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Lions look to avoid becoming first 0-15 team in NFL history

Dec 16, 2008 - 4:32 PM NEW ORLEANS (7-7) AT DETROIT (0-14), 1:00 pm EST

DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Detroit Lions are running out of opportunities to avoid a dubious distinction in NFL history.

The winless Lions can become the first 0-15 team in league history with a loss Sunday to the New Orleans Saints, who will visit the Motor City playing for nothing but pride.

Since the NFL expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978, no team has played an entire season without a victory. The only winless team in NFL history was the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who went 0-14.

"I've said it all along, we're going to respect this game and we're going to play as hard as we can," embattled Lions head coach Rod Marinelli said. "We've just got to execute better and when we do that, we'll win."

The woeful Lions are just two losses away from setting a new benchmark for futility, and they can establish another unwanted record with a loss to the Saints (7-7).

Aside from the 1976 Buccaneers, the only other team to lose its first 14 games was the 1980 Saints, who defeated the New York Jets in Week 15 to avoid a winless campaign.

Detroit, which has lost 21 of its last 22 games dating to last season, has shown signs of progress in recent weeks.

Following a hard-fought 20-16 loss to Minnesota in Week 14, the Lions forged a fourth-quarter tie last weekend before dropping a 31-21 decision to the Indianapolis Colts.

Despite facing a pair of early 11-point deficits, the Lions tied the game at 21-21 on Kevin Smith's 1-yard touchdown run and an ensuing two-point conversion with 12:52 remaining. But the Colts responded with a pair of time-consuming scoring drives to thwart Detroit's upset bid.

"I think, just as a competitor, (avoiding an 0-16 record) is motivating," Marinelli said. "You wake up every morning you want to compete. You're on the field no matter what. Anytime you walk inside those lines, you want to win at whatever you do, you want to win."

Dynamic wide receiver Calvin Johnson once again was one of the few bright spots for Detroit, hauling in a career-high nine receptions for 110 yards and a TD.

The 6-5 Johnson has 65 catches this season for 1,165 yards and 10 TDs, the most by a Lions player since Herman Moore hauled in 14 in 1995.

Johnson will continue to catch passes from Dan Orlovsky, who started last weekend after missing five games with a thumb injury. Orlovsky filled in for Daunte Culpepper, who was sidelined by a shoulder injury.

While the lowly Lions have had their share of problems at quarterback, the Saints have enjoyed another spectacular year from Drew Brees, who could potentially break Dan Marino's single-season record for passing yards.

Despite quarterbacking a shorthanded offense plagued by numerous injuries this season, Brees leads the NFL in passing yards (4,332) and touchdowns (28). The two-time Pro Bowler is 752 yards shy of tying Marino's all-time mark of 5,084 yards, set in 1984.

Brees struggled in some bad weather during New Orleans' last game, a 27-24 overtime loss at Chicago on December 11. Facing freezing temperatures and stiff winds, Brees completed just 24-of-43 passes for 232 yards, two TDs and two interceptions.

Pierre Thomas gained 146 yards from scrimmage and scored twice for the Saints, who were officially eliminated from postseason contention.

With their playoff hopes dashed, the Saints likely will shelve injured running back Reggie Bush for the remainder of the season. Saints head coach Sean Payton said this past weekend that Bush's injured knee needs further examination, including an evaluation by noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews.

Bush sprained his left knee in the loss at Chicago.