Sports Thread for 11/27/08: Blowouts To Them on NFL Thanksgiving 2008

(Photo from mlive.com)This sign couldn't be more true

Brian van Ochten of mlive.com made a terrific point in column assessing the misery that is the Detroit Lions and their franchise after failing to 0-12 in a 47-10 defeat to the Tennessee Titans today, their worst loss ever on this holiday. This was ion regards to lame turkey coach Rod Marinelli, and how even the venerable but still young Jeff Fisher of all coaches did a classless thing:

It is impossible to sugarcoat the painful fact Marinelli is 10-34, including 13 losses in a row and defeats in 19 of his last 20 games at the helm. It's not as if the team is improving either; it keeps getting worse all the time.

Even his peers show him no respect.

It is a code among NFL head coaches to not run up the score, call timeouts in the fourth quarter of routs or throw needless challenge flags in the final minutes of games -- unless, of course, it involves New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and former protege Eric Mangini of the New York Jets.

In the fourth quarter, however, Titans coach Jeff Fisher tossed the challenge flag on a meaningless 21-yard, tip-toe sideline pirouette by Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Meaningless since the Titans led by 37 points with 3:39 remaining in Detroit's most embarrassing loss of the season.

That is disrespect of the highest order.

I was puzzled when I saw Fisher wasting a challenge instead of just letting the clock run and getting out that building as soon as possible. Then again, the fact that I was still watching the game, with the rest of the family, is already puzzling enough.

Most kids growing up, when seeing this, won't have a clue about how it use to be a cool idea of seeing the Lions on Thanksgiving. Until Barry Sanders retired that is.
And Shannon Shape said it perfectly today on the halftime show on CBS about little ones watching this game, and being possibly inflicted by watching the beating that the Lions took today.

When your most talented and biggest name defensive players in Cory Redding doesn't care anymore, and that was evident today in how both Chris Johnson and Lendall White went over a 100 yards rushing today, it is a testament to how embarrassing this team is. And with their schedule featuring teams in contention for playoff spots the rest of the way, the Lions have a very good shot to go 0-16 this year.

Not as ugly as the Lions, but still pitiful to watch was the Seattle Seahawks today against the Cowboys in the second game of the day. Once again, Mike Holmgren's defense let the team down immensely in their 34-9 shellacking.

Tony Romo had no resistance from the Seahawks' defense from the get go, as Dallas scored touchdowns on their first three drives to set the tone. Romo, in his third game back from injury, faced almost no pressure all day long and played pitch and catch with Terell Owens, Jason Whitten, Roy Williams, or anybody else who wanted to do so.

The win pushes the Cowboys into the final wild card spot as the full schedule beckons on Sunday with an 8-4 record, while the days counting down for Holmgren's departure from the now 2-10 'Hawks is ticking louder and louder.

Finally, Donovan McNabb, Andy Reid and the rest of Eagles got a much needed win against the Cardinals tonight. In what turned out to be the third blowout of the day (and you could even say fourth if you include Texas' demolition of Texas A&M in the college ranks tonight to strengthen their big 12 South title argument), Philly's 48-20 romp over Arizona was spurned by Brian Westbrooke breaking out, and McNabb in vintage mode, making plays with both his feet, and his legs.

In short, Philly was finally able to run the ball. And it also helped that their receivers actually made plays instead of dropping the ball. Nevertheless, the play of the backfield stars made life easier on the defense to apply the pressure on Kurt Warner throughout. And the win certainly saved the Eagles 'season for the moment, as well as the job situations of both Reid and McNabb.