Redeux News: Lions Get to Roar Again

Lions QB Matthew Stafford saluted the crowd's applause as he walked off their field after the Lions' 19-14 win over the Redskins Sunday afternoon at Ford Field. (JULIAN H. GONZALEZ / Detroit Free Press)

After 644 losing days, 21 losing months, 18 losing Sundays, 1 losing Thursday, 4 starting quarterbacks, a fired coach, a tar-and-feathered team president and a million bad jokes about Detroit futility...the Lions finally broke their losing streak.

Although the game was blacked out (not aired on TV for Detroit, Michigan fans) on Sunday afternoon, before their smallest crowd since Ford Field opened, Detroit, the losingest team in pro football, outlasted Washington, 19-14, surviving a last-second sandlot play that almost sent the whole building — including the owners into a blaze of both pride and relief. On the field the players and fans went crazy. Players raced into the locker room, celebrated, then minutes later came back out to share their victory with the media.