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In any given Sunday and on every Thanksgiving Thursday, there's a good chance the Detroit Lions are going to lose. With three games left in the regular season against the Indianapolis Colts, ...

The Detroit Lions: A Better Team Than The Oakland Raiders

by Tim Parent (Senior Writer)

29

633 reads

Opinion

December 09, 2008


In any given Sunday and on every Thanksgiving Thursday, there's a good chance the Detroit Lions are going to lose. 

With three games left in the regular season against the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, and the Green Bay Packers, the Lions stand a pretty good chance of going 0-16. 

Only one other team has managed to go without a win all season: the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  After 32 years, that team appears poised to finally hand over the loser crown to the Lions of 2008. 

Lions may be the kings of the jungle but on the gridiron, the roar is but a purr.

It's not for lack of trying, though, as witnessed last Sunday when the Lions played host to the Minnesota Vikings.  Not once did the Lions commit a turnover, twice they went for it on 4th-and-1 and twice they failed, and the Vikings QB even left in the first half.  Nothing can stop this team from losing.

If you go by just their record, Detroit is the worst team this season.  By no means though are they as bad the Oakland Raiders.

The Raiders are 3-10 so far this season, continuing a tradition that has seen the team secure no more than five wins in the last five seasons. 

Last Thursday, Oakland was soundly defeated by the Chargers, which allowed the loss column to hit double digits. 

Again, going by just the win-loss record, the Raiders appear a better team than the lowly Lions.

Dig a little deeper in to the numbers, though, and you get a somewhat clearer portrait.

Statistics show Detroit is averaging 16.8 points a game whereas Oakland averages only 13.8 points.  Average offensive yardage also gives Detroit the edge at 261.3 compared to Oakland's 255.6.

Defensively, Oakland is a much better team, which is why the Raiders have three wins compared to Detroit's goose egg.

It's still a little foggy, but it does allow Raider Nation to highlight the defensive rankings and the team's record and say, "Really?  Detroit is better?"

Let's put the numbers aside and level the playing field with the one game element that can not be calculated using statistics—heart.  It's the one thing every NFL team must have in order for all of this to mean something.  If you're missing that, don't even bother showing up. 

This is where Detroit manhandles Oakland.

Detroit Lions running back Rudi Johnson understands the magnitude of what this team is facing; the humility of the game and the humiliation all the Lions will feel should they go winless this season.

In a blog posted on the team's website, Johnson called it "crunch time," noting they were running out of both options and time. 

The team understands it has made many mistakes this season and yet, they still hit the gym, watch the tapes, watch the tapes again...and again, and do all they can to prepare for their next opponent.

Oakland, on the other hand, has given up. 

After a lopsided 34-7 loss to the Charges, several Raiders players could be heard laughing and kidding around in the dressing room after the game, not the kind of atmosphere one would expect when your division rivals have handed you your own backside. 

It did not go unnoticed by some players like cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha who questioned whether his teammates even gave a damn. 

Tom Cable noticed, too, but, for the most part, dismissed it.  He held a team meeting on Friday and then gave the players the rest of the weekend off instead of preparing them for the New England Patriots.

Oakland is a team that has lost its will, it's heart having stopped beating a few games back, perhaps even a few seasons back, and it's going to take a lot more than a couple of chest compressions to bring it back to life. 

Detroit, at least, looks at every game as a challenge. Every game is a chance to get out of the dungeon and leave the loser crown in the hands of the '76 Bucs. 

Even if they don't win this season, the players should be comforted by the fact that they at least they tried their very best, which is more than can be said for the Oakland Raiders.

 

 

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29 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. James Williamson 7 months ago

    Pretty good chance? Unless team planes start crashing they will go 0-16.

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  2. CODY DURAN 7 months ago

    Is this your way of trying make yourself and the Detroit Liions feel better? There is no way Detroit is better then Oakland in any aspect of the game. I admit Oakland has struggled the last six seasons, but if you are just taking into account this year Detroit VS. Oakland hands down Oakland would crush Detroit!

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    • Tim Parent 7 months ago

      I'm not a Lions fan and yes, its possible that Oakland could "crush" Detroit this season. But when I hear about players laughing it up following a serious smackdown, something is wrong in that dressing room.

      This is a team that checked out a long time ago. It's time for an overhaul, from the owner right on down the line ...

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  3. CODY DURAN 7 months ago

    Well I would agree with you there. Oakland probably will not be a better team until Al Davis is gone, or is ready to turn the whole package over to a GM or Head Coach.

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  4. riley starrs 7 months ago

    I surprisingly agree with you the Lions haven't been crushed in the majority of their games just beaten in the 4th quarter i believe they could beat the Raiders because Jamarcus Russel would fall down every play lol, i feel for Nnamdi Asoughmua he's amazing but he's stuck on a horrible team

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  5. Jeff Contizano 7 months ago

    In a recent article in the Grand Rapids press (Western Michigan, where I live), there was an article about how on game day, whenever the reporters visit the players after a loss, they are all laughing and listening to rap music etc. The lions don't really care. Culpepper, Johnson, a few care, but for the most part, they get their paycheck no matter what.

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  6. Andrew Stephan 7 months ago

    This argument is kind of like arguing which is worse: drowning or being burned to death. They both suck, so there's really no point.

    That being said, I think you're wrong. Let's not forget that the Raiders have two impressive wins: an overtime victory over the Jets and a game where they actually stomped the Broncos. If that doesn't show heart, I don't know what does.

