SB Nation Detroit - Lions Vs. Titans: Detroit Amazingly Comes Back Only To Lose In Overtime

DirecTV Apologizes For Interrupting Lions Hail Mary With Commercial

2012-09-24T20:55:23Z

DirecTV spokesman Robert Mercer apologized via email to customers after the satellite provider mistakenly forced some viewers to miss a successful Hail Mary attempt by the Detroit Lions at the end of regulation in Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans, according to ProFootballTalk's Michael David Smith. Mercer's email was short and sweet:

"I don't have all the details, but it was our error. We sincerely apologize to you and all the viewers who missed the TD."

The first portion of the play was able to be seen, but right as Lions wide receiver Titus Young was about to catch the ball off of a deflection, some NFL Sunday Ticket viewers saw their televisions cut to a commercial break. While it isn't the first time FOX, CBS and other networks have made a glaring blunder such as this, the timing for this particular mistake could not have been worse.

For more on the Lions, be sure to visit Pride Of Detroit. And, for additional pro football coverage, head over to SB Nation's NFL hub.

Jim Schwartz, Titus Young React To Crazy Finish Against Titans

2012-09-24T19:20:06Z

The Detroit Lions and Tennessee Titans combined for a very exciting matchup on Sunday. The Titans walked away the overtime victors with a final score of 44-41. Detroit took it to overtime with one of the craziest comebacks you could dream up. Backup quarterback Shaun Hill – always considered a game manager who lacks a strong arm – threw two touchdown passes in the final 18 seconds of regulation.

The second of those touchdown passes was a Hail Mary to wide receiver Titus Young. The Detroit Free Press had some quotes from Young, in which he talks about what actually happened on the play:

"We practice that play all throughout camp. I saw Calvin running down the middle, and I knew everyone was going to try and get in front of him. He was our post-up guy – basically, the guy who was going to go for the ball. So I just put myself in the best position I could from the pile, and it just came to my hands."

Lions head coach Jim Schwartz had a quote of his own, in which he said he doesn't know if he's "ever been around one like that," in reference to crazy football games. Titans coach Mike Munchak said that it was hard to put the game into words, because "we both could've won in so many ways."

Detroit has now lost back-to-back games, but the feeling in the locker room could literally be anywhere at this point. How do you react after a game that was played in that fashion? The mood doesn't seem to be a somber one, but either way, they're sitting at 1-2 and need to get back in the win column sooner rather than later.

For more on the Detroit Lions, check out Pride of Detroit. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub.

Mikel Leshoure Makes Most Of Regular Season Debut With Lions

2012-09-24T17:59:34Z

After missing a total of 18 regular season games and one playoff game, Detroit Lions running back Mikel Leshoure made the most of his NFL debut Sunday.

Leshoure carried the load for the Detroit rushing attack, running for 100 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries. He also added 34 yards on four receptions. Leshoure is the first Lions rusher to run for 100 yards in his NFL debut since Billy Sims did it in 1980.

Leshoure was excited about his productive debut but, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News, he remained humble, focusing on the team instead of the individual.

"It felt good to be out there getting my feet wet...But the 100 yards isn't the result we wanted. The more important result was a win and we didn't get that."

Leshoure was drafted by the Lions in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of the University of Illinois, but missed the entire season with an Achilles injury he suffered in training camp. He missed the first two games of this season with suspension after violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

Be sure to visit Pride of Detroit for full Detroit Lions coverage, and head over to SB Nation's NFL hub for more news and analysis from around the league.

Replacement Officials Gave Titans 12 Free Yards In Overtime Against Lions

2012-09-24T16:21:51Z

The NFL's replacement referees mistakenly gave the Tennessee Titans 12 free yards on their overtime drive, which resulted in the game-winning field goal to defeat the Detroit Lions, 44-41.

On a second-and-18 from their own 44 yard line, the Tennessee Titans complete a 24-yard pass to tight end Craig Stevens. There was also a personal foul on Detroit on the play, giving Tennessee an extra 15-yards. This completion plus penalty would have put the ball inside Detroit's red zone. However, the catch was reviewed following the play and eventually ruled incomplete.

The personal foul penalty, by rule, still applies, so although the pass was incomplete, the Tennessee Titans should have gained 15-yards from their previous spot. From their own 44-yard line, that should have placed the Titans at the Detroit 41-yard line. However, the replacement referees mistakenly marked off the penalty starting from the Detroit 44-yard line, not the Tennessee 44-yard line. The result of the blunder was a Titan first-and-10 on Detroit's 29-yard line, 12 yards closer to the end zone than what the penalty warranted.

Lions head coach Jim Schwartz tried to alert the referees of their mistake, but his pleas went unnoticed, reports Jim Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

For more on the Detroit Lions, check out Pride Of Detroit. Take a look at Music City Miracles for more on the Titans. You can also hit up SB Nation's NFL hub or SB Nation's fantasy hub for analysis to help out your fantasy team.

NFL Injury Reports: Lions Unsure Of Matthew Stafford's Status Going Forward

2012-09-24T13:57:12Z

The Detroit Lions suffered a heartbreaking loss on Sunday afternoon, falling 44-41 in overtime to the Tennessee Titans. But there is plenty of time to turn things around, and a Week 3 loss doesn't mean it's the end of the world.

There was some bad news from the loss, however, as quarterback Matthew Stafford was forced to leave the game with a leg injury. Stafford said after game that he'd tweaked it in practice and the injury got progressively worse during the game, leading to the team scheduling an MRI on Monday.

