury in February 1999, scored on a 4-yard reception and 1-yard run.
The win included one potentially costly loss: Pro Bowl cornerback Sam Madison hurt his right ankle and missed the second half. The extent of the injury wasn't known.
Williams, acquired from New Orleans in March to bolster Miami's perennially poor ground game, did just that with a display of both power and speed.
He plowed into the line from 1 yard out for the game's first touchdown and his first with Miami, capping a 90-yard drive. He sprinted down the left sideline on a 37-yard dash that set up another score, putting him over 100 yards for the 13th time in a career beginning its fourth season.
Dolphins rookie tight end Randy McMichael made an acrobatic one-handed catch for a 22-yard gain, then scored his first NFL touchdown six plays later on a 16-yard reception. That made it 21-0.
Fiedler capped a 66-yard drive in the final 1:36 of the first half with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Chris Chambers
Looks like we could be in for another LONG season if the first game is any indication for things to come. Just like last years opener in Green Bay, the Lions found themselves out of the game before half time. The Defense, which was suppose to be the teams strength, gave one of their worst performances in recent memory. Miami QB Jay Fielder and RB Ricky Williams had a field day combining for five touchdowns. The Lions Offense was dealt a major setback before the game began it was announced James Stewart was not going to play due to a lingering ankle injury. That left the Lions rushing game in rambles as Warren and Cason carried 9 times for 12 yards. Mike McMahon played an average game at best, but did nothing to show he should be the Lions starter for the rest of the year. Although he led the Lions on two scoring drives, his interception at the beginning of the third quarter setup a 2 yard Ricky Williams touchdown that put the game far out of reach. Joey Harrington came in for the Lions last two drives and led them to one touchdown. All in all it was another pathetic performance by the honolulu blue and silver and a game that they better forget about fast.
Offense: --- C-. Without Stewart, the Lions offense was dealt a severe setback before even taking the field. Millen, who has thus far been a total bust making personal decisions, did not pickup anyone in the offseason in case the injury prone Stewart got injured. With Cason and Warren in the backfield, the Dolphins defense shut down the Lions running game. There were some bright spots from the offense: Hakim had a decent debut with the Lions catchine 9 passes for 96 yards and they converted 50% of their 3rd down conversions, where they have struggled with in the past. The offensive line allowed three sacks and had some bone headed penalities as they normally do but played up to expectations. TE Mikhael Ricks caught a 49 yard reception in the 2nd quarter and played a decent game as David Sloan's replacement. All in all it was mediocre performace that would of been different had James Stewart played.
Defense: --- F-. This had to be one of the worst performance from the Defense in recent memory. Giving up 49 points to a team that is not known for their offense? I have absolutely no clue what the M&M boys were thinking by making Todd Lyght and Eric Davis the starting CB's over Bryant Westbrook, who they didn't resign and Terry Fair, who they released last week. Both showed their age in the back field as Fielder picked them apart countless times. Luther Elliss left the game early with an injury which hurt the defensive line. The defense, which took a big step backwards last year, could not of started off the season any worse. They allowed Ricky Williams to rush for over 100 yards and could not come up with one sack the entire game. Fortuantely, they go up against a pathetic offense next week in Carolina which is led by journey man Rodney Peete. If they can't put on a good performance next week, its going to be another long year.
Special Teams: --- C-. Desmond Howard made his long awaited return, but did not have any great returns. John Jett did a decent job punting and Hanson never got a chance to kick a field goal.
Coaching: --- F. Mornhinweg said the Lions could go into Miami and win the game, like anyone that follows the honolulu blue and silver believed that. For the 2nd straight year Marty did not have his team ready to play football and both games ended up in blow outs. It is do or die next week against the only team that was more pathetic than the Lions last year.
Overall: --- F-. It looks like the 2-14 Lions have returned for another year. Its just mind boggling how far this franchise has fallen in a year. Just think if Paul Edinger missed that 54 yarder to cost the Lions a playoff spot in 2000. I can tell you one thing, the Lions would not be in their sad state that they find themselves in now. Millen, who came in with no experience in the front office experience almost two years ago, has unraveled this team, but more importantly has tried to patch it up instead of rebuilding it. Just look at these bone headed mistakes he has made:
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