Lions face 3rd and 2. Stafford finds Megatron crossing the middle with a 2 yard yard pass...who then adds 21 in YAC! Lions at midfield!
Beast personified.
2nd and 10...BLITZ...SACK. Stafford loses 11. UGH.
3rd and forver, Stafford overthrows Megatron. Would have been short, anywayA promising drive was killed off by the Raiders sack.
But a nice punt by the Aussie, Ben Graham, pins the Raiders at the 5.
FYI, as noted by @Freepsports on Twitter, the TD pass was Stafford's 30th of the season. The only other Lion to throw more was Scott Mitchell in 1995, with 32. A record which could be broken this afternoon.
FLAG. But it's on th Raiders for illegal formation. Finally.
Brian Billick: "No room for knucklehjead penalties." Indeed.
But there is room for Heyward-Bey, who gains 35 on the Lions' secondary. GOD DAMN....
Word on Twitter is Kevin Smith is "agitated," Graham is bitching at the long snapper, Mullbach. Not a good sign.
Palmer to Moore has the Raiders in Lions' territory.
Heyward-Bey breaks a tackle on a slant route, then outruns the Lions' defense to the end zone.
To quote Ralphie in A Christmas Story, "FUUUUUUUGE."
Raiders take a 14-7 lead.
Save for the big play to Johnson, the Lions' offense has been umimpressive. Stafford needs to keep pace, if not out pace, Palmer.
Not bad numbers for Stafford, 10-18-148. But Palmer is picking the Lions apart, 10-12-159-1 TD. That happens when you aren't pressured and the secondary treats receivers like Superman treats kryptonite.
1st and 10 from the 31, pass to Young loses 2. Pettigrew drops what should have been a 1st down throw. Screen pass to Smith gains all of 3, Lions forced to punt.
Ralph Wiggum demonstrates Scott Linehan's game plan
The defense steps up, Wright makes an excellent open field tackle on 3rd down to force a Raiders 3 and out.
FOX gives us an Al Davis tribute as we get a shot of an ancient looking John Madden.
Think Madden knows he's the name,
if no longer the face, of a video game franchise?
That's more like it, Megatron with the catch near midfield. This the best he's looked in weeks.
FLAG! Offisdes Raiders. Cool.
Stafford goes down hard on a screen that break down. Gets up slowly, stays in the game. Lions Nation starts breathing again.
Lions face 3rd and 4 as we see...
Stafford has lots of time, waits for Megatron to clear over the middle...1st down! Clock running...
Stafford in the gun, has time to again pick and choose his target...Burleson.
TOUCHDOWN LIONS!
Stafford finds Burleson for a 39 yard TD, number 31 on the season!
14-14 with under a minute left.
Raiders driving, up to midfield with 0:26 on the clock and the big footed Janikowski warming up.
Raiders clock it at the 35 with 0:10 left. Definitely in FG range.
Lions take a TO. Raiders center the ball on the field, and call a TO with 0:05. On comes Janikowski from 46.
MISS IT, NOONAN.
My channeling Caddyshack doesn't work, FG is dead nuts as the clock reaches 0:00.
17-14 Raiders after 30 minutes.
