News: 12/9/02

The Lions have become the General Hospital of the NFL.

No matter what's ailing a team, that team always gets better against the Lions. Sunday afternoon in the desert was no different.

The Arizona Cardinals represent the NFL at its worst. (The Lions are a close second.) That's why fewer than 20,000 people showed up at Sun Devil Stadium. It's so bad here that the last time the local TV blackout was lifted, Ed Sullivan was still on the air.

Nonetheless, the Cardinals hobbled into this game depleted -- without three of their four starting linemen and their top four receivers -- and beaten down -- losers of six in a row by an average of 23 points.

For sure, this should have been one of those games for which you could have sat back and relaxed, figuring that in the end the Lions would win. This was supposed to be a no-sweat Sunday -- a Sunday when you finally wouldn't have to eat your dinner upset.

Instead, the Cardinals scored the final nine points and beat the Lions, 23-20, in overtime.

"I just didn't think they could beat us," linebacker Barrett Green said. "When you look at film, they aren't very impressive at all."

And don't get worked up about that call in overtime against Robert Porcher, the one that erased an interception by the Lions and gave the ball back to the Cardinals. This game never should have come down to that.

"We had our chances to put this team away early, and we didn't," said Lions linebacker Chris Claiborne, whose team led, 17-7, in the first half. "That's what football is all about, you have to put teams away. This game should have never got to overtime, but it did."

The same thing happened two weeks ago when the Lions ended the Chicago Bears' eight-game losing streak.

It's not as if the Lions don't have their own ailments. They are 0-15 away from Detroit since President Matt Millen and Coach Marty Mornhinweg came to town.

"This is a learning process that this team needs to overcome," Mornhinweg said. "The Cardinals made big plays today when they had to, and we didn't."

This loss makes Detroit officially Embarrassment City. If you thought NFL America laughed at us after the loss to the Bears, when Mornhinweg decided to give Chicago the ball first in overtime, this situation could muster even louder chuckles.

"I'm not going to lie," quarterback Joey Harrington said. "It's tough."

Easily, this could have been the NFL's worst matchup of nonexpansion foes ever. Coming into the game, the Lions were 29th in offense and 28th in defense in the NFL. The Cardinals were dead last, 31st, in defense and 28th in offense. It would have been nearly impossible to put more bad football on one field.

"I don't care about the other team," Claiborne said. "It's about us. It's about winning."

Arizona hasn't been a good place for the Lions. We can't forget that debacle a couple of years ago when Bobby Ross went for two in a situation in which he didn't need to.

Last season, the Cardinals defeated the Lions, 45-38. It was the most points the Cardinals had scored in a game since 1977.

You can bet those fans who did show up went home feeling a lot better. The Lions are specialists at doing that.

RECAP:

Robert Porcher grabbed the facemask of Jake Plummer, and the Detroit Lions lost hold of the game.

Porcher was flagged for a penalty that negated an interception by linebacker Chris Claiborne and Bill Gramatica capitalized with a 42-yard field goal, leading the Arizona Cardinals to a 23-20 overtime victory.

The Cardinals (5-8) snapped a six-game losing streak by handing the Lions (3-10) their fifth straight defeat in most frustrating fashion.

Plummer threw a pass that Claiborne returned 38 yards deep into Arizona territory. But the play was negated by offsetting penalties and Plummer made the most of his second chance.

"I was very shocked on the call the official made on the interception," Porcher said. "The call changed the whole momentum of the game. We were in field goal range to win the game and the call came back on us. That was the hand that was dealt and we have to live with that."

The oft-maligned Plummer completed a 23-yard pass to Kevin Kasper, setting up the game-winning kick by Gramatica.

"I didn't even think about the facemask," Plummer said. "They came back and called it and I remembered it."

The Lions have lost 15 straight games on the road.

"We have four games left in the season and we are not going to roll over and die for anyone," Lions quarterback Joey Harrington said. "The official made the call against us, and there is nothing you can do but keep on playing."

Gramatica had sent the game into overtime with a 41-yard field goal with 3:23 left in the fourth quarter.

Plummer completed 24-of-43 passes for 228 yards and was not intercepted as the Cardinals won for the first time since October 20 against Dallas.

"I promise you, for the last six weeks, there have been a lot of shells coming into that bunker, and it takes some strong people to be able to withstand that and be able to come back and perform," Arizona coach Dave McGinnis said.

Eddie Drummond of Detroit opened the scoring with a 73-yard punt return just 1:45 into the contest.

The Cardinals answered with a seven-play, 76-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown pass from Plummer to fullback Joel Mackovica. Marcel Shipp had consecutive runs of 13 and 16 yards that put the ball at the 1.

Shipp carried 25 times for 85 yards.

The Lions regained the lead at 14-7 on a six-yard TD pass from rookie Joey Harrington to Mikhael Ricks with five seconds left in the opening period. Harrington was 20-of-37 for 152 yards.

