News: 10/28/02

The last yard is always the toughest. Getting close, getting closer, gaining ground, that's fine. But does any of it -- any of the apparent improvement, any of the increased competitiveness -- matter if you can't get the last yard?    The Lions hit those old familiar walls Sunday. You know the walls. The road wall. The fourth-and-1 wall. The oh-so-close-against-a-decent-team wall. It doesn't pay the bills, and it doesn't beat the Bills.
   The Lions' 24-17 loss to Buffalo was their 12th consecutive on the road. It dropped them to 2-5. It squelched the gnawing sense they were due a breakthrough and it humbled (toughened?) Joey Harrington. And it reiterated one key point.
   Until the Lions win a road game, any development must be viewed with the standard suspicion. Until they grind out a tough victory in tough conditions, it doesn't mean much. Until they string together successes, at home and on the road, they're just another football team, looking for direction.
   At least the Lions don't lean solely on Harrington anymore. The rookie had his roughest outing, finishing 20-of-42 for 199 yards. He also tripped over lineman Tony Semple while backpedaling on a fourth-and-1 attempt, killing a drive. Harrington was Kid Comeback at Oregon, but he's finding defenses don't part so gently in the NFL. He couldn't make the big play the Lions craved. Then again, neither could anyone else.
   "I don't know what to say," Harrington said. "It's one of those things where you would of, should of, could of, but you didn't. This is five weeks where one drive could've won the game."
   Five games, three losses, two on the road. If you're interested in measuring improvement, the Lions lost by seven at Buffalo and at Minnesota. That's slightly better than how they started the season, losing at Miami and Carolina by dozens and dozens.
   A year ago, Marty Mornhinweg might have danced into his postgame news conference after a one-touchdown loss. This time, he was grim, as if genuinely disappointed.
   The Lions know the tight-defeat angle got them a 2-14 record and little respect last season. Today, you might view the latest loss as a passable effort, even cause for encouragement. By next Sunday, it's merely defeat No. 5.
   "I take that as an insult when people say you're competing," Semple said. "Don't pity us by saying we're competing. ... We're here to win, to become a good team. We expected to control this game. Anything short of that is a disappointment."
   The Lions are improving, for what it's worth. The distance between a decent team (Buffalo) and a poor team (Detroit) isn't as large as you might think. The Bills were 3-13 a year ago and are 5-3 now, thanks mostly to the arrival of Drew Bledsoe.
   The difference can be a quarterback, although Bledsoe also has outstanding receivers in Eric Moulds and Peerless Price. The Lions lack playmakers, we know that. But sometimes, the difference can be as slender as a yard. Twice, the Lions couldn't get those 36 inches. Once, Harrington fell, got up, and amazingly, still tossed a pass toward Cory Schlesinger, who couldn't hold it.
   The other time, on Buffalo's 20 with 1:58 left in the game, James Stewart was stuffed by linebacker London Fletcher.
   "It's hard to compete like we did and not come away with a win," Stewart said. "We seem to be playing pretty well at home, but we get on the road and we can't find a way to win."
   They had their chances, more than they really deserved. Harrington's one touchdown pass, a 23-yarder to Az-Zahir Hakim, was pure good fortune. Actually, it was a poor pass, into double coverage, that bounced off two Bills and directly to Hakim.
   That's the type of play that allows a team to steal a victory. But Bledsoe is the type of veteran that keeps a team on a level keel. He wasn't unreal. The Lions' defense was hard on him, sacking him four times. But he was steady, and he converted a fourth-and-1 with a sneak. He also made the big play on the last possession, a 12-yard pass to Moulds on third-and-7.
   To quote Mornhinweg, geesh, how often have we seen that, someone other than a Lion clinching the game? It has to turn eventually, for any turnaround to be real. They're getting closer, which should mean they're getting better. One of these trips, one of these days, the Lions will have to go ahead and prove it.

RECAP:

With weapons such as Drew Bledsoe, Travis Henry, Eric Moulds and Peerless Price, it's no wonder the defense of the Buffalo Bills gets overlooked.

The high-powered Bills won with defense for the second straight week, stopping a fourth-down run in the final two minutes and holding on for a 24-17 victory over the Detroit Lions.

"We are going to need a total team effort to win football games," said linebacker London Fletcher, who came up with a huge defensive play. "Sometimes the offense is going to struggle a little bit. Sometimes the defense is going to struggle a little bit. We need everyone doing their job to win."

