Packers... 31, Lions... 21
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GREEN BAY, WIS. — The Detroit Lions own a distinction no team wants: the worst team in NFL history.
Facing one last chance to avoid their dubious destiny, the Lions lost their season finale to the Green Bay Packers, 31-21, to complete the league’s first 0-16 season. The 1976 expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-14) were the last NFL team to complete a season without a win.
It didn’t come without a fight. After falling behind 24-14 midway through the fourth quarter, Kevin Smith’s nine-yard touchdown run put Detroit back to within a field goal.
But Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers responded with a 71-yard touchdown pass to Donald Driver and the Lions’ Dan Orlovsky threw an interception with three minutes left.
The 0-16 record will be a lasting testimony to the Matt Millen era. With Millen as president of the team from 2001 until he was fired on Sept. 24, Detroit won only 31 games.
Quoteworthy: “I’ve got to live with this. I’ve been here eight years. This is on my resume.” -- Dominic Raiola, Lions center
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