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2008 Detroit Lions season
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2008 Detroit Lions season
Head coach
Rod Marinelli
General manager
Matt Millen (Fired Week 4)
Martin Mayhew (interim)
Owner
William Clay Ford Sr.
Home field
Ford Field
Results
Record
0–16
Division place
4th NFC North
Playoff finish
did not qualify
Pro Bowlers
none
Uniform
← 2007
Lions seasons
2009 →
The 2008 Detroit Lions season was the 79th season for the franchise in the National Football League. The Lions entered their third season under head coach Rod Marinelli. The Lions had one of the worst seasons in NFL history. The team lost all sixteen of their games in 2008, becoming the first team since the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to end an NFL season with no wins and no tied games, as well as the first to do it since the schedule was expanded to sixteen games in 1978 (a feat that has since been matched by the 2017 Cleveland Browns). The Lions were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs by Week 11, when they stood 0–10. The team's victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16 of 2007 stood as their last until Week 3 of the 2009 season. From the time the Lions recorded a win over the Denver Broncos in 2007 to reach 6–2, the team went 5–47 over their following 52 games (including all of 2008 and 2009) before winning four games in a row at the end of the 2010 season.
The Lions gave up 517 points during the season, coming within 16 of matching the 1981 Colts’ record of 533 points allowed. The Lions’ 32.31 points per game allowed on defense is the third worst of any NFL team since the 1960s, bettering only the 1966 Giants (35.79 PPG) and the aforementioned 1981 Colts (33.31 PPG).[1] Embattled team president and CEO Matt Millen, who had served in those roles since 2001 was fired on September 24, 2008. Marinelli was fired after the season ended along with most of his staff.
To celebrate their 75th year playing as the Lions (they had been known as the Portsmouth Spartans their first four seasons), the Lions wore special throwback uniforms for two home games, a replica of the ones used in 1934, the first year as the Lions. The uniforms had blue jerseys with silver lettering, solid silver pants, blue socks, and solid silver helmets (as helmets were leather back then). This replaced their black alternate jersey used in the 2005 to 2007 seasons.
Contents
[hide]
1 Season
1.1 Notable roster losses and trades
1.2 2008 Draft
2 Schedule
2.1 Preseason
2.2 Regular season
3 Game recaps
3.1 Week 1: at Atlanta Falcons
3.2 Week 2: vs. Green Bay Packers
3.3 Week 3: at San Francisco 49ers
3.4 Week 4: Bye week – Millen fired
3.5 Week 5: vs. Chicago Bears
3.6 Week 6: at Minnesota Vikings
3.7 Roster moves
3.8 Week 7: at Houston Texans
3.9 Week 8: vs. Washington Redskins
3.10 Signing of Daunte Culpepper
3.11 Week 9: at Chicago Bears
3.12 Week 10: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
3.13 Week 11: at Carolina Panthers
3.14 Week 12: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3.15 Week 13: vs. Tennessee Titans (Thanksgiving Day game)
3.16 Week 14: vs. Minnesota Vikings
3.17 Week 15: at Indianapolis Colts
3.18 Week 16: vs New Orleans Saints
3.19 Week 17: at Green Bay Packers
4 Notable reactions
5 Coaching staff
6 Final roster
7 Notes and references
8 See also
Season[edit]
Notable roster losses and trades[edit]
RB Kevin Jones – Released on March 13 – signed with the Chicago Bears
DE Kalimba Edwards – Released on March 13 – signed with the Oakland Raiders
DT Shaun Rogers – Traded on February 29 to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for cornerback Leigh Bodden and a third-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. (The Lions selected Andre Fluellen with this pick.)
