The 27 in the second would be all the Lions would score for the game. After the second quarter, the Lions offense stalled. The one glimmer of hope came when they had the ball inside the Steelers ten yard line. Instead of kicking a field goal to go up 7, they went for it on fourth down. The attempt was a fake field goal run by punter Sam Martin. Martin was hit and fumbled short of the first down.
Many people are questioning the fake field goal call. The rational person takes the field goal. But the Lions wanted to try to put the game away. Jim Schwartz was going for the win. If the Lions had gotten that first down it would have been a whole different game.
It is easy to blame this call for the loss but the truth is there were many more faults in the Lions second half play. The faked field goal attempt put the Steelers back at their own three yard line. The Lions defense should have been able to hold them in that field position. You cannot let a team drive 97 yards for a score.
The Lions also failed to get the ball to Calvin Johnson in the second half. He had all of his catches in the first half. When the Lions finally threw to him in the fourth, it was in desperation and the pass was picked off. It is also important to note that before the interception, Jeremy Ross dropped an easy first down. Drops defiantly hurt the Lions in the second half.
The Lions struggled with their running game when Joique Bell left with an injury. Reggie Bush was ineffective all game due to the poor field conditions. The wet and muddy field took away Bush’s ability to cut. This seemed to make the Lions offense one dimensional. The Lions defiantly suffered without their usual rushing attack.
The Lions remain in first place but are now tied with the Bears. Fortunately, the Lions have the tiebreaker after beating the Bears twice. The Packers are one game back. The Lions come back home Sunday for a 1pm game against Tampa Bay.
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