NFL: Me-ouch!

Germane Crowell wanted to torment me in as many wasy as possible this weekend. The wide receiver for my favorite team, the Detroit Lions, is also a part of my fantasy football team. After just nine receptions for 99 yards, I became fed up with his lack of production and the team in general, and therefore sat Crowell in favor of Qadry Ismail. The ensuing nine reception for 125 yards and one touchdown performace had me plenty enraged. Then, I saw the highlights of the near comeback and became even angrier.

With time running out in the comeback effort, Charlie Batch completed a 26 yard pass to Crowell. Instead of stepping out of bounds and allowing one if not two chances for the endzone and the victory, Crowell stays in bounds and time expires as the team tries to get back to the line of scrimmage. A wonderful effort squandered by a brain fart. Minnesota wins, 31-26. After the game Crowell said, "I felt like I let my team down." Gee, Germane, ya think?

It was far and away the best game for the 0-4 Lions as Batch established himself as the starter with a 31 for 41 for 345 yards game. Batch threw for three touchdowns, but more importantly, ZERO interceptions. In addition to Batch's stellar showing, running back James Stewart had a 100-yard game (108) on the ground while Johnnie Morton had yet another solid game and tight end David Sloan finally broke out with four catches for 63 yards.

The defense got to Daunte Culpepper six times, including two sacks for rookie Texas Longhorn defensive end, Shaun Rogers. Robert Porcher and Chris Claiborne each added two apiece.

Not only did the Lions lose a close game after coming back from a 31 to 6 deficit, but the Lions now have the luxury of facing the Tennessee Titans, who got their first win this week against Tampa Bay. Furthermore and worst of all, the Lions had a host of starters leave the game, which included defensive backs Ron Rice (ankle) and Terry Fair (foot) among others. These injures come with Kurt Schulz, Tommy Bennett and Bryant Westbrook already inactive and Todd Lyght playing hurt.

At this rate, Marty Morhinweg and Matt Millen will get to show what they will do with a top five draft pick in 2002. Not only has the debut season been horrible for the two, but the Lions will move into Ford Field next season and this abysmal start cannot be good for ticket sales.