2008 Draft[edit]
Further information: 2008 NFL Draft
2008 Detroit Lions draft
Round
Pick
Player
Position
College
Notes
1 17 Gosder Cherilus OT Boston College
2 45 Jordon Dizon LB Colorado
3 64 Kevin Smith RB UCF
3 87 Andre Fluellen DT Florida State
3 92 Cliff Avril * DE Purdue
5 136 Kenneth Moore WR Wake Forest
5 146 Jerome Felton * FB Furman
7 216 Landon Cohen DT Ohio
7 218 Caleb Campbell S Army [2]
Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career
Schedule[edit]
Preseason[edit]
Week
Date
Kickoff
Opponent
Results
Game Site
TV
NFL Recap
Final score
Team record
1
August 7, 2008 7:00 PM EDT New York Giants W 13–10 1–0 Ford Field Lions TV Network Recap
2
August 17, 2008 7:30 PM EDT at Cincinnati Bengals W 27–10 2–0 Paul Brown Stadium Lions TV Network Recap
3
August 23, 2008 4:00 PM Cleveland Browns W 26–6 3–0 Ford Field Lions TV Network Recap
4
August 28, 2008 6:30 PM EDT at Buffalo Bills W 14–6 4–0 Ralph Wilson Stadium Lions TV Network Recap
Regular season[edit]
Week
Date
Kickoff
Opponent
Results
Game Site
TV
NFL Recap
Final score
Team record
1
September 7, 2008 1:00 PM EDT at Atlanta Falcons L 21–34 0–1 Georgia Dome FOX Recap
2
September 14, 2008 1:00 PM EDT Green Bay Packers L 25–48 0–2 Ford Field FOX Recap
3
September 21, 2008 4:05 PM EDT at San Francisco 49ers L 13–31 0–3 Candlestick Park FOX Recap
4
Bye
5
October 5, 2008 1:00 PM EDT Chicago Bears L 7–34 0–4 Ford Field FOX Recap
6
October 12, 2008 1:00 PM EDT at Minnesota Vikings L 10–12 0–5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome FOX Recap
7
October 19, 2008 4:05 PM EDT at Houston Texans L 21–28 0–6 Reliant Stadium FOX Recap
8
October 26, 2008 1:00 PM EDT Washington Redskins L 17–25 0–7 Ford Field FOX x Recap
9
November 2, 2008 1:00 PM EST at Chicago Bears L 23–27 0–8 Soldier Field FOX Recap
10
November 9, 2008 1:00 PM EST Jacksonville Jaguars L 14–38 0–9 Ford Field CBS x Recap
11
November 16, 2008 1:00 PM EST at Carolina Panthers L 22–31 0–10 Bank of America Stadium FOX Recap
12
November 23, 2008 1:00 PM EST Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 20–38 0–11 Ford Field FOX x Recap
13
November 27, 2008 12:30 PM EST Tennessee Titans L 10–47 0–12 Ford Field CBS # Recap
14
December 7, 2008 1:00 PM EST Minnesota Vikings L 16–20 0–13 Ford Field FOX x Recap
15
December 14, 2008 1:00 PM EST at Indianapolis Colts L 21–31 0–14 Lucas Oil Stadium FOX Recap
16
December 21, 2008 1:00 PM EST New Orleans Saints L 7–42 0–15 Ford Field FOX x Recap
17
December 28, 2008 1:00 PM EST at Green Bay Packers L 21–31 0–16 Lambeau Field FOX Recap
COLOR KEY AND NOTES:
x Indicates game was blacked out locally
# Indicates the game was nationally televised
NFC North
view
talk
edit
W
L
T
PCT
DIV
CONF
PF
PA
STK
(3) Minnesota Vikings 10 6 0 .625 4–2 8–4 379 333 W1
Chicago Bears 9 7 0 .563 4–2 7–5 375 350 L1
Green Bay Packers 6 10 0 .375 4–2 5–7 419 380 W1
Detroit Lions 0 16 0 .000 0–6 0–12 268 517 L16
Game recaps[edit]
Week 1: at Atlanta Falcons[edit]
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1
2
3
4
Total
Lions 0 14 7 0 21
Falcons 21 0 10 3 34
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
Game weather: None (Domed Stadium)
Game attendance: 62,310
Referee: Ron Winter
TV announcers (Fox): Matt Vasgersian, J.C. Pearson, & Nischelle Turner
The Lions began their 2008 season at the Georgia Dome against the Atlanta Falcons. A pre-season poll on thespread.com said the Falcons (who finished 11–5 before losing in the Wild Card round of the playoffs), were less likely (dead last for that matter) to make the Super Bowl than the Lions. In the first quarter, Detroit trailed early as rookie QB Matt Ryan completed a 62-yard TD pass to WR Michael Jenkins, while RB Michael Turner scored twice on runs of 66 and 5 yards. In the second quarter, the Lions responded when rookie RB Kevin Smith scored on a 3-yard TD run, while QB Jon Kitna completed a 21-yard TD pass to WR Roy Williams. However, in the third quarter, Atlanta continued its dominant start when kicker Jason Elam kicked a 50-yard field goal, while RB Jerious Norwood scored on a 10-yard TD run. Detroit replied when Kitna hooked up with TE Casey FitzSimmons on a 1-yard TD pass. The Falcons sealed the win in the fourth quarter with an Elam 25-yard field goal.
