Eminem Serves As Honorary Captain At Detroit Lions Season Opener

Table of Content

• Detroit Lions
• THE DAILY DRIVE: Lions S DeShon Elliott 'probably won't be able to play' vs. Carolina Panthers
• Bowling Green and New Mexico State to play in 2022 Quick Lane Bowl
• Standing room tickets available for Lions home opener on Monday Night Football
• C Frank Ragnow named to 2023 Pro Bowl; 9 Lions named alternates
• Harriette Cole: I didn’t realize what was happening until I saw my friend’s photo

Detroit hosted Green Bay in last year's season finale, and the teams have met seven times in the final game of the season since 1993. Unfortunately for Em and the Lions though, the game didn’t go too well as the Sam Darnold-led Jets crushed Detroit 48-17, giving their new head coach Matt Patricia plenty of things to work on ahead of next week’s game against the 49ers. But the 49ers won three of their last four home games last season, including two December wins by Jimmy Garoppolo, whose GQ-bearded mug has made it onto a bobblehead for fans at Sunday’s gates. No moment represented that more than when Patricia lined the Lions up for a 62-yard field goal to end the half in Tampa Bay, less than two hours after heavy rains drenched the playing surface.

He played every defensive snap, recovered a fumble and successfully defended 1 of 2 passes that came his way. Such big plays could come from Pettis as a punt returner, or, more likely, kicker Robbie Gould, who’s made 26 consecutive field-goal attempts and is one shy of Phil Dawson’s record. Morris did not lose a fumble in 651 carries the previous four seasons.

Detroit Lions

Aside from Blount, no other Lion had more than 10 yards rushing. In Week 3, NBC's Sunday Night Football returns to Detroit as the Lions welcome the New England Patriots to Ford Field on September 23. The SNF clash against New England marks the Lions' first-ever prime time game against New England and the first nationally-televised regular season contest between the two clubs since 2010 when they met on Thanksgiving Day. Allen Park, Mich. –The Detroit Lions announced today their 2018 regular season schedule that features three nationally-televised games, including Week 1 vs. the New York Jets on ESPN's Monday Night Football at Ford Field. The Lions have been a sieve defensively since the start of training camp, and while some wanted to pretend their August struggles didn’t matter, the truth is they were foreshadowing Monday’s fiasco.

That seemed like a tacit admission that players, at least a portion of them, quit Monday, though when asked directly if that's what he was implying, Jean Francois said no. Check out some clips & pics from those in attendance at tonight’s game . Look for Eminem to be dropping a new video for his Kamikaze song “Lucky You” with Joyner Lucasthis Wednesday afternoon at 1pm ET as well. Eminem walks out to do the coin toss at Monday night’s Detroit Lions home opener.

THE DAILY DRIVE: Lions S DeShon Elliott 'probably won't be able to play' vs. Carolina Panthers

Blount is right that Monday's game was not the end of the season, even if felt that way. As defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots the last six years, Patricia oversaw a unit that consistently ranked in the top 10 of fewest points allowed. That drive seemed to deflate the Lions and destroy any belief they had in a defense that was supposed to be Patricia’s calling card. The Lions actually tied the game at 17 early in that mess of a third quarter, yet somehow that’s where the game got away. Darnold threw an interception that Quandre Diggs returned for a touchdown on his first NFL pass, then completed 16 of his final 20 attempts for 198 yards and two touchdowns.

First a pair of one-yard touchdown runs in the first quarter by LeGarrette Blount. The Lions added 10 points in the second quarter via a 39-yard field goal by Matt Prater and an eight-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Marvin Jones, to make the score 24–0 in favor of the Lions at half-time. In the fourth quarter, Detroit scored their only points of the second half via a five-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Kenny Golladay. Green Bay added nine more points via a 12-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Davante Adams and a 41-yard field goal from Mason Crosby, making the final score 31–23 in favor of Detroit. Dating back to last season, it was the first time the Lions defeated the Packers three games in a row since they did so during the 1990 and 1991 seasons.

Bowling Green and New Mexico State to play in 2022 Quick Lane Bowl

The Bears added another 13 points in the second quarter via a 45-yard touchdown pass from Trubisky to Anthony Miller and a four-yard touchdown run by Trubisky. The Lions finally got on the board just before the intermission via a one-yard touchdown run by Kerryon Johnson, to make the score 26–7 in favor of Chicago at half-time. The Lions opened the scoring in the second half with a 52-yard field goal by Matt Prater. The Bears extended their lead in the third quarter via a 26-yard touchdown pass from Trubisky to Robinson, followed by a two-point conversion pass from Trubisky to Trey Burton. In the fourth quarter, the Lions scored 12 points via a five-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Kenny Golladay and a 13-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Johnson, making the final score 34–22 in favor of Chicago.

