The Detroit Lions officially confirmed themselves as the worst team in NFL history. Valiant effort as they put up against Green Bay, the end result was a 31-21 loss. Fortunately for Lions fans, Matt Millen won’t have any involvement in deciding who gets taken with the #1 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, and Rod Marinelli likely won’t (at least he shouldn’t!) be back next season.
Amazing how, a year after the first 16-0 regular season in NFL history, we have the first 0-16 season.
While one rather dubious NFL record was set, one of the hardest to break remains unbroken, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Drew Brees entered today needing 402 yards to break Dan Marino’s single-season passing yardage record of 5,084 yards, and as it happens, the best thing for him was New Orleans falling behind 30-10. He rallied the Saints to a late 31-30, but in the end, he finished with only 386 yards, and the Panthers rallied for a 33-31 win. It was a win that they ended up needing, considering Atlanta did their own late rally to knock off pesky St. Louis.
Still, having only the second 5,000 yard season in NFL history is something to be proud about, though he’d much rather have his team in the playoffs.
If you’re Carolina (clinched the NFC South and the #2 seed), Minnesota (clinched the NFC North and the #3 seed), and Atlanta (clinched the NFC‘s #5 seed), you ought to be feeling pretty good about yourselves right now.
And in a few hours, so will the winner of the Dallas-Philadelphia matchup, thanks to both Chicago (lost 31-24 to Houston) and Tampa Bay (lost 31-24 to Oakland – AT HOME) throwing away chances to make the playoffs.
If you’re New England, you’ve done all you can, but you’re sweating on the results of the Baltimore-Jacksonville and New York Jets-Miami games to see whether you’re as high as the #3 seed, or if you’re not even in the postseason.
There’s still a lot yet to unfold over the next several hours, so strap in and be prepared for the best – and the worst.