Week 2: vs. Green Bay Packers[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Packers 7 14 3 24 48
Lions 0 3 6 16 25
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
Game weather: None (Domed Stadium)
Game attendance: 60,285
Referee: Walt Coleman
TV announcers (Fox): Matt Vasgersian, J.C. Pearson, & Charissa Thompson
Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Falcons, the Lions played their Week 2 home opener against their NFC North foe, the Green Bay Packers. In the first quarter, Detroit trailed as Packers QB Aaron Rodgers completed a 9-yard TD pass to WR James Jones. In the second quarter, the Lions continued to trail as Rodgers completed a 2-yard TD pass to WR Donald Driver and a 29-yard TD pass to WR Jordy Nelson. Detroit closed out the first half when kicker Jason Hanson nailed a 38-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Lions continued to hack away at Green Bay's lead with Hanson kicking 49-yard and then 53-yard field goals. The Packers responded when kicker Mason Crosby nailed a 25-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Detroit clawed away at the Pack’s lead when QB Jon Kitna completed a 38-yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson. The Lions closed in as the snap to Packers punter Derrick Frost was high, causing it to go through the back of his end zone, giving Detroit a safety. The Lions took the lead on Kitna’s 47-yard TD pass to Calvin Johnson. However, Green Bay rebounded with Crosby’s 39-yard field goal, RB Brandon Jackson's 19-yard TD run, CB Charles Woodson's 41-yard interception return for a touchdown, and safety Nick Collins' 42-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Week 3: at San Francisco 49ers[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Lions 0 3 3 7 13
49ers 7 14 0 10 31
at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California
Game time: 1:05 PDT / 4:05 PM EDT
Game weather: 67°F (sunny)
Game attendance: 67,249
Referee: Bill Leavy
TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Brian Baldinger, Brian Billick, and Laura Okmin
The Lions visited Candlestick Park in San Francisco for a Week 3 duel with the 49ers. In the first quarter, Detroit trailed early as 49ers (and former Lions) QB J.T. O'Sullivan completed a 6-yard TD pass to WR Isaac Bruce. In the second quarter, San Francisco increased its lead when RB Frank Gore scored on a 4-yard TD run. The Lions got on the board when kicker Jason Hanson hit a 44-yard field goal. The 49ers closed out the half when O'Sullivan completed a 24-yard TD pass to TE Delanie Walker.
In the third quarter, Detroit tried to rally as Hanson kicked a 51-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, San Francisco increased its lead when CB Allen Rossum scored on a 1-yard TD run. The Lions tried to come back as QB Jon Kitna completed a 34-yard TD pass to RB Rudi Johnson, yet the 49ers pulled away when kicker Joe Nedney nailed a 25-yard field goal.
Week 4: Bye week – Millen fired[edit]
In the bye week, team president and CEO Matt Millen was fired after eight years of management in which the team accumulated a league-worst record of 31 wins and 84 losses.[3]
Week 5: vs. Chicago Bears[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Bears 3 14 14 3 34
Lions 0 0 7 0 7
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Game time: 1:00 PM EDT / 12:00 PM CDT
Game weather: None (Domed Stadium)
Game attendance: 59,790
Referee: Scott Green
TV announcers (Fox): Matt Vasgersian, Brian Baldinger, Brian Billick, & Laura Okmin
Coming off their bye week, the Lions played a Week 5 Black and Blue Division duel at home with the Chicago Bears. In the first quarter, Detroit trailed early as Bears kicker Robbie Gould got a 37-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Lions continued to trail as QB Kyle Orton completed a 9-yard TD pass to RB Matt Forte and a 12-yard TD pass to WR/KR Devin Hester. In the third quarter, Chicago continued its domination as Forté got a 1-yard TD run, and CB Charles Tillman returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown. Afterwards, Detroit got its only score of the game as rookie RB Kevin Smith scored on a 12-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, the Bears sealed the win when Gould nailed a 45-yard field goal.
Week 6: at Minnesota Vikings[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Lions 0 3 7 0 10
Vikings 2 0 7 3 12
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Game time: 1:00 PM EDT / 12:00 PM CDT
Game weather: None (Domed Stadium)
Game attendance: 62,867
Referee: Tony Corrente
TV announcers (Fox): Ron Pitts, Tony Boselli, & Charissa Thompson
The Lions traveled to Minneapolis in week 6 to take on the Minnesota Vikings. In the first quarter, Detroit’s misery continued as Orlovsky unintentionally ran out of the back of his endzone, giving the Vikings a safety. In the second quarter, the Lions got the lead as kicker Jason Hanson got a 40-yard field goal. In the third quarter, Detroit increased its lead as Orlovsky completed a 12-yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson. However, Minnesota answered when QB Gus Frerotte completed an 86-yard TD pass to WR Bernard Berrian. In the fourth quarter, the Vikings sealed the win when kicker Ryan Longwell nailed the game-winning 26-yard field goal.
Dan Orlovsky's run out of the end zone for a safety topped the list of ESPN's Not Top 10 of 2008.
Roster moves[edit]
On October 14, the Lions traded wide receiver Roy Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for three picks in the 2009 NFL Draft. The same day, quarterback Jon Kitna was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season, due to chronic back pain. Dan Orlovsky took over his place.[4]
Week 7: at Houston Texans[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Lions 0 3 7 11 21
Texans 14 7 7 0 28
at Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas
Game time: 4:05 PM EDT / 3:05 PM CDT
Game weather: 77°F (Clear)
Game attendance: 70,081
Referee: Bill Carollo
TV announcers (Fox): Chris Rose, J.C. Pearson, & Nischelle Turner
In week 7, the Lions flew down to Houston, Texas for an interconference duel with the Houston Texans. In the first quarter, Detroit’s slow start continued as Texans QB Matt Schaub completed a 2-yard TD pass to TE Owen Daniels, along with RB Ahman Green getting a 1-yard TD run. In the second quarter, Houston increased their lead as RB Steve Slaton got a 1-yard TD run. The Lions responded when kicker Jason Hanson completed a 54-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, Detroit began to catch up as rookie RB Kevin Smith got a 26-yard TD run, yet the Texans answered with Schaub completing a 1-yard TD pass to Daniels. In the fourth quarter, the Lions tried to come back as QB Dan Orlovsky completed a 96-yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson, along with Hanson nailing a 54-yard field goal. However, Houston's defense prevented any comeback from happening.
