Game #12 - Detroit Lions (2-9-0) at New England Patriots (8-3-0) - Open Thread

AT

For Detroit, this game isn't about winning, it's just about keeping close. The Lions are not going to win this game. New England is so much more talented that it really is a question of how many points the Lions will lose by.

Coming into the final weeks of the season the mindset has shifted. Instead of hoping for a few victories here and there it is now about what draft pick Detroit will come out with next season. If you talk to some people they will cheer for the Lions to win, but a loss isn't disappointing anymore. Partly that's because losing is so normal that we're used to it by now. But also, having a top draft pick could help us improve next season barring another bad decision by Matt Millen.

All I ask out of the Lions for this game is to keep it respectable. There's no need to be blown out so much that it makes Detroit look worse than they already do.

(For coverage of the Patriots on the SBN network, please check out Pats Pulpit.)

Date: Sunday, December 3, 2006
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Teams: Detroit Lions (2-9-0) at New England Patriots (8-3-0)
Injury Report: Click Here
Location: Foxboro, MA, Gillette Stadium
Weather: 42?F, Mostly Sunny, 10% Chance of Rain, 6 mph wind from W
Television: FOX
Radio: WKRK 97.1 FM Detroit
Spread: New England favored by 13.5; Over/Under 41.5