The Detroit Lions’ ineptitude was on full display on Thanksgiving. National TV, no less.
It came to an absolute nadir — if that is possible in an 0-10-1 season — in the final minutes of the loss to the Chicago Bears.
Detroit had a 14-13 lead but the Bears were driving. The Lions had called a timeout as time was evaporating in the fourth quarter.
And then, disaster. There is no other way to describe it.
The Lions’ defensive unit started to panic, jumping up and down as multiple linebackers and DBs started tapping their helmets furiously.
Eventually, assistant coach Aaron Glenn called timeout on the sideline.
Only one big problem: you can’t call back-to-back timeouts in the NFL.
No timeout before 2 min warning so 20 secs roll off, 2 timeouts in a row for a penalty before 3rd down, then the d backs playing 10 yards off receivers on 3rd and 4… the Lions are like, “LOOK THIS IS WHY WE HAVE NO WINS! LOOK AT US!”
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) November 25, 2021
Lions just got a five-yard penalty for taking consecutive timeouts and that’ll just about be the game.
Every time you think the Lions have run out of ways to lose a game, they introduce you to a new rule you didn’t know existed.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) November 25, 2021
So, the five-yard penalty turned third-and-9 into third-and-4, which the Bears converted.
The drive culminated in a 28-yard field goal by Cairo Santos for Chicago’s 16-14 victory as time expired.
The @ChicagoBears WIN on the last-second FG. #CHIvsDET #DaBears pic.twitter.com/UUC1QX8Q8c
— NFL (@NFL) November 25, 2021
Joe Buck on the snappy call.
The drive was the longest by plays — 18 — for Chicago in eight years.