Week 8: vs. Washington Redskins[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Redskins 3 3 10 9 25
Lions 7 3 0 7 17
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
Game weather: None (Domed Stadium)
Game attendance: 54,312
Referee: John Parry
TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick, & Charissa Thompson (blacked out locally)
The Lions went home for a Week 8 duel with the Washington Redskins. This was the first ever regular season game at Ford Field that had failed to sell out by the 72-hour deadline and was, therefore, subject to local television blackout.
In the first quarter, Detroit trailed early as Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham got a 25-yard field goal. In what would be the first time in the season the Lions scored during the first quarter, RB Rudi Johnson got an 11-yard TD run. In the second quarter, Detroit increased its lead as kicker Jason Hanson got a 43-yard field goal. Washington closed out the half with Suisham getting a 47-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Redskins regained the lead as Suisham made a 45-yard field goal, along with QB Jason Campbell completing a 50-yard TD pass to WR Santana Moss. In the fourth quarter, the Lions' struggles continued as Moss returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown. Detroit tried to rally as QB Dan Orlovsky completed a 17-yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson. However, Washington closed out the game with Suisham nailing a 42-yard field goal.
Signing of Daunte Culpepper[edit]
On October 28, the Lions discussed a contract with veteran quarterback Daunte Culpepper.[5] He signed with the Lions on November 3 and played 4 games before suffering a shoulder injury.
Week 9: at Chicago Bears[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Lions 0 23 0 0 23
Bears 10 3 7 7 27
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Game time: 1:00 PM EDT / 12:00 PM CDT
Game weather: 60°F (Mostly Cloudy)
Game attendance: 62,188
Referee: Pete Morelli
TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Tim Ryan, & Chris Myers
Still trying to get their first win of the season, the Lions traveled to Soldier Field for a Week 9 NFC North rematch with the Chicago Bears. In the first quarter, Detroit trailed early as Bears kicker Robbie Gould got a 36-yard field goal, along with QB Kyle Orton getting a 5-yard TD run. In the second quarter, the Lions greatly responded with rookie RB Kevin Smith getting a 1-yard TD run (with a blocked PAT), along with QB Dan Orlovsky completing a 17-yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson and a 14-yard TD pass to WR Shaun McDonald. Chicago would respond with Gould getting a 41-yard field goal, yet Detroit answered with kicker Jason Hanson getting a 52-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Bears began to rally as QB Rex Grossman (who took over for Orton after he left the game in the second quarter with a right foot sprain) completed a 6-yard TD pass to WR Rashied Davis. In the fourth quarter, Chicago completed their rally as Grossman got a 1-yard TD run. The Lions tried to rally, but the Bears’ defense prevented any possible comeback from happening.
With their ninth consecutive road loss, not only did the Lions fall to 0–8, but following the Bengals’ victory over the Jaguars, the Lions remained the only winless NFL team.
Week 10: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Jaguars 3 21 7 7 38
Lions 7 0 0 7 14
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
Game weather: None (Domed Stadium)
Game attendance: 52,631
Referee: Carl Cheffers
TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan & Rich Gannon*
* blacked out locally [6]
In week 10 the Lions went home, donned their throwback uniforms, and played an interconference game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In the first quarter, Detroit trailed early as Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee got a 34-yard field goal. The Lions would respond as QB Drew Stanton made his NFL debut and completed a 1-yard TD pass to TE John Owens on his first NFL pass. In the second quarter, Jacksonville took a huge lead as RB Maurice Jones-Drew got a 6-yard, a 1-yard, and an 8-yard TD run.
In the third quarter, Detroit’s misery continued as Jaguars QB David Garrard completed a 7-yard TD pass to WR Jerry Porter. In the fourth quarter, Jacksonville pulled away as Garrard completed a 10-yard TD pass to WR Troy Williamson. The Lions would end the game when rookie RB Kevin Smith scored on a 1-yard TD run.
Week 11: at Carolina Panthers[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Lions 7 9 0 6 22
Panthers 0 21 3 7 31
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
Game weather: 54°F (Sunny)
Game attendance: 73,349
Referee: Bill Leavy
TV announcers (Fox): Ron Pitts, Tony Boselli, & Charissa Thompson
The still winless Lions next went to Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina for a Week 11 duel with the Carolina Panthers. In the first quarter, Detroit struck first as QB Daunte Culpepper completed a 29-yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson. In the second quarter, the Lions increased their lead when kicker Jason Hanson got a 40-yard field goal. The Panthers responded when QB Jake Delhomme completed a 15-yard TD pass to TE Jeff King. Detroit answered when Hanson completed a 56-yard field goal, yet Carolina took the lead as RB DeAngelo Williams scored a long 56-yard TD run. Later, Carolina RB Jonathan Stewart scored on a 22-yard TD run. The Lions closed out the half as Hanson completed a 27-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Panthers increased their lead when kicker John Kasay nailed a 29-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Detroit tried to come back as Culpepper got a 1-yard TD run (with a failed 2-point conversion due to a missed facemask call against Carolina), but Carolina pulled away as Williams scored on a 4-yard TD run. Losing this game eliminated the Lions from playoff contention.