Bledsoe, Henry, Moulds and Price all had their usual big games as the Bills (5-3) remained the only NFL team to score at least 23 points in every contest. But after Henry's untimely fumble was recovered by linebacker Chris Claiborne at the Bills 29, Buffalo's defense came through.

On 3rd-and-3 from the 22, rookie Joey Harrington threw a receiver screen to Germane Crowell, but cornerback Jason Bostic tripped him up short of the first down, setting up 4th-and-1.

After the two-minute warning, the Lions handed to James Stewart, who was stacked up for no gain by Fletcher, who made his team-leading 10th tackle of the game. The Bills took over, and Bledsoe found Moulds for a first down that killed the clock.

"London Fletcher made a heckuva play," Lions coach Marty Mornhinweg said. "We thought we had something there. We didn't get it done."

"It was a huge play," Fletcher acknowledged. "Who knows what happens if they are able to convert that down?"

Buffalo (5-3), which was just 3-13 last season, has won three straight games for the first time since November 2000. In all three games, it has shown flashes of an improving defense.

Two weeks ago at Houston, the Bills allowed just seven points in the second half. Last week at Miami, they forced six turnovers and surrendered just 10 points. In this one, Detroit's two touchdowns came in a 2:03 span of the second quarter.

"Defensively, we had our bumps and bruises; we had our growing pains," said Fletcher, who was signed as a free agent in the offseason. "We didn't expect to give up as many points as we were giving up early in the season. (We said), `Don't worry about the first five games; let's focus on being the best defense for the next 11 games. It is huge the way the defense has played this week, last week and the last half vs. Houston."

The defense needed to be solid because the offense, although effective, was not flawless. Henry's fumble was the fifth he has lost this season. And full back Larry Centers saw his streak of 143 games with a reception come to an end.

"It was a play called to the right," said Henry, sporting a big cut on his lip after the game. "I already knew to have two hands on the ball. I got hit in the mouth and it came out. I got hit pretty hard, but there's no excuses. I've gotta do a better job."

Bledsoe completed 21-of-36 passes for 302 yards, his fourth 300-yard game this season and 30th career. Moulds caught nine passes for 123 yards and Price had four for 101 and a touchdown.

"Both Eric and Peerless, I have tremendous confidence in both those guys," Bledsoe said. "I know at times we will take some chances that I would not take if I did not trust them that much, put the ball out there and trust them to make a play."

"They did a good job of spreading the ball out and Bledsoe brings a new dimension to the ballclub," said Lions cornerback Todd Lyght, who was picked on all game. "His experience and savvy and ability to put the ball where only receivers can get it makes it difficult."

Henry carried 19 times for 64 yards and two scores. He has nine TDs this season, the most by a Bills running back since Thurman Thomas also had nine in 1992.

Harrington was 20-of-42 for 199 yards and a TD as the rookie fell to 2-3 since taking over as the starter.

"He's been a real good leader for a guy who's so young," Crowell said. "He's stepped up. He's taken charge of the huddle and done a good job."

"It is not fun but you learn," Harrington said. "That is the biggest thing we can take from this. We have to learn to be more consistent."

Ironically, when the Lions selected Harrington third overall in the NFL draft, they forced the hand of the Bills, who used the fourth pick on left tackle Mike Williams and traded for Bledsoe the following day.

Bledsoe's 42-yard strike to Moulds set up Henry's five-yard TD run that opened the scoring with 3:40 left in the first quarter.

Harrington put together an 80-yard drive, throwing passes of 17 yards to Mikhael Ricks, 14 to Crowell and 22 to Bill Schroeder before finding Az Hakim for a 23-yard TD that tied it with 5:03 left before halftime.

Charlie Rogers failed to field the ensuing short kickoff. It took a funny bounce before Chris Cash recovered for Detroit on the Buffalo 22. Five players later, Stewart went in from the 2.

Stewart had 83 yards on 24 carries and 53 yards on eight catches.

Buffalo responded before the end of the half. Bledsoe scrambled out of trouble and right up to the line of scrimmage before zipping a pass over the middle to Price, who caught it in stride and took it up the left sideline for a 59-yard TD.

"I had a corner route but I broke it off when I saw Drew scrambling," Price said. "I just sat in the seam where it was open. Drew threw a great ball, I made a guy miss and got in the end zone."

The Bills dominated the third quarter. They stopped Detroit, then got a 33-yard field goal from Mike Hollis to take the lead for good. Later in the period, Bledsoe kept alive a drive with a four-yard run on 4th-and-1, setting up Henry's second five-yard TD run that made it 24-14 with 2:02 to go.

