Week #17: @ Dallas Cowboys

[racosun]

This is it: the season finale. With a playoff spot already clinched, many would think that the 'Boys would mail this one in and rest up some key starters. I don't think that will be the case. Dallas is kind of in turmoil right now. They are getting the usual weekly complaints about the offense from Terrell Owens. That's expected. But now the other good receiver they have, Terry Glenn, has come forth with complaints about the play-calling and lack of creativity in the offense. Neither player is blaming Pro-Bowl QB Tony Romo, but the plays that are being piped into his helmet from the sidelines. That's something the Cowboys will try to work on against the lowly Lions, so look for a possible very-high-scoring affair down where everything's a bit bigger. Another reason why the Cowboys won't sit on their hands for this game is that the NFC East division title is still on the line. Former Lion Jeff Garcia has saved the season for Philidelphia, and they are right on the heels of Dallas.

All of this is good news for Lions fans. If we lose this last game, we more than likely will have the #1 overall pick in the draft. One more week of suffering will be worth the prize we'll get for it next spring. That will open up plenty of options that are sure to make this franchise at least a little better for next season, even if Millen is still steering the ship. The Lions have some talent, but not enough of it to compete with a fired-up and focused Cowboys team that has a division title within it's reach, with only Detroit in it's way. Look for a lot of blitzing and pressuring of the QB from Dallas' side. Everybody knows that Detroit's O-line is in shambles, and that they are starting the back-ups of the back-ups. Kitna has shown great strength while leading the NFL with the most sacks, and he's got one more week to make it past before he'll get any kind of relief.

It's hard to figure out what to expect from our Lions for this final game. Is there any fire left? Are the Lions going to try their best to hand a division title to it's former QB (Garcia)? How much lower can it get for this team? The only thing we have left to lose is Roy Williams. Let's all hope he can survive this last game, and that he'll have another monster season next year, except with better win-loss results.

The best times to be a Lions fan are right before pre-season games start (built-up off-season hype and hope), and right after the week #17 game is over (the suffering is over, hope for next year). Thanks to all my weekly readers. Maybe next season the team will give us all something nicer to talk about.

[racosun]

OUT
Lions - TE Casey Fitzsimmons (shoulder)
Cowboys - none

DOUBTFUL
Lions - none
Cowboys - none

QUESTIONABLE
Lions - LB Teddy Lehman (hamstring); WR/KR Eddie Drummond (ankle)
Cowboys - DE Jeremiah Ratliff (shoulder); CB Jacques Reeves (elbow)

PROBABLE
Lions - TE Marcus Pollard (hamstring)
Cowboys - none

[racosun]

If only they could play like this all the time. With a patch-work team on the field, the Lions held off the Cowboys, who played their first-string the entire game to try and clinch their division. Instead, they probably exposed many more holes in their game and are likely to be bounced early in the playoffs. As for our Lions, it's hard to not be excited for them. They kept a great attitude the whole game (most of the season, really). And how fitting was it that our young rookie, Ernie Sims, made the big play at the very end of the game to seal up the win? He's fantastic, and should rival the Bears' Brian Urlacher someday soon.

I'm not angry about this win, as some may think would be the case. We still get our high draft pick (#2 overall), and we should still be able to patch up a couple holes with just that one pick. I'm sure that whoever is in charge will get creative and pluck alot of young talent in the upcoming draft. We most likely lost our shot at QB Brady Quinn, but it won't matter. It was unlikely that we would have taken him anyways. Now we can either select OT Joe Thomas, or trade down and get an extra pick or two, and still select Thomas.

Anyways, great game today. It's always good to go out on a winning note, and to be very competitive with two pretty good playoff teams two weeks in a row could be a good sign for the future. It was good to see that the players never turned against Marinelli, that they believed in him all the way to the final play of the season. Still, there are big changes in store. What's going to happen to Mike Williams? He was more involved these past few games, and he actually caught an important TD today. He's big, strong, and has talent to spare, but will he work hard this off-season, or take it easy and come in heavy like he did this pre-season? I hope he can work it out and find a way to be involved. It would be a crying shame to throw away another very high draft pick while getting nothing in return. We've already ditched Charles Rogers and Joey Harrington, and have only a fifth-round pick to show for those #2 and #3 overall draft choices.

[EaglesFan]

From an Eagles fan, thanks for that win.

[racosun]

From an Eagles fan, thanks for that win.

It was surprisingly easy, wasn't it? Congrats to all Eagles fans, and former Lions Jeff Garcia and Marty Mornhinweg, on their division title. Lose TO and McNabb, still win the division. Nice.

[D.C.]

I'm not angry about this win, as some may think would be the case. We still get our high draft pick (#2 overall), and we should still be able to patch up a couple holes with just that one pick. I'm sure that whoever is in charge will get creative and pluck alot of young talent in the upcoming draft. We most likely lost our shot at QB Brady Quinn, but it won't matter. It was unlikely that we would have taken him anyways. Now we can either select OT Joe Thomas, or trade down and get an extra pick or two, and still select Thomas.

I'm happy about this win, not only because it gave the Eagles the east crown because it showed that through it all the Lions did not quit. I'd be mightily peeved if the team packed it in prior to the season ends. I remember '99, the Eagles were 3-11 (after going 3-13 the prior year) and won their last 2 against the Pat's and eventual champs, the Rams. They retained their pride and reaped rewards in the years that followed.

In my eyes pride is far more important than the first overall draft pick.