Week 12: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Buccaneers 0 21 14 3 38
Lions 17 0 3 0 20
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
Game weather: None (Domed Stadium)
Game attendance: 49,096
Referee: Bill Carollo
TV announcers (Fox): Ron Pitts, Tony Boselli, & Charissa Thompson*
*blacked out locally[7]
The Lions went home for a Week 12 duel with another NFC South team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the first quarter, Detroit struck first as QB Daunte Culpepper completed a 15-yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson. The Lions continued their early success as safety Daniel Bullocks returned a fumble 44 yards for a touchdown, while kicker Jason Hanson got a 38-yard field goal.
Although the 17–0 early advantage was the largest lead the Lions would obtain all year, it didn’t even last until halftime. In the second quarter, the Buccaneers’ RB Warrick Dunn got a 13-yard TD run, while QB Jeff Garcia completed a 36-yard TD pass to WR Ike Hilliard and a 24-yard TD pass to TE Jerramy Stevens.
In the third quarter, Tampa Bay added onto their lead as RB Clifton Smith returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown, along with CB Ronde Barber returning an interception 65 yards for a touchdown. Detroit scored when Hanson got a 40-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, only the Buccaneers scored when kicker Matt Bryant nailed a 48-yard field goal.
Week 13: vs. Tennessee Titans (Thanksgiving Day game)[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Titans 21 14 6 6 47
Lions 3 7 0 0 10
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Game time: 12:30 PM EDT
Game weather: None (Domed Stadium)
Game attendance: 60,112
Referee: Jeff Triplette
TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz & Phil Simms
Later that week, the Lions stayed at home, donned their throwback uniforms again, and played their 69th annual Thanksgiving Day game against the then 10–1 Tennessee Titans. It was the Lions’ only nationally televised game of the regular season and the only one amongst the final six home games that wasn’t blacked out, although the Lions needed a 24-hour extension to sell out Ford Field. In the first quarter, Detroit trailed early as Titans RB Chris Johnson ran for a 6-yard TD. The Lions responded with Jason Hanson kicking a 53-yard field goal. Tennessee answered with Johnson running 58-yards for a score, along with DE Dave Ball returning an interception 15 yards for a TD. In the second quarter, Detroit’s misery continued as RB LenDale White scored on runs of 6 yards and 2 yards. Detroit ended the half with QB Daunte Culpepper completing a 2-yard TD pass to TE Michael Gaines. In the third quarter, the Titans pulled away as kicker Rob Bironas kicked field goals of 49 and 41 yards. In the fourth quarter, Tennessee scored two more times when Bironas nailed 45 and 43-yard field goals.
Singer Jesse McCartney performed during halftime.
The 47 points were most points that Detroit had ever given up on Thanksgiving Day as they fell to 0–12. It also became the 2nd straight NFL season to have a team start out 0–12 after the Miami Dolphins in 2007.
Week 14: vs. Minnesota Vikings[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Vikings 0 3 7 10 20
Lions 3 3 7 3 16
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Game time: 1:00 PM EDT / 12:00 PM CDT
Game weather: None (Domed Stadium)
Game attendance: 50,444
Referee: Jerome Boger
TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Tim Ryan, & Chris Myers*
*blacked out locally[8]
Next, the Lions stayed at home for a Week 14 NFC North rematch with newly signed veteran quarterback Daunte Culpepper’s former team, the Minnesota Vikings. In the first quarter, Detroit was on the board first as kicker Jason Hanson got a 25-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Lions increased their lead as Hanson got a 23-yard field goal. The Vikings would close out the half as kicker Ryan Longwell got a 35-yard field goal.
During the first half, Moran Norris was ejected by referee Jerome Boger for throwing a punch at Minnesota’s Napoleon Harris.
In the third quarter, Minnesota took the lead as RB Chester Taylor got a 17-yard TD run. Detroit would respond with former Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper completing a 70-yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson. However, Minnesota got the lead again as QB Tarvaris Jackson completed an 11-yard TD pass to TE Visanthe Shiancoe. In the fourth quarter, the Lions tried to rally as Hanson made a 39-yard field goal. However, the Vikings pulled away as Longwell nailed a 50-yard field goal.
Week 15: at Indianapolis Colts[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Lions 3 7 3 8 21
Colts 7 14 0 10 31
at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
Game weather: None (Roof closed)
Game attendance: 66,281
Referee: Pete Morelli
TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman & Brian Billick
In the last interconference duel of the season, the Lions traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana to take on the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts struck first when Dominic Rhodes ran in a TD from 1 yard midway through the first quarter. The Lions responded a few minutes later with a 51-yard field goal by Jason Hanson. With just under 6 minutes left in the half, Chad Simpson of the Colts scored a TD from 2 yards. Calvin Johnson of the Lions responded a few minutes later by catching a 33-yard TD pass. The Colts struck back with just under a minute in the half, when Dallas Clark caught a 3-yard TD pass.
