by Kenneth Schonmeier

Created on: January 04, 2009

O-16. Yes that is zero wins and sixteen losses. The Detroit Lions are the only team to ever have that record in the NFL. Zero wins and sixteen losses. To make things even worse, they broke another record in 2008. They had eleven games where their opponent scored 30 or more points. Very seldom did the Lions even compete in this season that will never be forgotten, however much we wish we could. Often I hear others say to look at the bright side, the Lions can only go up from here. However what they fail to consider is that they could ride the bottom another year. Yes it is unlikely they could go another season without winning even one single game. Yet seriously, did anyone see how they played? As unlikely as it is, with this team it is possible! So the big question is how do we bring the Lions out of this losing state they are in?

Most often you will hear others say the answer is to change ownership. That through the years the Lions have had different GM's, coaches and different players, but the owners are the one and only constant. Though this would help the cause, a new owner does not say they will start winning. The Fords selling the team does not mean the Lions will suddenly know how to win, have better talent or have better coaching. It would only give the fans hope that the new owners would hire the right people to do the job. There is however one other constant in the Lions through these losing seasons. They play passive football!

Back in 1991 the Lions won their one and only playoff game, went to the Championship game before losing to the Redskins, who happened to win the Superbowl. The Lions were only one win from making the Superbowl. Back then the Lions had Barry Sanders, Herman Moore and what was known as the "Run and Shoot" offense. Soon after though, the Lions did away with the Run and Shoot with the reasoning that it scored too quickly and caused the defense to be on the field too long. The defense would grow too tired and allow the opponents to score too much. When Fontes was fired as the coach, the Lions have turned to a series of coaches who play a passive style of football. Ross, Morninwheg, Mariucci and recently Marinelli have all been very conservative coaches. Watching the Lions offense has been like watching reruns on television. How often I have called plays they would run ahead of time. In fact the Lions did have one offensive coordinator recently who was not conservative in Mike Martz. With him as the OC, Kitna threw for 4,000 plus yards,

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