Dec

3

Detroit Lions Playoff Hopes are Dead after Loss to Vikings 42-10

Posted by Kevin Mack

December 3, 2007 |

  • Forget Playoffs for Lions after Minnesota Routs Detroit 42-10

In a complete demolition of the Detroit Lions and their playoff hopes the Minnesota Vikings dominated every phase of the game winning 42-10 over the Lions. Yesterday I posted that a couple of the keys to the Lions winning was to stop the Vikings ground game and to keep QB Jon Kitna from getting sacked. The Lions were not successful in either of those keys. Detroit gave up 216 yards to the Vikings on the ground including 2 TDs and 116 yards to no doubt NFL Rookie of the Year Adrian Peterson. Kitna while he was only sacked 3 times was hurried and hit numerous other times which caused an interception and a fumble. Even Detroit’s special teams play was not very special giving up a Viking record 103 yard Kickoff return for a TD. Minnesota put together these TD drives in the game against a very porous Lions Tampa Two defense:

  • 9 Plays 87 Yards 5:17
  • 10 Plays 84 Yards 5:34
  • 10 Plays 51 Yards 5:31
  • 9 Plays 66 Yards 4:54

 

Finally Detroit’s defense stiffened and made the Vikings attempt a Field Goal. The Vikings ran an excellent fake Field Goal and ended up with a 1st down at the Lions 5. Only a dropped pass, on a halfback pass, by a very open receiver in the endzone stopped the Vikings. On the next play the Lions intercepted a pass, by QB Tavaris Jackson, and finally stopped the Vikings. The Vikings punted once all game and it was late in the 4th Quarter when they already led 42-10.

It will be tough on the Detroit sports talk stations on Monday. Your ‘Lion Eyes’ blogger expects there will be some calls to fire Coach Rod Marinelli as this is the 3rd blowout loss on the road this season suffered by the Lions. I would like to remind the callers though that just 1 month ago the same people were saying Marinelli should be coach of the year and the Lions might get home field in the NFC Playoffs. Of course these callers were calling from the euphoria of the unexpected 6-2 start. It sure doesn’t look good now for our Lions. Right now it looks like the Lions will be fortunate to win even 1 more game to finish 7-9, which after the 6-2 start will be a major disappointment to all the Lions and their fans.

  • Marinelli takes Full Responsibility

At the post game press conference Lion Coach Rod Marinelli took 100% of the blame for the Lions performance. Marinelli said this:

“One of the things I’ve always prided myself in, with the players and the team, is how hard and how fast we play and knowing what to do. Our fundamentals are off and that’s my responsibility, not theirs. I thought we came out sluggish and tentative and I’ve got to look back at myself and make sure this team is ready to play. It’s 100 percent on me, I take that bullet for it.”

Source: Mlive - Tom Kowalski

Marinelli then basically answered every question asked the same way. Here is how some of the Press Conference sounded to Your ‘Lion Eyes’ blogger:

Question: Coach Marinelli what happened to the Defense?
Answer: That is on me 100%, I didn’t have them ready to play.

Question: Coach Marinelli what about protecting QB Jon Kitna?
Answer: I look at me, it was my fault I have to teach better fundamentals.

Question: Coach Marinelli the kickoff return for a TD what happened on that?
Answer: Again I look at myself, I just have to do a better job of getting the players coached with the fundamentals.

Question: Coach Marinelli what about that Fake Field Goal when they were ahead 42-10 was that rubbing it in a little bit?
Answer: That was a good play, I take the blame I should have had the special teams unit ready for that. Reading their keys and rules, that was an excellent play.

Question: Coach Marinelli what about the Half Back Pass, again did it seem like the Vikings were trying to run up the score?
Answer: Another good play, I have to teach the fundamentals better and have the team ready, we have to be ready to stop those types of plays.

Now these are not direct quotes, I am paraphrasing if you will as I did not take any notes during the press conference. Essentially Coach Marinelli is taking all the blame for the pitiful performance displayed by the Lions in Minnesota.

Check back tomorrow when I have all the details on the Vikings domination including all the stats from the game. Also we start looking ahead to next week when the Dallas Cowboys come to Ford Field to play the Lions.

Please Vote in this Week’s Poll.

Which Team will Win the Game on Sunday December 9th, 2007?

  • Dallas Cowboys (77%, 34 Votes)
  • Detroit Lions (23%, 10 Votes)

Total Voters: 44

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