Lions-Titans: Detroit Saves Their Worst Performance for Thanksgiving

There were turkey's in the oven and turkey's on the football field today. The Detroit Lions have officially made a mockery out of one of Detroit's last great sporting traditions, the Thanksgiving Day game.

This used to be the day when the Lions would rise up to the challenge and play their best. Even if the season wasn't going great, they would overcome the odds and beat the better team that they were playing.

In fact, in the eight years before Matt Millen took over the Lions, Detroit was 7-1 on Thanksgiving. They are now 1-7 since then. Our Lions are dead meat, roasting in the oven.

The swagger the Lions used to have when they played on Thanksgiving was not present today. The idea that the Lions could beat the best team in the NFL and at least for one day feel like they accomplished something great, probably never even entered their heads.

They were absolutely crushed. Run over by a dual freight train of running backs, while their own backs ran into perpetual brick walls. When it was all said and done the Lions would set an NFL record.

They became the first NFL team to start five different quarterbacks in one season when Drew Henson entered the game in the fourth quarter. I know, it's hard to remember them all when they all act exactly the same, and make the same mistakes, and miss the same receivers, and so forth, so I'll remind you.

Jon Kitna, Dan Orlovsky, Drew Stanton, Daunte Culpepper, Drew Henson.

Welcome to the Detroit Lions nightmare, where every week someone new gets to play quarterback. I'm banking on Joey Harrington getting another try for next week.

Only 90 seconds of game time had gone by today and the Lions were already down 0-7. The thing is, the Lions had the ball first. I suppose being the holidays and all, the Lions felt obliged to make the Titans feel welcome and handed the ball over. Tennessee showed their appreciation by scoring two plays later.

It was essentially game over. The Lions would go down 35-3 at one point, en route to a 47-10 defeat that was the Lions' worst Thanksgiving Day loss in their history.

At halftime some pop band came out to play and introduced themselves by yelling out "How's it goin' Detroit!" After a few seconds of eerie silence, I think the band realized that they would get no response, and started playing for a nearly empty stadium

I ask this question every week, and I keep asking it because the Lions have never showed me otherwise but...Has anyone told the Lions defense that it's ok to tackle the other team? That it's ok to chase the runner down?

I mean really, Chris Johnson runs 55 yards for a touchdown and the Lions practically stand still and let him run right by.

Daunte Culpepper throws an interception and there's two defenders that easily could have tackled the runner. They act like pylons out there. Hey, some people want to re-name the team? Why not the pylons? It even works with the Detroit theme of construction. The Detroit Pylons. Has a nice ring to it.

The Lions keep saying their main focus is stopping the run. Well saying they're not very good at doing what they say, is like saying drinking bleach is not a very good way to quench your thirst. 

LenDale White and Chris Johnson each rushed for over 100 yards and two touchdowns. Wait, this looks familiar! Why yes, Carolina did exactly the same thing, and wait, so did Atlanta!

Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson next week! I can't wait to see what happens!

Some would clamor for Rod Marinelli to be fired at this point. I was one of them up until about three weeks ago. At this point, this team is his mess and he should be forced to see it through. If the Lions go 0-16, it should be Marinelli's fault. No other head coach should have to share the blame.

The Lions used to play their best on Thanksgiving. Now they save their worst for this day.

What has Detroit done to deserve this? Please Lions, spare us. Just forfeit the rest of the season, take 0-16 and start planning for next year.

One announcer said the Lions need to bring in an outside consultant to evaluate the salvageable talent on this team. OK, I'll do it.

Calvin Johnson, Kevin Smith....ummm that's it. K, thx.

At least Detroiters can be thankful for one thing. Lions blackouts the rest of the way. Yeah baby.