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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, December 29, 2008

Lions make record book as NFL's worst team: 0-16

By CHRIS JENKINS
Associated Press

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Nobody will remember the Detroit Lions came close to winning their last game. All anyone will know — now and forever — is 0-16.

The worst record in NFL history, a dubious distinction that will permanently stain everyone involved.

The Lions lost to the Green Bay Packers, 31-21, yesterday, making them the first team to go winless through a 16-game season. The 1976 expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-14) were the last NFL team to complete a season without a victory.

"I've got to live with this," said center Dominic Raiola, a Saint Louis School alum. "I've been here eight years. This is on my resume."

It's also on the resume of Lions coach Rod Marinelli, who faces an uncertain future.

"No competitor wants to go through something like this," Marinelli said. "This is not fun to go through, obviously. But there's people going through a lot worse than this."

The Lions' last loss didn't come without a fight. After falling behind 24-14 midway through the fourth quarter, Kevin Smith's 9-yard run put Detroit back within a field goal.

The Packers' Aaron Rodgers responded with a 71-yard TD pass to Donald Driver with 7:16 left.