Bitter Loss for the Lions; Yet Feisty Defense Shows Promise

This game belonged to the Lions; while their offense struggled, their defense showed a mighty roar and struck fear in the Bears offensive line. During the first half, the game was going the Lions way. With a 14-3 lead, the Lions were dominating the field, both offensively and defensively, though the offense should thank the defense for those turnovers. With less than two minutes left in the second quarter, Bears get a touchdown, score is now: 14-10.

The Lions prepare to get another touchdown or field goal before time expires and getting the ball back after halftime. With 29 seconds left, Matthew Stafford is blindsided and tackled by Julius Peppers. Ball is fumbled. Bears receive possession of the ball. To make matters worse, Stafford is injured on the play. Again? This is what I feared most about this season, Stafford getting injured again. Now you got our starting and star quarterback out before halftime? This is Stafford first time getting injured against the Bears, he was injured last year during the fourth game of the season. He twisted his ankle and was out for several games. Honestly, the Lions need to start protecting their quarterback. It was hard not to see the frustration Stafford showed after he was injured. I don’t blame him, I reacted the same way. I hope he’ll be better to play next game, because with Shaun Hill and Drew Stanton while they are both good backups, there is a reason why they are backups…

Plus the offensive coordinator needs to coordinate better plays. While the Bears defense was good, they made some pretty bad calls on certain plays.

Halftime: 14-13.

The suspense begins.

Third quarter. Matthew Stafford is out for the count, his right arm in a sling. Shaun Hill replaces him on the field. Lions receive the ball. They punt it without going to first down. While the Lions offense struggled and barely gained any yards during the third and majority of the fourth quarter, the Lions defense owned this game and shined.

Both sides were denied any points by both defenses again, again, again, again, again, and again.

Third quarter ends. 14-13.

The most memorable play fourth quarter is when the Bears were at the goal line after a Lions fumble and were denied touchdown after four tries. Wow, that is something you would have not seen from the Lions defense last year. I’m telling you: the team has something here.

The Bears get a lucky break towards the end where Cutler throws a deep pass for Forte with a minute and forty seconds left. Lions denied them of their two point conversion.

1:32 left. Lions still have a fighting chance.

They haul all the way down to Chicago’s 25 yard line. With thirty seconds left, Hill passes a deep one to Calvin Johnson. Catches it! Two steps! Touchdown!

Nope. Apparently that was ruled incomplete because of the rule that Johnson needed to maintain possession of the ball when he got up from the ground. What? Seriously?

Sadly, it is what it is: a bitter loss for the Lions; 21 consecutive road losses.

But you know what, go ahead, write down in the official book that the Lions are 0-1. Mark that first loss. I’ll tell you that every single Lions fan believed that we won that game. We did win that game. Go ahead, take it away. It’s only the first game of the season. With a strong promise from the Lions defense, and hopefully with a return from Matthew Stafford, the Lions will roar back this season and that loss with a strong might.

The call might have cost us a game. However, relax Lions fans.

It did not cost us the season. We got 15 more games.

The Lions will roar back.