Detroit finally wins (or, rather, doesn’t lose)

By Os Davis | Monday, October 16, 2006 | ( 2 )

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The ball finally rolled in the Detroit Lions' favor in the fourth quarter, and the result was the maligned squad's first win in 2006.

Final score, guaranteed typo-free: Detroit 20, Buffalo Bills 17.

Sick to say, the most admirable thing about this Lions' win is that chances came aplenty to throw it away.

This writer was ready to give up on the match while the Lions were clinging in that special way the Lions do to a 17-10 lead in the third quarter.

Bills quarterback J.P. Losman had been held to 5-for-12 passing to go along with an interception and three sacks in the first half, but appeared to have suddenly awakened to realize he was looking at a Lions defense. After all, including Losman's first half boo-boo, this Detroit 'D' had registered two picks all year.

And so Losman started marching his Bills downfield. Willis McGahee found his hands and feet, amassing 35 total yards on the drive. McGahee had been held to 37 total yards in the first half, stuffed for losses three times while the Lions' defense contained him.

This was looking like the Detroit defense fans have came to know and loathe in 2006, but lo and behold. An inexorable fourth-quarter advance was stopped by a fumble, but this time it was the silver-and-Honolulu blue's huge Shaun Rogers falling on the ball to kill the drive.

The Lions were handed another prime opportunity to continue their ignoble losing streak thanks to Jon Kitna. Kitna, who is completing 63 percent of his passes but few at appropriate times, threw a long interception with less than eight minutes to play and the score just 20-17. Backed all the way up at the Lions' 3, however, the defense managed to hold the drive well enough to force the punt.

Given the ball again and up by three, the Lions had one more chance to lose. And on what was ultimately the key play of the game, Kitna completed the short pass to Kevin Jones for nine yards and an all-important first down with 2-1/2 minutes remaining.

Of course, every silver lining has a cloud and one win does not a season make. While the Bills put up just seven points in the second half, the Lions still managed to be outscored; Detroit has now been outplayed in the second half to the tune of 82-47, and 54-16 in the fourth quarter. The Lions were just 3-for-12 on third down and Roy Williams' excellent numbers (10 receptions for 161 yards) could be seen as highlighting the few options Kitna has out there.

No such negativity should be heard in Lions land today, though, and this win should be appreciated. Savor the victory, for next week (at the New York Jets) all may return to normal.

Follow the progress of the Detroit Lions at RealFootball365.com.

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	About Os Davis Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's...
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