The only points for either team in the 3rd quarter was a Jason Hanson 30-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Kevin Smith ran in a TD from 1 yard out. The Lions decided to go for the 2-point conversion to tie the score and were successful when Casey Fitzsimmons caught a pass for the conversion. The Colts responded with another Dominic Rhodes 1-yard TD run and put the game out of reach with a 31-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal.
With the loss to the Colts, the Lions became the third team (after the 1976 Buccaneers and the 1980 Saints) to lose the first 14 games of the regular season. They were the last team to started 0-14 until the 2016 Browns did it in 2016.
With their 11th straight road loss, the Lions fell to 0–14 and 0–4 against AFC Opponents.
Week 16: vs New Orleans Saints[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Saints 14 14 14 0 42
Lions 0 7 0 0 7
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
Game weather: None (Domed Stadium)
Game attendance: 49,309
Referee: Alberto Riveron
TV announcers (Fox): Ron Pitts, Tony Boselli, and Charissa Thompson*
*blacked out locally[9]
For their last home game of the season, the Lions took on the New Orleans Saints. Detroit trailed early in the first quarter as Saints wide receiver Robert Meachem scored on a 20-yard touchdown run and running back Deuce McAllister scored on a 2-yard touchdown run. The Lions responded in the second quarter with rookie running back Kevin Smith's 1-yard touchdown run. New Orleans answered with running back Mike Bell's 1-yard touchdown run, and running back Pierre Thomas's 2-yard touchdown run. The Saints then closed out the game's scoring in the third quarter with quarterback Drew Brees completing 6-yard and 3-yard touchdown passes to wide receiver Marques Colston.
With the loss, the Lions became the first team in NFL history to have a record of 0–15. They also became the first team to lose fifteen straight in a single season since the 2001 Carolina Panthers, who won their first game, then lost the remaining 15 to finish 1–15.[10] The 2008 Lions were the last team until the 2017 Browns to start 0-15.
Week 17: at Green Bay Packers[edit]
1
2
3
4
Total
Lions 0 7 7 7 21
Packers 14 0 0 17 31
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Game time: 1:00 PM EDT / 12:00 PM CDT
Game weather: 22°F, Partly Cloudy / High Winds
Game attendance: 70,141
Referee: Ed Hochuli
TV announcers (Fox): Chris Rose, John Lynch, and Krista Voda
Wikinews has related news: NFL: Packers defeat Lions 31–21, Lions become first team to finish season with 0–16 record
For their last chance to avoid becoming the first 0–16 team in NFL history, the Lions traveled to Green Bay, Wisconsin to take on division rivals the Green Bay Packers (whom Detroit had not beaten on the road since 1991). The Packers struck first midway through the first quarter when Deshawn Wynn ran in a career long 73 yard TD. They made it 14–0 when Jermichael Finley caught a 3-yard TD pass near the end of the first quarter. The Lions got on the board in the second quarter when Calvin Johnson caught a 9-yard TD pass. At the end of the half, Will Blackmon called a fair catch as time expired, allowing Mason Crosby to attempt a rare 69-yard field goal. Crosby kicked it accurately but it fell just a yard short with the wind blowing against him. Before the game, Crosby also attempted a 64-yard field goal. Calvin Johnson scored another TD to tie it up in the 3rd quarter when he caught a 14-yard pass. The Packers responded just after the start of the 4th quarter with a 36-yard Mason Crosby field goal, and later with a John Kuhn 5-yard TD catch. The Lions responded less than a minute later with a Kevin Smith 9-yard TD run. The Packers sealed the Lions’ fate though with a 71-yard TD pass caught by Donald Driver.
With the loss, the Lions became only the second NFL team of the post-merger era to go winless without a tie in the regular season, and the first to go 0–16. (The 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers also went winless, but that was when the regular season only had fourteen games.) The Lions ended 2008 having lost 23 of their last 24 regular-season games, going back to the previous season, and a total of seventeen consecutive regular season losses (the NFL record is 26 by the Buccaneers, who lost the next twelve games after their winless season).
After allowing 31 points to the Packers, it brought their season total points allowed to 517. This is the second highest point total allowed in a single season in NFL history, trailing only the 533 allowed by the 1981 Baltimore Colts.
Of note, three of the players who were on this winless season roster went on to participate in Super Bowl XLVIII: Manny Ramirez and Paris Lenon for the Denver Broncos and Cliff Avril for the eventual champion Seattle Seahawks.
Notable reactions[edit]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2009)
After the final game of the season, Lions’ radio play-by-play announcer Dan Miller summed up the whole year in a few sentences:[11]
Clock ticks down here in Green Bay. The Lions find themselves in a very familiar position. For 16 weeks, starting in Atlanta back in September, they took the field thinking this was gonna be their day. Sixteen times they were wrong, and now there are no Sundays left. By record, they are the worst team in league history. Zero and sixteen, those are the numbers that will forever be associated with the Detroit Lions.
