Free Rod

It's time for the Detroit Lions to show some compassion and fire their head coach. And they should also include his son-in law, who happens to be their defensive coordinator. Let's end this nepotistic anti-dynasty, give the jaws of life to some other poor soul and attempt to salvage this wreck of a season.

The firing arguments have evolved over the season. First, you had the sports radio die-hards who were onto coach Rod and how he talked a good game but couldn't help but notice the lack of wins, the lack of improvement of the Lions players and how they did the same things over and over again with the same unsuccessful results. Maybe this Tampa 2 defense is how you win games but when you hire a defensive coach and your defense is always at the bottom of the league in defense, something is wrong here. And, even worse than that, he is a defensive line coach and we've seen no improvement with our defensive line in three years while we've thrown big contracts at under performers.

Not it would be the compassionate thing to do to fire him. He hasn't been given the talent and he is drowning in this. He's too close to the action to see what's really happening. Set him free.

Lions Lose

And I was oh so close in predicting the outcome. I said Redskins 27-16 and it turned out to be 25-17 with the Redskins just covering the 7 and half point spread.

Granted, we are talking about the Lions but still they had the lead at halftime. But as per the case in 14 of their past 15 games, they could not get the job done.

This is bad. Really bad. They will win one maybe two games if they are lucky but that's it. There is really nothing to look forward to until late January or early February when they hire their new GM.

There are calls in the local papers to fire the coach Rod Marinelli. Not so much because he is a bad coach, although based on the results I don't know why he might have the potential to be a good coach. No they are suggesting he get fired for humanitarian reasons. That he is too invested in this horrible team and since he'll be fired at the end of the season anyway, why make him go through this season where every Sunday will be like Groundhog's Day, with the Lions getting run over by whatever team they are playing.

I can see the signs at Ford Field now: Free Rod.

Lions Game #7 Preview: The Redskins

This Sunday it's the Lions vs. the Redskins. A classic blowout in the making.

Hopefully not as bad as last year. The Redskins beat the Lions 34-3, dropping the Lions record to 0-21 vs the Redskins in Washington, D.C.

Now the Lions and Redskins play the first non-sell out Ford Field home game ever. Feels appropriate.

Redskins are 7 and a 1/2 point favorites (The Lions are 2-0 against the spread in the post matt millen era.)

Brutal Reality

Redskins

Run offense 158.1 yards per game (3rd)
Run defense 86.4 yards (7th)

Lions

Run defense 167.5 (31st)
Rushing yards 77.7 (30th)

Looks like we'll be airing it out. (Oh wait, we fired Mike Martz after last season.) Hopefully we can stop the redskins running game. Fantasy football players who have Clinton Portis are licking their chops. Most likely, won't happen. Redskins 27-16

Update on Lions vs. Vikings

This is a nice microcosm of how the Lions season is going. After recovering the ball on their one yard one line, they put this drive together.


Detroit - 0:31
1st-10, DET1 0:31 D. Orlovsky incomplete pass to the right
2nd-10, DET1 0:27 D. Orlovsky incomplete pass to the left
3rd-10, DET1 0:18 D. Orlovsky sacked by J. Allen. D. Orlovsky sacked for a safety

This weeks numbers: $8.5 million and 13 1/2 points

The Lions have reached new depths of futility. This is the worst they have ever been. They will be lucky to win 2 games and have a good opportunity to be become the first NFL team to go 0-16.

They did score a victory of sorts this week. Former first round wide receiver Charles Rogers was ordered by a court to give back his $8.5 million dollar signing bonus. Not sure how they will actually get that money back, maybe they can send over some muscle; maybe some of the eleven defensive lineman they have on their roster are actually good for something.

Also, just to give an idea on how bad things are, the Lions are 13 and half point underdogs to a 2-3 Minnesota Vikings team. I have to think this is unprecedented. It makes me wonder whether the Lions are due for an upset.