Since hardly anyone cares about this game shy of making sure no one important gets injured, I'm going to go with some non-game-related issues.
First of all, an epilogue on Tank Johnson. As I was reading Jay Mariotti's column on Thursday, such phrases as "double-talking phonies" and "big creep Tank Johnson" (and that's just the opening paragraph) got me thinking about the ethical guidelines behind the Tank situation.
Mariotti suggests that Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith are hypocrites for saying they want "good-character players" and retaining the services of Tank. (Before I continue, I just want to say this about the pit bulls: How do they have anything to do with anything? Why are people harping on the pit bulls? They're flippin' dogs, people, how is that an example of bad character?)
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Lovie is a Christian. He has made no attempt to hide his beliefs. How, exactly, would dumping Tank Johnson be compatible with the teachings of Christ? I don't know the Bible that well, but I can say with certainty that the Sermon on the Mount did not include a "three strikes and you're out" policy. And when examining what to do with Tank, do you think Lovie would turn to his faith first or to some platitude he and his boss spout to us morons in the media?
Okay, I will say no more about Tank unless it's football-related. I promise.
The Lions stink. The Bears are good (contrary to oddly-popular belief). This game means nothing, but it's still pro football and that's certainly better than watching the GilmoreGirls.com Bowl or whatever tripe that sham organization known as the NCAA is throwing our way this time of year. Wake me for the Rose Bowl, which is back to a Big Ten-Pac 10 matchup for the first time in far too long.
Auto-refresh and comment board on the right, or just e-mail me. Check out the injury report if that's your thing. Football soon.
FIRST QUARTER
The kickoff looks like it's gonna roll out of bounds, so Hester lets it, but Jason Hanson is too good to do that, it rolls across the corner of the end zone and out of bounds for a touchback. Grossman dumps off to Jason McKie for a yard, if that. Grossman short drop, fires in the flat for Muhsin Muhammad, who runs through a tackle to the 30 for the first down. Thomas Jones bounces left for a loss of a yard. Cries of "Moose" broke out when Muhammad caught the pass, so if all the Lions fans walk out, the stands might still be filled. Jones gets a couple. Grossman under pressure fires to Berrian a couple yards past the sticks on a timing route, a roar goes up from the crowd, and now the refs are discussing whether the Berrian had forward progress for first down. He did. Rod Marinelli doesn't agree, but the crowd seems to like it. Is this a road game? Dump-off to McKie over the middle gets six. Jones gets a great lead block from Gabe Reid, who lined up as a fullback, bounces outside right and gets to the Lions' 40. Jones again, gets a small hole, spins out of a tackle and gets about four. Grossman fires to Muhammad, who didn't catch the ball because he was tackled by Stanley Wilson before the ball got there, first down to the 32 on pass interference. Grossman to Berrian on an out route for seven, then Jones bursts through the line to the 20 for the first. Play action rollout right and Grossman throws it away, his first incomplete pass. Ruben Brown starts falsely. On 2nd and 15, Grossman fires over the middle to the 18 or so, illegal shift, the Lions decline, 3rd and 8. Grossman has time, fires over the middle and it's whips through everybody, Lions and Bears alike. Gould splits the uprights.
Bears 3, Lions 0, 8:38 left in the 1st quarter
I think I could be Xtreme, too, if I went into crippling debt to purchase an SUV. Jason McKie is injured and J.D. Runnels is inactive today, so that's why Gabe Reid was in at fullback on that last drive. Updates as I get them. Devale Ellis makes his first NFL kick return, remarkable only in how violently he was thrown to the ground after he crossed the 20. Aveion Cason gets about six, then breaks through the line and gets to the 40, but it was because Hunter Hillenmeyer was tackled, 2nd and 14 from the 19. Jon Kitna fires to tight end Casey FitzSimmons for about four, then I see a truck ad because FitzSimmons is injured. False start by Jeff Backus, he was trying to outfox Mark Anderson but instead the rookie schooled the vet. Kitna hits Mike Williams—yes, I said Mike—and, surprise surprise, Williams drops it. The punt goes to the 30, Hester returns it to the 35.
Jones gets maybe a yard. McKie back in (if I heard/saw correctly) and he crushes on a lead block and Jones gets the first down to the 46. A Jones no-gain is erased by a hold on Desmond Clark, 1st and 20 from the 36. After color commentator Tim Ryan says he didn't see a hold on the replay, Thomas Jones takes a screen and follows a couple of blocks to erase the yardage lost on the penalty plus one, 2nd and 9. Grossman dumps off to Gabe Reid but a punishing hit by Dré Bly holds it to a gain of a yard. Lions blitz, Bears pick it up, and if Bly hadn't made a great diving play to tip it, it would have been six. Devale Ellis fields Brad Maynard's punt at the 2. Me: What are you thinking? Ellis breaks a tackle, slips up the sideline, jukes another defender. Me: Oh, that. Ellis only has Maynard to beat, and he can't beat him, but the Lions have it near midfield.
Ben, I got that Jordan high school jersey at an outlet store in Philadelphia, so no deals since then. Credit the above-mentioned best friend's girlfriend for finding that one for me. And as I'm writing this, the Kitna hits Roy Williams for 26 yards then Dan Campbell for the touchdown. That was quick. Hanson hits the PAT, and e-mailer Philly Mac's prediction that the Lions will be leading when the fans walk out may be true.
Lions 7, Bears 3, 2:32 left in the 1st quarter
Saul, in a truly remarkable happening, I have done all of my Christmas shopping. Nice analysis of why Campbell was open for that. Danieal Manning shaded over toward Roy Williams, who was being guarded by former Texas teammate Nathan Vasher. That left Hunter Hillenmeyer 1-on-1 with Campbell and Campbell just beat him. Rashied Davis on the kick return, gets to the 24 or so, then Benson carries it for a couple. Grossman under pressure, steps up from the pressure and launches it downfield to Muhammad, who had a cushion from putting a move on Bly, and the Bears have the ball at the Lions' 34. Reception No. 700 for Muhammad. Play fake and Grossman dumps off to Reid, who gets a bit of the ol' alligator arms after getting lit up last time. Benson bounces out right for eight. Benson then tries to find something off to the right and can't, no gain. The Bears will go for it. Benson bulls through the line and gets it plus a couple. That's the quarter.
Lions 7, Bears 3
SECOND QUARTER
Grossman has a little time, but John St. Clair gets beat by Kalimba Edwards, who nails Grossman as he throws, 2nd and 10. Jones waits for a block to develop, follows another one and gets eight. Grossman steps up in the pocket, finds Berrian cutting across the field for the first down and there is no Lions defender in sight between Berrian and the end zone. We will take an injury timeout for some Lions player or another before the excitement that is the point after touchdown. Ben, I am not from Philadelphia and have only recently started visiting the place, so no Vet games for me. I did see Allen Iverson's last win in a Sixers uniform at the Wachovia Center/Spectrum (whichever one the Sixers play in) when they trounced the Bulls the day after Thanksgiving. PAT is good.
