I can see the headlines now:
Your 2004 Super Bowl Champion's
The Detroit Lions
Your 2004 Super Bowl Champion's
The Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions-A Miracle!
:up: Let's hope maybe they are on the track to a winning season! Hey can't Michiganders and Detroiters hope! Take care. angel Harrington Makes Mariucci A Winner
Lions Smash Cardinals 42-24
POSTED: 5:59 p.m. EDT September 7, 2003
UPDATED: 6:08 p.m. EDT September 7, 2003
DETROIT -- Joey Harrington's right arm and scores on special teams and defense made Steve Mariucci's debut in Detroit a success.
Harrington threw a career-high four touchdown passes as the Lions beat Arizona 42-24 Sunday, spoiling Emmitt Smith's debut with the Cardinals and Anquan Boldin's record for a receiver in his NFL debut.
Boldin caught 10 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns. Boldin, a second-round pick from Florida State, broke the debut receiving record set by Washington's Hugh Taylor, who had 212 yards against Philadelphia on Sept. 28, 1947.
Boldin's performance fell short of only Sonny Randle's 256 yards for the Cardinals in 1962.
Detroit's rookie receiver had a good day, too. Charles Rogers, the second selection overall, had four receptions for 38 yards and two scores, one on a highlight-worthy dive. He was fully extended on a 13-yard pass from Harrington to put the Lions ahead 14-7 early in the second quarter.
It was a close game between two teams expected to be among the NFL's worst until the Lions scored three TDs over 7:22.
Lions defensive end Robert Porcher said if he was Smith, he would've retired in Dallas after breaking Walter Payton's NFL rushing record last year. Smith may have thought the same thing after he gained just 4 yards on his first five carries without a blue star on his helmet. He is playing on a poor team after winning three Super Bowls, one MVP award and one Super Bowl MVP trophy in 13 seasons with the Cowboys.
Smith ran for 64 yards on 13 carries, extended his rushing record to 17,226.
Mariucci has created excitement after returning to his home state following his firing in San Francisco, where he was 60-43 with three playoff wins over six seasons. Detroit was 5-27 under Marty Mornhinweg for the worst two-year mark in team history.
Despite the opponent, the Motor City will be more giddy about his presence, along with the young throw-and-catch combination.
Harrington was 17-of-30 for 195 yards and no turnovers. He's the first Lions quarterback to throw four TDs since Scott Mitchell against Chicago in 1996. Harrington, last year's third pick in the draft, also led Detroit to its highest-scoring opener since beating Pittsburgh 45-7 in 1962.
The Lions missed James Stewart, out for the year with a dislocated shoulder.
Rogers, who ran for 12 yards on an end-around, was Detroit's leading rusher until Olandis Gary gained 19 yards late in the game.
Arizona's Jeff Blake, who replaced Jake Plummer, was 28-of-46 for 316 yards with three TDs. But he had an interception returned for a score and a fumble that set up another TD.
The Cardinals took a 21-14 lead on the first drive of the second half on a short pass to Boldin, who juked Andre Goodman, then raced 71 yards for a score.
Detroit's Eddie Drummond returned a punt 57 yards to tie the game at 21. The Lions went ahead on Harrington's 8-yard pass to a wide-open Cory Schlesinger late in the third quarter.
Bill Gramatica kicked a field goal on the next possession, but then Blake's turnovers ended Arizona's hopesn.
After Blake fumbled, Harrington showed poise and a strong arm on a 5-yard TD pass to Bill Schroeder. On the ensuing possession, Detroit's No. 1 free-agent acquisition, cornerback Dre' Bly, returned an interception 48 yards to end the scoring.
Arizona scored on its season-opening drive -- on Blake's 7-yard pass to Boldin -- for the first time since 1997.
- Status
1 - 20 of 1227 Posts
^ I doubt anyone will agree with us there!
I doubt anyone will agree with us there!
Who cares what they all think...... They're delusional if they think they can beat the Lions now!!!
Odds and ends on the 2003 season
By Dave Goldberg, Associated Press, 9/6/2003 13:05
In the first week of the 2003 season, the NFL already has some critical games on its schedule.
No, not Arizona at Detroit, although that could be for the first pick in the 2004 draft.
But Raiders-Titans, Bucs-Eagles, Rams-Giants and Patriots-Bills may turn out to be big in December. And there's considerable interest in Bill Parcells' debut in Dallas against an Atlanta team wounded by Michael Vick's broken leg.
It will be like that every week, as almost absolute parity overtakes the NFL. More than half the teams have a shot at the Super Bowl nine different teams have made it to the last five title games, with only the Rams there twice.
''The system we have nurtures tremendous competition around the entire league,'' commissioner Paul Tagliabue says. ''It makes every season unpredictable, exciting and a lot of fun for our fans.''
CommishSpeak, but true, although it also could be argued the system fosters mediocrity 14 of the 32 teams finished last season between 9-7 and 7-9, and it could be more this year.
Some people and things to watch in 2003, including the schedule, a random factor that could decide who ends up in Houston on Feb. 1:
Kyle Boller, the 19th overall pick in last April's draft, will start at quarterback for Baltimore and could turn into the next Jeremy Shockey, who as a rookie last season was the major reason the New York Giants made the playoffs. Boller is said to have a brash side, although the league probably prefers he not be as brash as the Giants' tight end.
Shockey, in one of many magazine pieces about him this summer, referred to Parcells as ''the ****.''
Kelly Holcomb, who could be the next Trent Green or Kurt Warner. A career nobody who at 30 managed to beat out Tim Couch for the Browns' starting quarterback job, Holcomb makes the first overall pick in the 1999 draft expendable. The Browns can't afford a $6.2 million backup for long, and Dallas, Carolina, Oakland and several other teams will be in the market for a QB after this season.
Doug Johnson, who has a chance to make himself what most of Steve Spurrier's ex-Florida quarterbacks are not a success during the four or more weeks he fills in for Vick.
''Doug could start for any team in this league,'' Atlanta safety Keon Carpenter says in a major overstatement. Still, Johnson has a chance to make (or lose) a lot of money while he starts for a team expected to be a contender. He'll never beat out Vick, but he will go elsewhere and perhaps start.
Don't expect immediate miracles this year from either Parcells or the Bengals' Marvin Lewis, two of the five new coaches.
But Parcells has brought instant credibility to a franchise that has been 5-11 in each of the past three seasons. ''I'm not the star, I'm the coach,'' he says.
Wrong. Other than a few young comers (safety Roy Williams, for one), Tuna's the big fish in Irving.
Lewis has more power in Cincinnati than any coach in two decades. But there are no quick solutions for a team that has been 55-137 since their last playoff appearance in 1990.
After just one season in Washington, there are indications Steve Spurrier is not made for the NFL, especially when his boss is the meddling Dan Snyder. A month ago, Spurrier brought back Danny Wuerffel, one of his many ex-Florida standbys, to back up Patrick Ramsey at quarterback. Last week, Wuerffel was released, a call that apparently was Snyder's.
Like Parcells' Cowboys, Spurrier's Redskins appear far behind the Eagles and Giants in the NFC East. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him jump back to college after the season.
The NFL may not be for Spurrier, but it's worked for 13 active NFL head coaches who have on their resume a trip to the Super Bowl.
Seven have won the title game: Parcells (twice with the Giants); Mike Shanahan, Denver (twice); Jon Gruden, Tampa Bay; Mike Holmgren, now with Seattle, who won in Green Bay; Brian Billick, Baltimore; Dick Vermeil, Kansas City (with St. Louis); and Bill Belichick, New England.
Losers: Dan Reeves (three times with Denver, once with Atlanta); Jeff Fisher, Tennessee; Jim Fassel, Giants; Mike Martz, St. Louis; Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh; Bill Callahan, Oakland.
When the NFL went to eight four-team divisions a year ago, 14 of each team's 16 games were set in stone through the end of the decade. It can have a major impact on who wins the Super Bowl.
This year's example involves the Eagles and Giants on one hand and the Rams on the other. The Rams seem to have a decided edge that could give them Home Dome advantage in the playoffs.
