Landon Cohen News

For a team that has been vastly inconsistent in a lot of ways this season, the Detroit Lions are showing how steadily dependable they are in one area.

While Sunday's inactive list included a couple of surprises on the defensive line -- end Cliff Avril and tackle Landon Cohen, both of whom will sit due to coaches' decisions -- the idle time for rookie Aaron Brown was expected.

SEATTLE -- The Lions went with a younger, more athletic lineup Sunday against the Seahawks, holding veteran linemen Grady Jackson and Jon Jansen out of uniform.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert Detroit fans received a rude education Sunday on the NFL's heightened interest in quarterback safety.

Detroit Julian Peterson might have wanted to launch into a tirade on the NFL's treatment of quarterbacks as endangered species and how the 'Brady Rules' are ruining life for defensive players.

Has the NFL gone overboard in trying to protect quarterbacks? Steelers coach Mike Tomlin deftly sidestepped that question last week, but subtly sent a message while he was at it.

Here are some more comments from the Lions after Sunday's 28-20 loss to Pittsburgh: Coach Jim Schwartz, in his opening statement to the media: "We didn't always play smart in this game.

Missed opportunity: Trailing by one early in the second quarter, the Lions had a golden opportunity.

Next week up in air Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was listed as questionable after suffering a partially dislocated right kneecap in last week's loss at Chicago.

It was a gritty game but, in the end, the Detroit Lions simply made too mistakes to compete with the defending Super Bowl champions.

The Detroit Lions' current injury report reads like a list of Lions impact starters.

Rod Marinelli always will have the stigma of being the first -- maybe the only -- head coach in NFL history to lead a team to a 0-16 record.

Allen Park -- The NFL didn't do the Lions any favors in the scheduling department this season -- especially in the first six weeks, with games against New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Minnesota and Chicago.

If the Lions replace injured linebacker Ernie Sims this week with rookie third-round pick DeAndre Levy, the Lions will have a total of five rookies on the field against the Washington Redskins.

It really doesn't make much sense, but the numbers don't lie. The Detroit Lions had the NFL's worst defense last year, but they did a very good job of controlling the league's best running back.

If they continue to listen, they will learn to use the Force. And the leverage, speed and quickness, too.

"We knew with our offense and the way that they put up points that we were going to have a chance," Sharper said.

The Detroit Lions have a backup plan in place, but they're moving ahead with the idea that veteran defensive tackle Grady Jackson will be available for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints.

Comment: Who's the starter? Coach Jim Schwartz isn't saying, but Stafford, the rookie No.

Allen Park -- The Lions should get an early tutorial on how to defeat a 3-4 defense in their second exhibition game against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday.