Detroit Lions new head coach, Jim Schwartz, has announced that rookie quarterback Matt Stafford will start Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints. Stafford and veteran Daunte Culpepper had been battling all pre-season for the job. Swartz stated that Stafford won the job outright and not a case of Culpepper losing it.

“I was very pleased with what (Stafford) did in the preseason, going back to rookie minicamp and straight through,” Schwartz said. “I think he’s proven every step along the way that he’s ready.”

When asked if he was committed to the bumpy road ahead with a starting rookie QB. Schwartz said “This isn’t an internship, this isn’t a trial basis”. “He’s our starting quarterback.”

The decision to start Stafford is a risky one, but coming off an 0-16 season, what is there to lose? In fact, the decision should help rejuvenate the football club and give the Motor City fans something to be excited about this 2009 NFL football season.

Stafford was taken with the first pick of the April NFL draft by the Lions. Stafford and the Lions reached a contract agreement and tied the knot when Stafford signed a six-year, $72 million contract with the Lions.

Stafford’s first NFL start will come against the much improved New Orleans Saints, in New Orleans, on Sunday, September 13 2009 at 1:00 pm EST.

The Detroit Lions have the distinction of being the first team in NFL history to go 0-15.  Will they lose their last game and end up a perfect 0-16?  They play the Packers in Green Bay, where they haven’t won a game in 17 years.

before the 2008 NFL season started there were such high hopes for the Lions in Motown. They had a perfect pre-season record, going 4-0. Now that the season has one week left, they are selling T-Shirts that read “2008 Pre-Season Champions”.

Believe it or not, if the Lions lose to the Packers, they won’t be the first team to go without a victory in an NFL season.  Back in 1976, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 0-14.  In one of the classic lines of that dreadful season, coach John McKay was asked what he thought of his team’s execution, he replied, I’m in favor of it.”

Are the Lions cursed? Is all of Michigan cursed? Nothing positive seems to happen up there.

The Lions last won a title in 1957.  Since then things have gone from bad to worse.  They have gotten the top draft pick consistently over the years but none of them have lived up to expectations. And injuries and bad luck have compounded their misfortune.

The Lions fans seem to be taking things in stride – or not. A great gift for Detroit Lions fans is a Lions Jersey that reads “Owen” with the number “16″ under it.

I hear there is a petition going around Michigan to rename the team the Detroit Lemons – because they just really suck!

In what looks to be a lopsided contest, the winless Detroit Lions go up against the AFC-best record Tennessee Titans on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit.

Coming off their first loss of the season Sunday (34-13 vs the Jets), the Titans can be counted on to come out strong to get back on track.  On the other hand,  the Lions are hoping against hope that they can put an end to the string of losses they’ve suffered this season.

Detroit Coach Rod Marinelli is taking the blame on himself, but let’s face it, he’s not the one on the field.  The Lions need to dig deep to stay with the Titans, who they have an all-time record of 3-6 against, including a close loss (24-21) on their only other Thanksgiving meeting in 1992.

Look for a blowout here.  I wouldn’t expect the Lions to get more than 10 points.