We’re getting close. For the first time since the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0-14 inaugural season, we may have a team go winless. There have been some close calls along the way. The 1980 Saints, 1989 Cowboys, 1990 Pats, 1991 Colts, 1996 Jets, 2000 Chargers, and 2001 Panthers all went 1-15. After blowing a 17-0 first quarter lead at home against Tampa Bay, the Lions look poised to close the deal.
If there was ever a shot for the Lions to avoid becoming the NFL’s first 0-16 team, it was Sunday. After Daunte Culpepper connected with Calvin Johnson on a 15-yard touchdown, SS Daniel Bullocks returned a Jeff Garcia fumble 44-yards tuda20house a minute later for a 14-0 lead. A Jason Hanson 38-yard FG with 3:00 left in the first made it 17-0.
….. and then the wheels came off like they often do on winless teams.
The Bucs battled back scoring 21 of their 35 unanswered points in the second period to take a 21-17 lead to the half. In the third, Cliff Smith returned a punt 70 yards and Ronde Barber returned an interception 65 yards for an insurmountable 35-17 lead. The teams traded FG’s in garbage time for a 38-20 final.
With five games left, it’s tough to see where the Lions will get a win. Detroit hosts Tennessee (off their first loss) on a short work week in their Thanksgiving game followed up home game versus Minnesota and New Orleans and roadies at Indianapolis and the season finale at Green Bay.
The Lucky’s properties (Terrible Herbst, The Plaza) opened the Lions winless prop at “no” -700 with the take back on the ”Yes” at +500. After Sunday’s debacle, the “No” is minus 475 and the “Yes” plus 375
Mailing in the road games (Colts and Packers) where the Lions have won just eight times in five years, the home games against the Vikings and especially the Saints seem to be Detroit’s best opportunities to win.
With no wild card teams likely coming out of the NFC North, the Vikings will be especially desperate in a road division game that will be critical in the important tie breaker scenarios. The Lions will also be facing Adrian Peterson who leads the league in rushing and has torched the Honolulu Blue for 111 and 136 in their last two meetings
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That leaves the December 21st showdown with the Saints as the Lion’s probable Super Bowl. At this point, the Saints will likely be eliminated from the playoffs and trying to avoid being “The One”. The Lions 24th ranked pass defense will face the league’s leading passer in Drew Brees.
Will the Lions go winless ??? In our opinion, get as much +375 as you can !!!
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