At the sports desk: Detroit Lions--competitive, but still 0-13

The Lions lose to the Vikings, 20-16.

Probably the key play was late in the second quarter, with the Lions having 4th and inches at the Minnesota 6 yard line. A TD there would have likely put the Lions up 13-3 at halftime.

But the Vikes' interior defense stuffed Daunte Culpepper on a QB sneak.
As always, the other team made a play; the Lions didn't.

At the sports desk: Detroit Lions--flatlining

They have a 17-0 lead early, but of course wind up getting blasted 38-20. If you read what Tampa Bay players and media said, you can tell they're mainly embarrassed at having fallen behind a bad Detroit team:

"We're happy with the win,'' linebacker Derrick Brooks said. "But we can't let it disguise the fact that there are some things here that we need to get better at.'' Bouncing back isn't one of them. The Bucs dominated the final three quarters of play, surrendering just 93 total yards, four first downs and three points over that span."

An 0-16 record for the Lions--a real possibility. Who would have believed it when the season began...