Cornerback Todd Lyght helped the Lions increase the lead to 10 points, intercepting Harrington and returning the ball 31 yards to the Arizona 19, setting up a 26-yard field goal by Jason Hanson.

Plummer cut the Lions' halftime lead to 17-14 with a 10-yard TD pass to Nathan Poole, who was making his first NFL start.

The only scores of the third quarter were field goals of 20 yards by Hanson and 29 yards by Gramatica.

The Lions settled for their third-quarter field goal after a blunder by running back James Stewart. On second-and-goal, Stewart collided with teammate Ray Brown and fell to the ground without being touched by a Cardinal. Thinking he was down, Stewart flung the ball in frustration instead of getting up and going into the end zone.

After a review, the play was ruled an incomplete pass and the Lions soon settled for a field goal.

Stewart gained 52 yards on 13 carries.

Scott's Game Commentary:

Could the Lions be any more cursed when they travel to the desert to play the Cardinals??? Three times in the last four years, the Lions had a victory in tact but let it get away. This year was yet another bizarre series of events that led to another road loss. After controlling most of the game, the Lions fell asleep (like they did in Chicago) and allowed the Cardinals to tie the game up. Once again, Joey Harrington started off strong and completely unraveled as the game went on. The Offense had only one first down after the third quarter against an Arizona defense that gave up 49 points last week. The game never should of even made it to overtime. In the 3rd quarter with the Lions driving to make it a 10 point game, James Stewart got the hand off on 2nd and goal at the 2. After being tripped up by his own player, Stewart throws the down and it was eventually ruled an incomplete pass. Stewart could of walked into the endzone. After the game went to overtime and the Lions lost the toss (Marty didn't get a chance to take the desert wind) Arizona QB Jake Plummer was picked off by Chris Claibore, who returned the ball that should of gave Hanson an easy chip shot to win the game. But, the desert cust struck again as Robert Porcher was flagged for grabbing Plummer's face mask that negated the interception. With the Cardinals facing 3rd and 7, Plummer completed a 23 yard pass to setup the game winning field goal. This was a game that the honolulu blue and silver should have won given they were playing a team just as pathetic as they were, but watched another road victory once again fall short for the 2nd striaght road game in overtime.

Grades:

Offense: --- (1st Half: B) (2nd Half: F) Can someone tell Joey Harrington that football is played for 60 minutes and not the first 30??? What is becoming a repeating record, Harrington started off strong and but fell apart in the 2nd half and was just awful in the fourth quarter with the game on the line. The Lions had numerous chances to blow out the Cardinals, but they struggled when they got into the red zone. James Stewart's miscue was a back breaker and cost the Lions four points as they had to setttle for a field goal. Memo to James Stewart: you are not down unless the opposing team touches you. Stewart had only 52 yards against one of the worst run defenses in football. Until Harrington and the Offense learn to make plays in the 4th quarter, they will be what they are now: one of the worst offenses in the NFL!

Defense: --- C. The defense held the Cardinals in check most of the game, but could not make the big plays when they had to in the 4th quarter and overtime. When it seemed like the Defense finally made the big play they were craving for all game when Chris Claibore picked off a pass that would of setup a game winning field goal, Robert Porcher gets flagged for a face maske negating the interception. After giving up a typical 3rd and long play, the Defense allowed the Cardinals to setup the game winning field goal. Late in the game, the Cardinals went for it on 4th and 2 and as one would expect, got a first down. A stop may have sealed the game for the Lions. The "D" did a good job pressuring Plummer the entire game and had six sacks, but the Cardinals were depleted with injuries up front.

Special Teams: --- C. Eddie Drummond got the Lions off to a quick start with a 73 yard touchdown return, but practially gave it back when he fumbled a punt return that led to a Cardinals touchdown. Jason Hanson missed his first field goal (33 yarder) from within 50 yards all year that ended up costing the Lions.

Coaching: --- F. There are no excuses to lose another game like they did against the Bears a few weeks ago. The Lions are the only team in the NFL that hasn't won a road game in the past two years. Mornhinweg is running out of excuses and will be lucky if he makes it pass this season.

Overall: --- D. James Stewart, Jason Hanson and Robert Porcher, all veterans from the prior regimes ended up costing the Lions their first road win of the year. The Cardinals were decimated with injuries and there are no excuses losing like they did. But, to be perfectly honest with everyone, I was not upset after the game. Actually, I could not help but laugh after going over all the chances the Lions allowed to get away. With the season long over, the Lions are now fighting for a good draft pick and they definitely improved their chances in the desert. At 3-10, they are GUARANTEED to be 3-12 heading into the last game of the year at home against Minnesota. Although there have been some crazy upsets this year in the NFL (Houston beating Pittsburgh on the road) I cannot see how the honolulu blue and silver could beat two of the best teams in the NFL (Tampa and Atlanta). Get ready for two straight blow outs before the Vikings head into town. Speaking of the Vikings, they are playing competitive football the past month so the Lions could end the year with a nine game losing streak that better signal the end of the biggest mistake in Lions history: Giving the M&M boys a chance to run a NFL team.

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