The Lions tied it up in the second quarter via a 28-yard field goal by Matt Prater. The Rams then scored ten more points via an eight-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff to Robert Woods and a 47-yard field goal by Zuerlein to make the half–time score 13–3 in favor of Los Angeles. Both teams scored a field goal in the third quarter, first a 29-yard field goal by Prater for the Lions, then a 48-yard field goal by Zuerlein for the Rams. The Lions reduced the Rams' lead to three points via a 11-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Taylor Decker. The Rams responded with 14 points in the fourth quarter via two touchdown runs from Todd Gurley, from 13-yards and two-yards, respectively.

Standing room tickets available for Lions home opener on Monday Night Football

Most of the damage came on outside runs, raising questions about Detroit’s ability to set an edge in their new scheme, given the perimeter is now occupied by a 255-pound linebacker where a 280-pound defensive end lined up in the previous iteration of the scheme. Anna is a rookie Detroit Lions Cheerleader as well as an aspiring occupational therapist. Learn more about her in this week's Cheer Spotlight presented by FIGO Salon.

They managed just three points through the first three quarters and the offensive line couldn’t get much going in the running game. Rocking a black Lions hoody, which he had up over his head like always, Em walked out to midfield as an honorary captain with some of the Lions players. However he really didn’t do much other than just stand off to the side as the Jets were the visitors and were given the call to choose heads or tails. The Lions conclude their preseason road schedule in Week 3 when the team travels to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers. The contest, which will be broadcast nationally on CBS, will mark the first time the two clubs have ever met during the preseason. If 49ers fans can get riled up Sunday, do it when their defense is on the field, a defense that played OK against the Vikings but could really pump up the Levi’s Stadium crowd with sacks and turnovers.

In week 4, the Lions donned all-silver uniforms and visited the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas opened the scoring in the first quarter via a 32-yard field goal from Brett Maher. Detroit responded with a 45-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Golden Tate, to take their first lead of the game. In the second quarter, both teams scored a field goal, first a 43-yard field goal by Maher for the Cowboys, then a 33-yard field goal by Matt Prater for the Lions. The Cowboys regained the lead with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott to Ezekiel Elliott, to make the score 13–10 in favor of the Dallas at half-time.

The Lions scored the game's final points with another touchdown pass from Stafford to Jones, this one for 19-yards, making the final score 28–14 in favor of Seattle. After a scoreless first quarter, the Lions scored the only points of the first half via a 47-yard field goal by Matt Prater, to make the score 3–0 in favor of the Lions at half-time. The Lions extended their lead in the third quarter via a 67-yard interception return by Darius Slay. In the fourth quarter, the Cardinals finally got on the board via a 22-yard field goal by Zane Gonzalez to avoid a shutout. The Lions added to their lead with a one-yard run by Zach Zenner to make the final score 17–3 in favor of the Lions. I mean, since starting 2-10 last season, the Lions have won five consecutive real games (nine straight if you count the exhibitions!).

The Lions had a moment of silence to honor Detroit icon Aretha Franklin, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 76. The video board showed a montage of photos and videos of Franklin, including her memorable rendition of the national anthem before a Thanksgiving Day game at Ford Field in 2016. Reserve linebacker Steve Longa looked to sustain a knee injury in the third quarter, going after Giants backup quarterback Kyle Lauletta, who was scrambling after being chased out of the pocket.

In week 9, the Lions visited their divisional rival the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings took an early lead in the first quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from Latavius Murray. The Lions responded in the second quarter with a pair of 35-yard field goals by Matt Prater. The Vikings extended their lead via a two-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins to Adam Thielen and a 39-yard field goal by Dan Bailey, to make the score 17–6 in favor of Minnesota at half-time. After a scoreless third quarter, each team scored once in the fourth quarter. First a 32-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Danielle Hunter for the Vikings, then a 37-yard field goal by Prater for the Lions, making the final score 24–9 in favor of Minnesota.

Frankly, they should be annoyed they didn’t beat the Buccaneers worse. But it’s encouraging to know the heart of the team, that menacing defensive line, could shut down Tampa Bay’s run game and harass quarterback Josh Freeman and not be overly pleased. In the 2018 NFL Preseason opener, the Lions head to Oakland to face the Raiders in the teams' third preseason clash since 2012. The Lions and Raiders have met only seven times in the preseason, with Oakland winning the most recent matchup in 2014.