Stephen Peterman News

If you don't mind, Jim Schwartz will take a pass on his first midterm exam as the Lions' head coach.

One of the interesting components to the Detroit Lions' 0-16 season last year was the lack of compassion that anyone in the NFL had for the league's most hapless team.

Tomorrow, local union leaders, current and retired NFL players in Detroit will join the United Way to hold a food drive benefiting families affected by the economic crisis.

The Detroit Lions finally won a game this season, pushing their plight out of the national spotlight.

Matthew Stafforda s injury may be worse than expected. According to reports from ESPN , and Michael Rosenberg of The Detroit Free Press , Stafford could have season-ending surgery sometime in the near future.

Going into Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers, the Detroit Lions were missing three of their starting defensive linemen: Sammie Hill, Jason Hunter and Dewayne White.

Still struggling: Coach Jim Schwartz said the Lions were lucky when a holding penalty nullified a 99-yard touchdown return by the Packers' Jordy Nelson on the opening kickoff.

Green Bay, Wis. This was pointless in every way, literally, figuratively and repeatedly.

The head coach thought his quarterback should've thrown the ball away, and the quarterback didn't believe it wasn't the best idea to heave the ball down the field aimlessly.

Could Rod Marinelli give the Bears an edge today because he spent the previous three years as the Lions' coach? "No, not really," said Marinelli, the Bears' assistant head coach and defensive line coach.

Every Tuesday two Enquirer sports writers will talk sports as if you were listening to them around the office.

On some level, Lions coach Jim Schwartz knew Sunday's 19-14 victory over Washington wasn't just "a Week 3 win," as he called it Monday.

It was enough to make a grown man cry. Even a 320-pound man who makes his living punching other men his size.

After the Detroit Lions won for the first time in 20 tries, beating the Washington Redskins 19-14 on Sunday at Ford Field, television cameras caught teary-eyed right guard Stephen Peterman leaving the field.

And the Oscar for best actor in Sunday's game at Ford Field goes to ... Lions offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus, according to Vikings Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kevin Williams.

They're all saying the same thing: Playing well doesn't matter if you don't win.

DT, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS LAST WK: W vs. JAX, 14-12 Dawson did not start, but chipped in two tackles for Indianapolis as the Colts kicked off their 2009 campaign with a gutty, two-point victory over division foe, Jacksonville.

He didn't, of course. "Last year, I watched film because we had to, but I didn't pay attention to details like I should have," said Smith, who will be one of the key players for the Lions as they open their regular season 1 p.m. Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

The Lions already had their hands full facing the Saints and Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees.

The odds makers give the Saints a 13-point edge over the Lions. Whether it's my money or your money...the best bet here is to spot the thirteen to the Lions and take the Black & Gold.