SB Nation's Lions blog, Pride of Detroit, tells us what to expect going forward.

Stafford's leg issue didn't even land him on the injury report during the week, so it must not have been anything even remotely serious until he actually started playing on Sunday. Once it became an issue, Stafford was struggling with it, and then it all went downhill on that fumble return.

At this point it's far too early to speculate on if Stafford will be available for next week's game against the Minnesota Vikings. The good news is that the Lions have an excellent backup in Hill, who came in cold against the Titans and went 10-of-13 for 172 yards and two touchdowns in the final minute of regulation and in overtime. If Stafford can't play, Hill will get the start for the Lions.

Lions Vs. Titans 2012: Detroit Struggles In All 3 Phases

2012-09-24T12:00:59Z

The Detroit Lions nearly pulled off an improbable comeback win against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, but they ultimately came up short in overtime. SB Nation's Pride Of Detroit saw plenty of problems that will need to be addressed in the coming days and weeks if the Lions are to get back on the right track:

The offense can't keep having to settle for field goals going forward, just as the defense can't keep letting teams get big pass plays or extend drives with bad penalties. And don't even get me started on the special teams coverage units.

The Lions settled for three field goals in the first half and were forced to kick four in the game. They committed 10 penalties on the day and also allowed Tennessee to pile up well over 400 yards of offense.

Detroit hosts Minnesota in Week 4.

For more on Sunday's game, stay tuned to SB Nation Detroit. For more in-depth coverage, be sure to check out Lions blog Pride Of Detroit. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

Lions QB Matt Stafford To Have MRI On Leg

2012-09-23T22:31:20Z

After leaving in the fourth quarter of Sunday's thrilling 44-41 loss to the Titans, Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford informed Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press that he expects to have an MRI on his injured leg this week.

The fourth-year quarterback was visibly limping on a 72-yard touchdown return from Titans defensive back Alterraun Verner with just 1:16 remaining in the fourth, a play which then forced the Lions to use backup Shaun Hill for the remainder of the game. Detroit coach Jim Schwartz labeled Stafford's injury as a pulled muscle, but also told the media that Stafford was forced to deal with the injury in practice during the week.

Now at a frustrating 1-2 on the season as their quarterback's status currently hangs in the balance, the Lions need to hope that Stafford's leg will not keep him out of a key divisional game with Minnesota in Week 4. Although a proven veteran like Hill performed admirably in Stafford's absence and could be a decent one-week replacement, the Lions simply cannot afford to play without their talented signal caller at this point in the season.

Be sure to visit Pride of Detroit for full Detroit Lions coverage, and head over to SB Nation's NFL hub for more news and analysis from around the league.

This story originally appeared on SBNation.com.

Lions Vs. Titans: Tennessee Wins A Wild One In Overtime

2012-09-23T21:18:10Z

A wild game that included a converted hail mary and six touchdowns of 40 yards or more ended with the Tennessee Titans winning a 44-41 overtime thriller against the Detroit Lions.

Titans kicker Rob Bironas finished off the first possession in overtime with a 26-yard field goal to put Tennessee ahead. Going for the win, the Lions failed to convert a 4th-and-short quarterback sneak on the Titans' 7-yard line to seal Tennessee's victory.

Tennessee's Nate Washington took a 71-yard pass from Jake Locker to the end zone with three and a half minutes left in the game to break a 27-all tie, but Detroit had quarterback Matt Stafford pushing the offense quickly down the field.

On a 6-yard pass on the Titans' 28-yard line, tight end Brandon Pettigrew fumbled. Titans cornerback Alterraun Vernerwent 72 yards the other way to put Tennessee up by two touchdowns and seemingly guarantee its victory.

Making matters worse, Stafford strained a leg muscle trying to chase down the fumble return.

Big plays by the Titans were the theme of the day. But so too was Detroit making comebacks from each blow. Backup quarterback Shaun Hill led a late scoring drive for the Lions in place of the injured Stafford, going 80 yards in 50 seconds to bring Detroit within a touchdown, 41-34. Detroit attempted and succeeded with an onside kick, and after one incomplete pass from the Tennessee 46, Hill found Titus Young for a 46-yard hail mary touchdown with six seconds left to force overtime.

The big winner: Rob Bironas

The Titans' placekicker had a streak of 18 consecutive made field goals coming into today's game. He missed two in regulation that would have given Tennessee the slight edge to stave off Detroit's will to make a comeback, but he made things right by nailing the biggest kick that turned into the winning points.

The big loser: The Detroit offensive line

Ending the game, a quarterback sneak that would have given the Lions the ball inside the Titans' 7-yard line with a 1st-and-goal failed to get the short yardage. Instead of an opportunity to win, Jim Schwartz's decision cost the Lions.

Fantasy outlook: Jake Locker

While Stafford is perhaps the face of the young quarterback, Locker had a career day. He bettered Stafford's solid outing of 278 yards on 33-of-42 passing by throwing for his first 300-plus day. Locker finished with 378 yards on 29-of-42 passing for two touchdowns and no interceptions.

What's on the schedule?

The Lions take on the Minnesota Vikings next week at Ford Field while the Titans visit the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium.

For more on the Detroit Lions, check out Pride Of Detroit. Take a look at Music City Miracles for more on the Titans. You can also hit up SB Nation's NFL hub or SB Nation's fantasy hub for analysis to help out your fantasy team.

This was originally published on SBNation.com.