Although I did not watch the Detroit Lions/Baltimore Ravens game yesterday, I was shocked to find out how the Lions lost. Raven’s kicker Justin Tucker kicked a record 66-yard field goal to win the game as time ran out. The ball hit the crossbar on the goalpost and bounced over for the winning field goal. On the previous play, the Ravens should have been called for a delay of game penalty, per the TV announcers, but it was not called. If the penalty was called, it would have put the Ravens out of field goal range. Prior to this play, the Lions had the Ravens in a 4th and 19-yard desperation play. For some reason the Lions chose to rush only 3 player and hold 8 back in the secondary. Like the Lions against the Chiefs in 2019 and against the Packers in 2015 the strategy backfired as the quarterback had time to wait for a receiver to get open, which happened as the Ravens completed a 32-yard pass play for a game saving first down.
As a result of yesterday’s field goal, the Lions in my lifetime have now been the victim of two record breaking field goals as time expired. In the early 70’s it was Tom Dempsey with his clubfoot that beat the Lions with a record 62-yard field goal. I remember feeling snake bitten at the time.
In 2015, the Lions became the first and only team to lose a game on a play that started after the 60-minute play clock expired. Because the Lions were called for a phantom facemask call and a game cannot end on a penalty, the Packers were given an extra play. This allowed quarterback Aaron Rogers to complete a hail-Mary pass into the end zone for a Packer victory. I remember feeling snake bitten at the time..
I know of no other team that has lost games in this fashion while also having zero success during a 65-year championship draught. Not to mention they have only won one playoff game during the same 65 years. Some people blame it on the Ford’s ownership which started in 1963, I blame it on the curse of Bobby Layne who led the Lions to the NFL championship in 1957 and then was abruptly traded to the Pittsburg Steelers early in the 1958 season. Legend has it that Layne upon cleaning out his Lions locker said the Lions would not win another championship in 50 years. How else to you explain the Lions?
It has already started out to be a memorable week for the U.S Congress as the October 1 deadline for funding the federal government is looming. Once again, the two party’s leaders are blaming the other party’s leaders for the country’s ills. Doing what is best for the country takes a backseat to making the other party look bad. I have lived through it when Democrats were in control, and when Republicans were in control. It is a storyline that is getting very old. And this is just a warm-up how both parties will act when they need to increase the debt ceiling later this year. Once again it will be the other party’s fault and the other party’s problem to solve.
The recent scenes of the actions of the Border Patrol on the Mexican border is a reminder of another total failure by our U.S congress and presidents. Everyone talks about addressing immigration, but no one really wants to come up with a plan. During the last 30 years at multiple times both the Democrats and Republicans have had total control of the presidency and both houses of congress, yet nothing has been done to improve our immigration laws. President George W. Bush developed a proposal, but he couldn’t get his fellow Republicans to endorse his plan. Other than that, I don’t recall either party coming forward with a plan that was even be discussed. Why are we paying these people if they cannot address the tough questions this country is facing?
Stay safe. Wash your hands regularly. Schedule your vaccine and booster. Wear your mask. Social distance.
Orchid of the Day: The USA Ryder Cup Team for posting the largest margin of victory in the history of the Ryder Cup as the U.S. beat Europe 19-9 as they won all four team competitions as well as Sunday’s individual matches.
Onion of the Day: All the media outlets who continue to reinforce the politicalizing of vaccinations into red states and blue states.
Quote of the Day: “No way, that’s what they thought. No way could the ball be kicked that far, or could the Lions be kicked that hard, harder than they’ve ever been. This was the all-time of all-timers, the game that makes the mythical seem real, and forces Lions fans to curse curses.” Detroit News columnist Bob Wojnowski following the Lions loss to the Ravens.