In this context, "reinvented the wheel" equates to finding a new and creative way to lose a football game.

Phantom facemask call (like the blown non-call in the Seahawks game was not enough referee impediment to a Lions victory for one season), leading to the untimed down, that permitted the Hail Mary to even be played, coupled with the absolute worst Hail Mary defense ever seen in the history of the sport, along with decades upon decades of Lions futility.  

Oh well, so much for a 4-game winning streak and sweeping the Packers for the first time in 20+ years.

How the Lions' Defensive Coordinator and Head Coach have a job after this evening is beyond me.

Packer fans have already named the play.

According to the NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino, the refs made the RIGHT call:  

"Hand up to the mask, quick grab with finger and head gets turned. At full speed official is going to make that call almost every time".  

Did he twist and grab Roger's facemask? No. But his hand made contact (doesn't matter that it was minimal) with the mask and then the way he was tackled, twisted his head around. From the refs vantage point, having a second to make the call, it was warranted. (w/o the benefit of slow motion replay). They are going to make that call more often than not. However, if they had let it go, thus ending the game, nobody would have complained. I've seen a lot more than that not get called and I've seen a lot less than that get called. That's football

At the end of the day, how about protecting a 20-0 3rd quarter lead on your home field????  Start there. Or get a first down and run out the clock...don't give the Packers any time left to make a play. The bottom line is that the Lions are a below average football team and their record reflects it.  

These games are so tight. Prob. 70- 75% of the games each weekend are in doubt with 5 minutes to go. They boil down to a few critical plays  The good teams (like the Patriots) make those plays more often than not. The mediocre teams (like the Giants), sometimes make the plays and sometimes do not. The bad teams (like the Titans....I spared you by not naming the Lions here) rarely make those plays. That's why there is virtually no difference in talent for teams who finish 7-9 and don't make the playoffs and those that finish 10-6 and win the SB. A few critical plays at the right time is all it takes.  

Look at t a team (whom I detest) like the Ravens...every game was in doubt with 5 minutes to play. Yet at the end of the day they are a lousy 4-7 football team. Why? Because they didn't make those one or two plays necessary to win more often than not.

May the football Gods shine brightly on the Black and Gold.  

 

 

-- Modified on 12/4/2015 9:01:52 AM

-- Modified on 12/4/2015 9:03:52 AM

Personally, Misery in Motor City, or the Misfits of Mowtown would be more fitting.

The just of my post was to emphasize the Lions have refined, over decades and decades of ineptitude, ways of finding ways to lose football games.  The myriad of things that had to go right for Green Bay to win that game were astronomical, and all Detroit had to do was to stop one of those things, and they found numerous ways not to make those plays (I repeat, the worst Hail Mary defense in the history of the sport).  

There are a few organizations in professional sports that losing is no ingrained in their culture, that they just seem to be snakebit.  After following the Lions for about 45 years, I believe that they fall in this category.  No NFL titles since 1957, Zero Super Bowl appearances, and only one playoff win in (I lost track) many, many years.  WOW is that frustrating.  

Even the KC Royals have won 2 World Series titles since 1985, so there is always hope.

But, for the record, in my honest opinion, if the roles were totally reversed, and Matt Stafford was on the receiving end of that "facemask" penalty instead of Aaron Rodgers (or Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, etc.), there would never have been an untimed down; therefore, no opportunity for a Hail Mary Miracle.

do agree there are rules and then there are "rules" for the elite players. Not just football, but in all sports. How many calls did MJ get over the years that others wouldn't....thousands.  

Not sure if Stafford would have gotten that face mask call or not, but yes, QB's like Peyton, Brady, Rogers, do receive the benefit of the doubt more often than not. That's never going to change  

Yes, for the record, the Lions are 1-11 in playoff games since their last Championship of 1957. Almost 60 years of virtual football futility, I agree, would be hard to stomach for any football fan. But hey, the last 60 years hasn't been all bad... Championships by the Pistons, Tigers and Red Wings should give Detroit hope!  

May the football Gods shine brightly on the black and gold.