Dan Miller, on December 28, 2008, on the Detroit Lions Radio Network, after the Detroit Lions become the first team in the history of the NFL to go 0–16.
On the NFL Network's ‘Top 10 Worst Teams of All Time’, the 2008 Lions were placed at #1, with the 0–14 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the starting-out-0-12 1977 Buccaneers ranking as the second-worst team(s) ever.
Coaching staff[edit]
Detroit Lions 2008 staff
Front Office
Owner/Chairman – William Clay Ford, Sr.
Vice Chairman – William Clay Ford, Jr.
Executive Vice President/Interim CEO – Tom Lewand
Senior Vice President/General Manager – Martin Mayhew
Vice President of Football Operations – Cedric Saunders
Director of College Scouting – Scott McEwen
Director of Pro Personnel – Sheldon White
Assistant Director of Pro Personnel – Dave Boller
Assistant Director of Pro Personnel – Charlie Sanders
Head Coaches
Head Coach – Rod Marinelli
Assistant Head Coach/Pass Game Coordinator – Kippy Brown
Offensive Coaches
Offensive Coordinator – Jim Colletto
Quarterbacks – Scot Loeffler
Running Backs – Sam Gash
Wide Receivers – Shawn Jefferson
Tight Ends – Pat Carter
Assistant Offensive Line – Mike Barry
Offensive Assistant – Eric Sutulovich
Defensive Coaches
Defensive Coordinator – Joe Barry
Defensive Line – Joe Cullen
Linebackers – Phil Snow
Secondary – Jimmy Lake
Assistant Secondary – Clayton Lopez
Defensive Quality Control – Don Clemons
Special Teams Coaches
Special Teams – Stan Kwan
Assistant Special Teams – Bradford Banta
Strength and Conditioning
Head Strength and Conditioning – Jason Arapoff
Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Malcolm Blacken
Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Kevin Tolbert
Final roster[edit]
2008 Detroit Lions final roster
Quarterbacks
11 Daunte Culpepper
12 Drew Henson
6 Dan Orlovsky
5 Drew Stanton
Running backs
36 Aveion Cason
45 Jerome Felton FB
32 Rudi Johnson
44 Moran Norris FB
34 Kevin Smith
Wide receivers
19 Keary Colbert
10 Chris Hannon
80 Adam Jennings
81 Calvin Johnson
16 John Standeford
17 Travis Taylor
Tight ends
82 Casey FitzSimmons FB
86 Michael Gaines
83 John Owens
Offensive linemen
76 Jeff Backus T
77 Gosder Cherilus T
74 Damion Cook G/T
71 Junius Coston G
72 George Foster T
67 Andy McCollum C
66 Stephen Peterman G
51 Dominic Raiola C
63 Manny Ramirez G
Defensive linemen
97 Ikaika Alama-Francis DE
92 Cliff Avril DE
75 Shaun Cody DT
98 Landon Cohen DT
91 Chuck Darby DT
96 Andre Fluellen DT
79 Langston Moore DT
93 Corey Smith DE
99 Dewayne White DE
Linebackers
46 Darnell Bing OLB
52 Anthony Cannon OLB
53 Paris Lenon ILB
55 Ryan Nece OLB
50 Ernie Sims OLB
Defensive backs
28 Leigh Bodden CB
27 Daniel Bullocks SS
21 Travis Fisher CB
35 LaMarcus Hicks SS
24 Kalvin Pearson FS
33 Chris Roberson CB
38 Ramzee Robinson CB
39 Stuart Schweigert FS
30 Dexter Wynn CB
Special teams
4 Jason Hanson K
2 Nick Harris P
48 Don Muhlbach LS
Reserve lists
42 Gerald Alexander FS (IR)
13 Reggie Ball WR (IR)
40 Jon Bradley FB (IR)
29 Brian Calhoun RB (IR)
89 Dan Campbell TE (IR)
95 Jared DeVries DE (IR)
57 Jordon Dizon ILB (IR)
74 Jon Dunn OT (IR)
87 Mike Furrey WR (IR)
8 Jon Kitna QB (IR)
60 Shemiah LeGrande DT (IR)
59 Alex Lewis OLB (IR)
84 Shaun McDonald WR (IR)
64 Edwin Mulitalo G (IR)
78 Cory Redding DT (IR)
26 Dwight Smith SS (IR)
23 Keith Smith CB (IR)
31 Stanley Wilson CB (IR)

Practice squad
62 Ben Claxton C/G
25 Dowayne Davis S
39 Allen Ervin RB
18 Eric Fowler WR
54 Chris Graham ILB
94 Rudolph Hardie DE
85 Jake Nordin TE
49 Jeff Shoate CB
Unsigned Draft Picks
47 Caleb Campbell OLB/S

Rookies in italics
53 Active, 19 Inactive, 8 Practice squad
Notes and references[edit]
Jump up ^ [1] NFL: Most points allowed all time
Jump up ^ NFL rookie Caleb Campbell Must Serve The Army Before Realizing Football Dreams
Jump up ^ Glazer, Jay. Millen out as Lions president, GM Archived September 25, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.. Fox Sports. 24 September 2008.
