Mornhinweg full of strange optimism and lame excuses on Lion's losing

The Detroit Lions are described as fighters by head coach Marty Mornhinweg.

While they may be fighters, they more resemble Evander Holyfield in his late career losing to David Ruiz and Chris Byrd, than when he was champion early in his career.

It is injuries that are killing the Lions according to Mornhinweg, bad decision making on his part and not mistakes made in personnel made by him and Matt Millen, the Lions' CEO.

"We've got so many guys that are hurt and on the IR (injured reserve), said Mornhinweg at his Monday press conference. "I'm sure it has to be at the top of the league over the past two years for guys going on the IR that are starters."

Tops in the league, when it comes to injuries over the last two years I am not sure about. But, doesn't every team have injuries this time of season? And wasn't it the Arizona Cardinals who beat the Lions without their starting running back and their top four receivers due to them being injured two weeks ago?

He also talked about how the Lions were able to come back in the game against Atlanta in the fourth quarter with all those injured players.

"One thing I am proud of and one thing I am honored about is by putting yourself in position, by having a chance to win the fourth quarter," said Mornhinweg. "We've been in the middle of games and have been learning how to win."

Putting your team in the game in the fourth quarter they were lucky to be in the game in the fourth quarter. After Eddie Drummond nearly ran back a kickoff for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, and trailing 22-0 at the time, and the Lions were able to advance the ball to the one yard line and they barely a scored touchdown.

The offensive line was pushed back on three consecutive running plays up the middle. On fourth down, Lions quarterback Mike McMahon looked to be seemingly sacked by four Atlanta Falcons, but an improvisational granny basketball shot pass to wide open James Stewart saved them.

Then on Atlanta's next possession they were able to get a turnover that was also lucky to happen. Falcons fullback Bob Christian caught a pass and was grazed in the head accidentally by Lions' linebacker Barret Green's hand.

Christian fumbled as he was knocked out cold instantly and the Lions recovered the ball in Atlanta territory. The slap on the head was accidental and didn't appear to be all that violent, but Christian has been dealing with many injuries including some to the head and neck.

The Lions would soon score on McMahon's 31-yard touchdown pass to running back Aveion Cason and the score was 22-15 Falcons. But, that was as close as they would get as they failed to stop the Falcons on their next two possessions.

Other than their two short touchdown drives, it was hard to remember when they were on the field for long periods of time during Sunday's game against the Falcons.

Second year quarterback McMahon, who has the starting job because Joey Harrington is out correcting an irregular heartbeat, threw three interceptions in the game. One of the interceptions was by a guy they tried to pick on, Falcons cornerback Juran Bolden, who was starting for the injured Ray Buchanan.

Learning to win games has been a very slow process. In week two during the Ford Field opener, the Lions made a comeback late in the game against Green Bay and threw an interception as they went for the win.

In their first meeting with the Vikings, Harrington threw an interception in the end zone late in the game as they were going for the tie.

The Lions also failed to gain one yard on fourth down against the Buffalo Bills when they were going for the tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter of that game.

Not to mention, they actually gave the Bears the ball first in overtime in their second meeting this year when they won the coin toss, which resulted in them losing.

The list goes on and on.

The Lions are 5-26 in Mornhinweg's two-year regime, winning two games last year and some how three this year. They have a worse record then the expansion Houston Texans, 4-11, and might tie the Cincinnati Bengals, 2-13, for the worst record in the NFL if they lose to the Minnesota Vikings and Bengals beat the Buffalo Bills this weekend.

To make things worse, the Lions have never won a road game in Mornhinweg's two seasons. Sunday's loss puts them at 0-16.

"Some of it is little unfortunate, no question about it," said Mornhinweg. "When we become good enough, we'll win on the road."

With Mornhinweg continually losing, and many Lions fans being sick of the Lions losing, speculation is high that a possible coaching change might happen at the end of the season, but Mornhinweg says he doesn't think about it.

"You can't," he said. "If I would begin to think about that it would be a great disservice to this organization."

Sunday's game against Minnesota is big for Mornhinweg and Millen, because it is not clear whether the Detroit Lions' owners, Bill Ford Sr. and Bill Ford Jr., have made up their minds on the whether to bring the two back or not.