Lions vs. Cardinals: Stafford, Defense Embarrassed in Week 15 Loss

The headline says it all, really. What else can you say about an ugly performance by Matt Stafford or a defense that allowed Chris "Beanie" Wells to score three touchdowns on the ground?

How about a defense that managed just one sack against one of the worst offensive lines in the league?

In my mind this was a statement game for the Lions, one to start building on as we close out the season. I'm not sure which is worse—that they couldn't show up for a statement game or that they did, and this is the statement.

As always, the one bright spot is Calvin Johnson, who had his seventh straight 100-yard game in a row. Unfortunately, he failed to score a touchdown for the second straight game in a row and, since virtually nobody else showed up to play, it was all for nothing.

The Cardinals were coming off an embarrassing loss of their own, but the Lions allowed them to set the pace. As bad as the Cardinals are, the Lions were worse.

With two more games remaining—home against the Falcons and Bears—the Lions can still finish the season strong.

They're tough games, but a solid showing could go a long way towards helping get this team on the right foot going into 2013.

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