Lions Over Lambs: The Winless Streak Ends Here

Rod Marinelli brought the Tampa-Two defense to Detroit and left two years later with an undesirable Tampa record within reach.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold the NFL record for most consecutive losses at 26, losing every game in their 1976 expansion season (0-14) and starting the following year 0-12 before getting the franchise's first win in Week 13 vs. New Orleans.

Detroit became the second NFL franchise, behind the Bucs, to go winless during the regular season (0-16) in 2008 and stand only 11 games behind Tampa Bay for sole possession of one of the NFL's most unsought records.

With Lions head coach Jim Schwartz naming rookie QB Matt Stafford the team's starting QB on Sept. 7, thus ending the QB debate in Detroit (for now), the biggest question entering the season is when the Lions will get their first win.

The answer: Week Eight vs. the St. Louis Lambs, er, Rams.

That means the Lions will go 0-6 heading into the bye week before hosting St. Louis. Don't believe me? Look at the schedule.

Week One

The Lions travel to New Orleans. The Lions have a rookie QB starting on the road. The Lions have virtually no pass rush. The Lions have a banged up starting secondary. The Saints have Drew Brees and six seconds in the pocket. Game over.

Week Two

Once again the defensive line comes into question for Detroit, but this time it's their inability to stop the run. The Lions invited and dismissed more defensive linemen during training camp than any other position, meaning coaches were looking for help in every nook and cranny in the NFL.

Not a good sign when facing Adrian Peterson. Oh, and Brett Favre loves playing the Lions.

Week Three

The most winnable game to date, but a tough loss to the Redskins. The Lions should get pressure on QB Jason Campbell behind a porous OL and keep RB Clinton Portis in check. One of the NFL's most underrated defenses—12th overall in 2008—got better with the addition of Albert Haynesworth and has the corners to cover all but Calvin Johnson (few corners can).

It's a team game, however, and the Redskins are a better team right now.

Week Four

Chicago's defense isn't what it once was, but it's enough to rattle Stafford. Hey, even Troy Aikman and Peyton Manning went a combined 4-28 in their rookie years. Lions fans do get a glimpse into the future, as Stafford has been compared with another strong-armed signal-caller in Jay Cutler. (In three years, Stafford may want out too.)

Week Five

The Pittsburgh Steelers. Lions LB Larry Foote asks himself, "Is two rings enough? Hmm." This game shows just how far the Lions need to go.

Week Six

At Lambeau Field, where Detroit hasn't won since 1991. New QBs, same results. (Note: If Daunte Culpepper is still with the team at this point, I'd be shocked; Stafford is on his own.)

Bye Week

Half-way to the 0-26 mark. Fans are calling for Daunte Culpepper. Oh, wait. Fans are calling for Drew Stanton. Hey, he looked good in the preseason.

Week Eight

Do the names Laurent Robinson, Derek Stanley, and Keenan Burton ring a bell? If not, then meet the St. Louis Rams receiving corps—minus Donnie Avery, who had a decent rookie year in 2008. They don't scare anyone, particularly Lions starting CBs Phillip Buchanon and Anthony Henry.

And if you can name one Rams defenseman other than Chris Long and Leonard Little, give yourself a pat on the back. Lions offensive coordinator and former Rams head coach Scott Linehan knows how to attack his old team and it pays off.

Streak broken. Now for wins two, three, and four. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.