In addition to the six games in the NFC East, New York and Philadelphia must play eight games against the NFC South and AFC East, two of the NFL's best divisions a year ago. The Rams play the NFC and AFC North, both mediocre to weak.
Of course, teams change drastically from season to season. But on paper, the Rams have a decidedly easier schedule than Philly or New York their final eight games are against teams that finished a combined 43-85 last season.
''Heck, you never know who will be tough when you play them,'' Martz replied when the subject was brought up recently. He was smiling broadly when he said that.
After a 7-9 season, maybe the gods are on his side this year.
That's the way the modern NFL works.
The top six and bottom six teams entering the season. Last season's record, including playoffs, in parentheses:
1. Tampa Bay (15-4). Defending champions. No. 1 until they're knocked off.
2. Oakland (13-6). AFC champions, so ditto. But can the old guys keep it up?
3. St. Louis (7-9). As long as Warner and Faulk stay healthy ...
4. New England (9-7). Loading up to get back to the top.
5. Tennessee (12-6). Serious run this year, cap problems next season.
6. (tie) Philadelphia (13-5), New York Giants (10-7). Eagles have McNabb; Giants' only real weakness is right side of OL.
27. Cincinnati (2-14). Lewis moves them up, but not way up.
28. Dallas (5-11) Ditto for Tuna
29. Jacksonville (6-10) Trying to build and contend at the same time. Can't be done.
30. Houston (4-12). Still an expansion team.
31. Detroit (3-13) Seriously bad, even with Mooch on board.
32. Arizona (5-11) Poor Emmitt.
I don't watch football but today my son made me watch the game...it was exciting even for me!! Until hockey season starts of course! GO RED WINGS!!!! :up:
Until hockey season starts of course! GO RED WINGS!!!! :up:
Todd!!!! Snap out of it !!! it was only one game Lets not get carried away.........Originally posted by Toddles18:
Who cares what they all think...... They're delusional if they think they can beat the Lions now!!!
ps...............hardly think it was "thread" worthy Sis
Sis: I couldn't find any other thread to put it in and it was so exciting to us Michiganders...well...there ya go! They're going to perform a miracle and make it to the Super Bowl too! Ask Todd! Good night and pm you tomorrow after the Dr! Take care! Sis angel
They're going to perform a miracle and make it to the Super Bowl too! Ask Todd! Good night and pm you tomorrow after the Dr! Take care! Sis angel
Sis.........i would ask Todd.....however i know exactly what he will say.....plus its not like you beat the Titans or anything.......Originally posted by angelize56:
Sis: I couldn't find any other thread to put it in and it was so exciting to us Michiganders...well...there ya go!
I will be looking for the pm........
Nope it's not like we beat the Titans.......Our starters actually had to play in this gameOriginally posted by moonmist:
.....plus its not like you beat the Titans or anything.......
**runs as fast as my feet can carry me**
Originally posted by Toddles18:
Nope it's not like we beat the Titans.......Our starters actually had to play in this game
**runs as fast as my feet can carry me**
.........You can run.........but you cant hide !!!! I will find you........and when I do........well........you know Ya beat Arizona for heaven sakes........lets see how you do against Green Bay next week shall we?
The Cards were 4-0 in the preseason, so
as for the Cheese heads......bring em on
as for the Cheese heads......bring em on
ooOOOOOOoooo Now thats mature!!!! LMAO!!!!Originally posted by Toddles18:
The Cards were 4-0 in the preseason, so![]()
as for the Cheese heads......bring em on
Angel, you're right on the money there cuz the hockey season is right around the corner and to reiterate....."GO REDD WINGS!!!!!"Originally posted by angelize56:
I don't watch football but today my son made me watch the game...it was exciting even for me!!
And the Lion's miracle falters and stumbles and....well you know the rest of the story!
Yeah Redd.....GO RED WINGS!!!!
Yeah Redd.....GO RED WINGS!!!!
Oh and Redd...ignore deh if he shows up posting an image of that OTHER team!
^ Well at least you didn't post that image you love to taunt me with!
In due time angel. Where is that ugly waving seagull saying bye to the Devils as they tour the globe with the Stanley cup?
1 - 20 of 1227 Posts
- Status
