9402050937
DETROIT FREE PRESS
941010
Monday, October 10, 1994
METRO FINAL
1D
MITCH ALBOM
Copyright (c) 1994, Detroit Free Press
LIONS HAVE ANOTHER GREAT FALL -- SPLAT!
The hands on the clock had come to this: critical time in the Detroit
season. Third down, two yards to go, the San Francisco 49ers with the ball and
the Lions trying to get it from them. If the Lions held, they could force a
punt and have nearly two minutes to make a miracle and win. If they didn't
hold, the game was done, their record would be twice as many losses as
victories, and you could pretty much kiss the year good-bye.
On the field, the Lions defenders waved their arms like symphony
conductors, more noise, they implored, more noise! The fans in the Silverdome
responded -- those who hadn't left yet -- standing on their feet, roaring
like engines. You want noise? You got noise. The Niners came to the line,
Steve Young looked at the defense, yelled something in the tornado of sound,
took the snap, backpedaled as the Lions came after him . . .
. . . and dumped the ball easily to Jerry Rice, who not only caught it but
made sure he was past the orange marker before falling to the ground.
First down. That simple. 49ers win. Lions lose.
Another fall, another fall. In the beginning, this season was fun because
it was exciting, everyone expected so much, and for a while there, it was
even fun because it was so bad, and emotions about whom to blame were like
bonfires.
But now? No fun. It's simply depressing. The Lions aren't good enough to
celebrate. They aren't terrible enough to laugh about.
They are simply in that sluggish middle, looking in the water at a
tiresome reflection and hearing a familiar verse: Great teams make plays.
Wannabes watch those plays being made.
Third and 2: San Francisco got three.
Another fall, another fall.
Coach, you don't wanna see this tape
"I don't envy the players on San Francisco," Brett Perriman sighed, after
the Lions lost again, 27-21, their third defeat in a row. "What I envy is
their execution. They know how to make plays -- even when they're down."
And down they were, 14-0 in the second quarter. Remember, these 49ers
were blown out last week by Philadelphia and were working with a spit-and-glue
offensive line. They were taking volcanic criticism back home -- same as the
Lions -- and several 49ers would later admit that "that was our season right
there, when we were down 14 points."
Their response? Well. They haven't won all those Super Bowls for nothing.
Listen to running back Ricky Watters: "No matter what it took, we were not
going to lose this game. We were going to make something happen."
And there's your difference, folks, between the Detroit franchise and the
San Francisco franchise; when they say it, they mean it.
The Lions? Here's what they do at critical junctures of a "must" game:
* Second quarter: With a two-touchdown lead, they take a breath, allow a
35-yard kick return, then commit pass interference on the first play. Before
you can blink, San Francisco has scored to get back in the game.
* Third quarter: First play, Scott Mitchell throws a deep pass -- a play he
says he didn't want to run -- the 49ers intercept and return it to the Detroit
7. Three plays later, they score again.
* Third quarter: Jason Hanson kicks a field goal to narrow the score to 21-17
-- but Ty Hallock is called for holding. The points come off the board, the
kick is moved back. Hanson tries again, misses.
* Fourth quarter: Lions threatening to score. Scott Mitchell, on third down,
is sacked and fumbles. Lions lose possession and any chance at points.
"We made too many mistakes," said Wayne Fontes.
Duh.
When asked why they made those mistakes -- after making them last week
against Tampa Bay -- Fontes said, "I have to look at the tape."
Hey, Wayne. I'll save you the trouble. Remember "GoodFellas" where they
have the guy in the trunk and they plug him full of holes?
That's the tape.
These Picassos are in their yellow-flag period
Another fall, another fall. We have heard all the talk about how this team
should win, how talented a roster they have. Well. A talented roster is fine.
But making big plays means more. The fact is, this talented roster has made
only one interception all year. They have not returned a punt or a kickoff for
a touchdown. On Sunday, they surrendered a first down on nearly 70 percent of
San Francisco's third downs. And for all the new faces and bandages on
Frisco's offensive line, the Lions got to Young only twice.
Those types of plays -- sacks, interceptions, returns -- are what people
mean when they say "make plays." You create them. You want to know the only
thing the Lions are good at creating right now? Penalties. They're the
Picassos of penalties! Offside on a kickoff? Holding on a field goal? Mmmmwah!
A masterpiece, n'est-ce pas?
Or, in English, the same old crap. If you got home late from the
Silverdome on Sunday, you might have flipped on the TV and seen the San Diego
Chargers trying to keep a legend named Joe Montana from getting into their end
zone. They broke up a pass. They made a stop. They sacked him. They broke up
a pass. The clock ran out. Four plays that had to be made were made.
The Chargers are 5-0. The Lions are 2-4. These numbers are not accidental,
and neither is the way Lions fans feel this morning. Another fall, another
fall.
Isn't there a limit on suffering?