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Chicago had far more to celebrate.
For the briefest of moments, it looked as if the Lions might be able to salvage this 2018 season.
A surprise win over Carolina and then the news that Bears’ rising quarterback Mitch Trubisky would sit out the Thanksgiving affair offered just enough light to where the most imaginative of Lions fans could start to dream.
And then . . . plop.
A 16-16 game in the fourth quarter, with the Lions in possession, was suddenly a seven-point deficit after Matthew Stafford served up a classic out-route pick-six touchdown, the kind of sin more commonly committed by rookie or journeymen quarterbacks. You expect that from a guy like Chase Daniel. Stafford is supposed to be beyond such tomfoolery.
The Lions motored valiantly back down the field, only for Stafford to loft another interception into the end zone and that was that.
A Wayne Fontes-esque turnaround was not to be. The optimism from the Panthers game gone as quick as it arrived. And another Thanksgiving in Detroit poisoned with a meltdown from the home team.
And the story felt all too familiar.
First-year head coach Matt Patricia confused all in attendance with an ordered two-point conversion despite there being a full quarter to play and the Lions up four. A deuce would have put Detroit up six, which isn’t exactly a magic number in football. It was something Bobby Ross or Marty Mornhinweg would have done. Or did do.
The Lions got to the two-yard line and wound up kicking a field goal. Later, they reached the 11 and turned it over. There were times when LeGarrette Blount was rumbling for first downs and Kenny Golladay was playing the Golden Tate role, busting for critical yards catch after catch. But good teams finish those drives properly.
The Lions are not that.
They are 4-7 with a terrifying matchup against the Los Angeles Rams looming. If this were a video game, the Lions would simulate that game, let the console spit out a final score, and progress to the next date on the schedule.
Maybe one of these years the NFL will slide the Lions game to the nighttime portion of the Thanksgiving schedule. That way, we could enjoy our families, let the plump turkey work its magic, and revel in all the holiday has to offer.
Instead, the 12:30 kick assures that the day will begin unhappily, with lingering memories of the afternoon’s blunders doing their darnedest to spoil the festive meal.
The short burst of Lions’ momentum lasted approximately three days.
And with a strange Patricia decision and another Stafford miscue, the door on the 2018 season has officially slammed shut.