Jump up ^ http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081016/SPORTS0101/810160388/1126 Lions emptied of promise
Jump up ^ Detroit News October 29, 2008 – Culpepper, Lions discuss contract
Jump up ^ Detroit News 11/6/08 Blackout II: Lions / Jags not on local TV
Jump up ^ Detroit News November 20, 2008 Lions game blacked out
Jump up ^ Detroit News 12/4/08 Lions Vikings won't be on local TV
Jump up ^ Lions game to be blacked out
Jump up ^ An 0–16 season – that’s even painful to write
Jump up ^ NFL Network – State of the Lions
See also[edit]
Imperfect season
The Curse of Bobby Layne
2017 Cleveland Browns season
[show]
Links to related articles
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Blood stripe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The blood stripe is visible on the uniforms of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Band in 2003
A blood stripe is a scarlet stripe worn down the outside leg seams of trousers on the dress uniform of the United States Marine Corps. This red stripe is 2 inches (5.1 cm) for general officers, 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) for other officers, and 1.12 inches (2.8 cm) for enlisted Staff Noncommissioned Officers and Noncommissioned Officers. Modified versions are worn on the officers' evening dress uniforms, with the scarlet flanked with gold trim, and on members of the Marine Band, which wear the traditional red stripe with a white stripe in the center.
Contents
[hide]
1 History
2 See also
3 References
4 Sources
History[edit]
While trouser stripes were in use in various militaries for many years[1] (especially the British Army, whose uniforms influenced American uniforms for many years, as well as the ref, red stripes of the Spanish Navy Marines[2]), red trouser stripes were not a predominant feature of any American Marine uniform until 1837. In that year, President Andrew Jackson ordered changes that included the adoption of the Army's practice of wearing stripes the same color as uniform jacket facings.[1] These original stripes were buff white to match changes to the uniform jacket, but when the jacket was changed back to dark blue with red trim in 1839, the stripes remained, but altered to a similar blue edged in red.
Tradition holds that in the Battle of Chapultepec in Mexico on September 1847, Marine officers and NCOs sustained an unusually high casualty rate during the battle.[3][clarification needed] In 1849, uniform regulations dictated that the stripes be changed to a solid red in honor of the numerous Marine deaths. Ten years later, a scarlet cord was inserted into the outer seams for noncommissioned officers and musicians, while a scarlet welt was added for officers. Finally, in 1904, the simple scarlet stripe seen today was adopted, with the varying widths prescribed for different ranks.
According to a Marine Corps publication,[4] Marine casualties for the Mexico City campaign were 780 killed and 2,400 wounded, about fifty percent of the invading force. Ninety percent of Marine officers and non-commissioned officers who fought were killed. Mexican snipers would strategically target officers and non-commissioned officers as they could be seen giving command motions to subordinates or some wore distinguishing uniform apparel, this effectively dismantled combat effectiveness of the Marine invading force.
In his Personal Memoirs (1885), Ulysses S. Grant, who served as lieutenant in Taylor's army despite being opposed to the war with Mexico, says the following regarding the cost of the battles of Chapultepec and Molino del Rey: "The Mexicans have shown a patriotism which it would be well if we would imitate in part, but with more regard to truth. They celebrate the anniversaries of Chapultepec and Molino del Rey as of very great victories. The anniversaries are recognized as national holidays. At these two battles, while the United States troops were victorious, it was at very great sacrifice of life compared with what the Mexicans suffered. The Mexicans, as on many other occasions, stood up as well as any troops ever did. The trouble seemed to be the lack of experience among the officers, which led them after a certain time to simply quit, without being particularly whipped, but because they had fought enough."[5]
See also[edit]
United States Marine Corps portal
Lampasse for military trouser-stripes in general.
Leatherneck
Eagle, Globe, and Anchor
Uniforms of the United States Marine Corps
References[edit]
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
^ Jump up to: a b Lore of the Corps Archived 2009-11-05 at the Wayback Machine. by National Museum of the Marine Corps
Jump up ^ "Reseña Histórica" (in Spanish). Spanish Navy. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
Jump up ^ Kelly, Jack (April 12, 2009). "Kill the pirates". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
Jump up ^ http://community.marines.mil/news/publications/Documents/Marines%20in%20the%20Mexican%20War%20%20PCN%2019000412200.pdf
Jump up ^ Grant, Ulysses S. (2004). Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant. Project Gutenberg.
Sources[edit]
"Marine Corps Uniform Regulations". MCO P1020.34G W/CH 1-5. United States Marine Corps. 31 March 2003. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
Dress Blues on marines.com
Blood Stripe on Answers.com
"Marine Corps Uniforms". Marine For Life. 3 September 2006. Archived from the original on 23 August 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
Leicht, Cpl. Paul W. (March 5, 2004). "Earning the Blood Stripe: Marines remember a legacy of sacrifice". Marine Corps Air Station Miramar: United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
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