"Take your hat off to Drew Bledsoe," Mornhinweg said. "He does all the little things a veteran quarterback does."

The Lions did not score in the second half until Jason Hanson kicked a 35-yard field goal with 3:07 to play.

"It was good to see that they rose up and turned them away at the end," Bills coach Gregg Williams said. "It was nice to see the defense come up with a real important stop at the end. It was good confidence for the team; we got to win as a team."

Scott's Game Commentary:

The Lions let a golden opportunity slip away after Buffalo RB Travis Henry fumbled the ball in Lions territory late in the game. It was bad enough botching a fourth and short earlier in the half when Joey Harrington slipped and threw an incomplete pass, but with teh game on the line and only fourth and inches? I just had this rotten feeling that Mornhinweg would run Stewart up the middle and he'd get stuffed. Sure enough, he runs Stewart right up the gut and the Lions turn the ball over on downs. For the most part, the Defense did a good job holding one of the best offenses in the NFL in check. There were the usual "big plays" that they gave up, especially when Bills WR Peerless Price faked out Eric Davis and scored a touchdown. Still, when the Defense needed to make a big play late in the game Safety Bracey Walker put on a wicked hit on Henry that gave the Offense a chance to tie the game. But, as was in the case in their last road game in Minnesota, the Lions got into the redzone, but couldn't not make the play to tie the game.Bottom line is this team has yet to win a single road game under Mornhinweg.

Grades:

Offense: --- D+. The Offense did not perform that well against a mediocre Bills defense. Joey Harrington had another mediocre game, but to his credit did not get sacked and had only one interception, which was a hail mary at the end of the half. Unlike his predecessors, Harrington does not make too many mistakes. His only touchdown of the game was a lucky one as his pass, which should not have been throw, was deflected straight to Hakim that tied the game at 7-7. The only other touchdown the Offense scored was setup by a botched kickoff that came right after the Lions tied the game. As was the case last week, the Offense seems to struggle picking up a yard when it is 3rd and short or 4th and short. With Buffalo up 17-14 in the 3rd Quarter the Offense had a 4th and 1 at the Buffalo 40. When Harrington tripped going back and threw an incomplete pass, the Bills took over and marched down the field to score the game winning touchdown (they even had a 4th and 1 conversion during the drive). Down ten points late in the game, the Offense took their time setting up a Jason Hanson field goal. On their final drive, there are no excuses to have two chances to pick up two yards and fail. But, until the Offense learns to be more efficient in the red zone, the Lions will not win many games.

Defense: --- C-. The Defense is showing signs of improvement from the beginning of year. Against the Bills, they had a year high four sacks and came up with a big turnover late in the game to give the Offense a chance to tie the game. But, as usual, they gave up one too many big plays. Although Eric Davis and Todd Lyght played good most of the game, they had a few lapses that cost the Lions dearly. The run defense has turned out to be a strength, although I never would have envisioned that after Ricky Williams tore them to shreds in week one. But, the bottom line is they have yet to hold an opponent under 20 points this year, which is something they have to work on.

Special Teams: --- B. John Jett had a bad day punting, but Hanson's "on side" looking kick right after the Lions tied the game worked to perfection. Desmond Howard continues to struggle returning the ball and looks to have lost a step or two that made him one of the best returners in the league before the injury bug bit him.

Coaching: --- D. The play call on 4th and 2 late in the game was definitely the wrong call! You do not run James Stewart right up the middle when you could of ran him outside toward Brown, who has having another great game on the line of scrimmage. Going for 4th and 1 on the Buffalo 40 in the 3rd quarter was very risky and the failed conversion led to Buffalo's game winning touchdown.

Overall: --- D. This was the 2nd consecutive road game the Lions could have and should have won. But, like at Minnesota, they couldn't get the game tying touchdown in the red zone with under two minutes left in the game. Although they have not been blown out since the Carolina game, they are still 2-5 and in a three way tie for last place in the NFC North (the worst division in the NFL).The good news is Harrington is getting more experince at the helm, Stewart is breaking some big runs and the Defense is making big plays. Next week should be a victory given Dallas has not improved when the Lions beat them at the last game of the Silverdome on January 6th. This should be the first time they are actually favored to win a football game this year. If they win, that will leave them at 3-5, but with the next road game in Green Bay in two weeks, that will spell 3-6. To sum it all up, the Lions are on pace for 5 or 6 victories, which is right where most people thought they would have.

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