    Anyways, if you're a Lions fan, I feel for you. At least you'll get Sam Bradford or Matt Stafford next year.

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  7. Anthony Elias 7 months ago

    Wins are wins right? Not to mention Oakland went to the division leading Broncos and shellacked them the other day. That one win is enough to put anyone thinking the Lions are better to rest.

    More motivated?

    Maybe. But it's too little too late.

    Better statistically?

    Halfway. Raiders have the wins.

    Better fans?

    There were more people to see the MAC Championship game in Ford Field.

    You tell me.
    Raiders are better.

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  8. Jared Lee 7 months ago

    As a lifelong Raiders fan, I won't agree that Lions are better, Its pretty much like asking which would you rather have, A pile of s#@! Or a pile of s#@! in a bucket, But I will agree that the Raiders have no heart, while the Lions with a winless record they still have plenty of it. The Raiders are just collecting paychecks, The Raiders have had no sense of teamwork or any faith in each other, We saw glimpses of heart, teamwork and pride throughout the season but could never keep it 2 weeks in a row. Jarmarcus Russell is more concerned about his big sunglasses and his fur coats as he comes waltzing into the stadium, Rather than focusing a being a team leader. A little advice kid "Learn how to play like a star before you start dressing like one". But back to the point, Id take a winless team that played their asses off every game than a team with a few wins that dogged it everytime something did'nt go their way. Message to the Raiders Organization "Thanks For Letting Your Fans Down For The 6th Year In A Row"

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    • Tim Parent 7 months ago

      "I'd take a winless team that played their asses off every game than a team with a few wins that dogged it everytime something did'nt go their way."

      You just summed up my argument. Thanks for commenting.

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  9. John Parker 7 months ago

    the lions have no talent and are a bunch of no names and who's that
    The raiders are just heartless about the game and who they draft plenty of talent on the Oakland team but absolutly no teamwork or fear struck into opposing teams
    still the raiders still have potential the lions have nothing

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    • Tim Parent 7 months ago

      I think that will change, eventually. Detroit, at least, appears willing to rebuild. Al Davis is running the team as a dictatorship and it shows in the last five seasons. The Raiders may have potential but they have no one on the sidelines or in the front office helping them to live up to that potential.

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  10. Platypus Ducky 7 months ago

    Raiders have potential?
    They're starting qb is dead last of any starting qb in the league.
    The offense? Dead last of any offense in the NFL.
    Defense is 26th in the NFL.
    Raiders have no receivers. Running backs Fargas is averaging about 60 yds a game, which is lousy.
    McFadden is even worse, averaging an awesome 40 yds per game.
    The oline is one of the worst in the NFL.
    The coaching staff is a total joke, and are voluntarily leaving.
    No one knows who's going to be the HC next year.
    Hell, no one knows who would even be interested in being the HC next year.
    Add into all that Al Davis?
    Means next year will just be the same as this year, and last year, year before, and before that.

    The worst team in the NFL the last 5, going on 6 years is the Raiders.

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  11. Cody Swartz 7 months ago

    I think the Raiders would beat the Lions, and I can't justify saying the Lions are better, when the Lions have no wins and the Raiders have three wins.

    Plus the Raiders beat the Broncos (a playoff team) soundly.

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  12. Billy George 7 months ago

    Coming from a vikings fan; don't worry about it raider fans, the lions are just bitter they suck. Think about it, last week one of there lineman took a cheap shot on Jared Allen. That definitely shows a team with heart and passion. Not, what your team couldn't stop him straight up, you gotta try to take him out of the game. Have fun being at the bottom of the division for the next decade. And last time I check the team with more wins is the better team. Since when has wins not been the measuring stick. You guys cannot find any other bright spot then comparing your team to the most dysfunctional (yet better) team.

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  13. Vassago Prime 7 months ago

    Does it really matter?
    I've been a Raider for 20+ years, and the last few I would have never seen coming.

    Who's better?????? Who cares!!!!!!
    This sport, this game is about winning or giving yourself the opportunity to win. Neither team has done that. They both suck for different reasons (Heart vs. talent), and neither team is giving themselves the opportunity to become winners.

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  14. jay smith 7 months ago

    ok the raiders are terrible, but not as bad as the lions. The Raiders have acutally one agaisnt two playoff teams while the lions have beatin...O iforgot no one. Stats don't matter cuz in the end, its all about that score on the board

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  15. Tim Parent 7 months ago

    Raider! Any one ever tell you that you are a fantastic debater? Douchebag, midgets - you've got it all! Your grade nine education shines through.

    Thanks for commenting!

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  1. RaiderMo Sandoval 7 months ago

    It is extremely sad for us Raider fans to have to continue to support a product that cannot compete anymore in the NFL. Al Davis has good intent, but he has to let his past successes go. He made some gambles back in the day that paid off, but it just isn't working anymore. I won't be surprised to see him pick up Vick, Pacman Jones, or Plaxico Burress (if he ever plays again) in the off season. He has scared any potential quality head coaches away from wanting the job. Too bad, because a good disciplinary coach like Bill Coher could probably save the franchise. Talent is definitely there for Oakland, but unfortunately, heart, focus, and discipline are quite simply long gone...

    It is a hard sell to say that the Lions are better than ANYBODY. They have just always been bad. Whether they try hard or not every year I listen to critics talk abut why "this is the year" they are going to be better, but they never are. At least with the Raiders lately, all the critics have been predicting them to come in last and they aren't such a letdown.

    RAIDER NATION...(at least Raider stuff is on clearance for the holiday---again)

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