The Detroit Lions have lost six straight games, including an embarassing 38-10 loss to the lowly Arizona Cardinals in Week 15. Head coach Jim Schwartz spoke with the media on Monday, and he says the Lions haven't taken a step back, but have certainly had trouble improving and moving forward, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reported via his Twitter account:

Scwhartz: "We have – I don’t want to say (been) set back, we have been sidetracked this year, gone off the rails a little bit."

— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) December 17, 2012

The season had been marred by a number of close losses for the Lions prior to Sunday's blowout defeat. The Cardinals presented a prime opportunity for Detroit to end its losing streak, as Arizona was coming off a 58-0 drubbing at the hand of the Seattle Seahawks and was on its own nine-game losing streak. Prior to the the 28-point losing margin against the Cardinals, just one of Detroit's other eight losses was by more than one possession.

Detroit will try to get back on the rails when they host the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16.