Nov

19

Detroit Lions fall to 6-4 after New York Giants beat them 16-10

Posted by Kevin Mack

November 19, 2007 |

  • Detroit Lions 6-4 after Home Loss to New York Giants 16-10

In a game that the Detroit Lions almost came up with a miracle win the New York Giants dominated the game and won 16-10. Trailing 16-3 with 5 minutes left in the game Detroit scored on a 35 yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson and had 2 more possessions inside New York Territory. Both times the drives ended with QB Jon Kitna throwing interceptions on passes directed to WR Shaun McDonald.

Here is what QB Jon Kitna had to say after the game:

“You watched the same game I watched,” Kitna said. “We gave it away. We had mental errors. We had balls flying all over the place.

“In November and December, you cannot let a team come in and beat you at your place that is not better than you. You are trying to make a playoff run. This isn’t high-school football.”

Source: Detroit News Mike O’Hara

New York Giant DT Michael Strahan, who had 3 sacks in the game, was not pleased with Kitna’s words and had some of his own:

“Did he really say that?” Strahan said. “I honestly thought in the first half that was one of the worst teams we played that was 6-3, to be honest with you. I don’t understand why Jon would say that.

“But the bottom line is, we’re 7-3, they are 6-4. Am I right? Maybe we’ll see them down the road (in the playoffs), and if that is the case, we’ll beat that (butt) again.”

Source: Detroit News Mike O’Hara

 

Your ‘Lion Eyes’ blogger agrees with Strahan on these quotes. I never had a feeling the Lions were going to win this game. Here are some considerations that caused me think the Giants dominated the game:

  • Again no rushing attack even though Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz said they would focus on running the ball, only 11 attempts for 25 yards
  • 4 Defensive offsides penalties on Hard counts by QB Eli Manning
  • 4 Turnovers including 3 interceptions by QB Jon Kitna, 2 of them on passes that should have been caught
  • 2 long Kickoff returns and 1 long punt return by the Giants
  • Blocked Field Goal by the Giants
  • 3 QB sacks by the Giants and many QB hurries and knockdowns
  • Giants fumbled twice inside Detroit territory and another possesion kicked a Field Goal when they had the ball on the 2 yard line
  • Lions had trouble tackling in the 1st half, Giant RB Brandon Jacobs before he was injured was difficult for the Lions to stop running or receiving the ball
  • No swarming to the ball by the Lion defenders that was evident in the Bronco game 2 weeks ago
  • Lions 1-10 on 3rd down
  • Time of Possession favored Giants 35:17 to 24:43

Last week WR Roy Williams had call this game ‘Separation Sunday’ because of the implications of the game on the NFC playoff race. The Lions have been separated with this loss. Yes the Lions are still in the 6th spot in the NFC standings. Detroit has a 6-4 record and there are 3 teams in the NFC with 5-5 records, the Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins. All 3 of those teams have the tiebreaker edge on the Lions by virture of their wins earlier in the season over Detroit.
So now it is the Green Bay Packers coming to Ford Field for the Thanksgiving Day game on Thursday. Doesn’t appear the Lions would have any playoff hopes if they lose on Thursday but there is still hope alive and Coach Marinelli is getting the team ready to face the Packers.

Tomorrow I will have the complete game recap including all the game stats. This is a short week with game day on Thursday, so my regular posts, the NFL Power Rankings, Tidbits, Preview and Predictions will be adjusted.

Cast your vote in this weeks Poll, Please

Who do you pick to win the Thanksgiving matchup?

  • Green Bay Packers 9-1 (54%, 7 Votes)
  • Detroit Lions 6-4 (46%, 6 Votes)

Total Voters: 13

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