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Two of the NFL's worst on display as Cards host Lions

Nov 14, 2006 - 11:40 PM Detroit (2-7) at Arizona (1-8) Sunday 4:05 pm EST

GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- The Detroit Lions could have had Matt Leinart as their quarterback of the future.

Instead, Leinart will be wearing an Arizona Cardinals uniform Sunday when two of the NFL's worst teams meet.

With a need at quarterback, the Lions passed over a chance at selecting Leinart, the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner who led Southern California to back-to-back national championships and went 37-2 as a starter.

The Lions tabbed linebacker Ernie Sims of Florida State with the ninth pick in April's draft. Leinart went to the Cardinals with the next pick.

But the play of Sims has been one of the few bright spots for the Lions, who are tied for the NFL's second-worst record. He leads the team with 73 tackles.

The Cardinals own the league's worst record. Arizona has lost eight in a row since a season-opening 34-27 win over San Francisco. It matches their longest losing streak since they dropped eight in a row under Joe Bugel in 1991.

Leinart fell to 0-5 as a starter in last week's 27-10 setback to Dallas. He threw for 216 yards with two interceptions.

The Lions failed in their bid to put together consecutive wins for the first time since the 2004 season with last week's 19-13 loss to San Francisco.

Joey Harrington threw for 231 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Lions to a 29-21 victory over the Cardinals last November 13.