DETROIT–The Chicago Bears were rolling against the Detroit Lions, leading 31-0 when safety Mike Brown patted receiver Roy Williams on his backside after a pass sailed behind him.
DETROIT The Chicago Bears were rolling against the Detroit Lions, leading 31-0 when safety Mike Brown patted receiver Roy Williams on his backside after a pass sailed behind him.
It looked like a sign of sympathy.
"Are you kidding me? I don’t have pity for the Lions," Brown bristled. "They didn’t have pity for us when they were kicking our butts last year."
Chicago did the kicking Sunday, beating Detroit 34-7 and moving into first place in the NFC North as the only team in the lackluster division with a winning record (3-2).
"If we stay there, we get to the playoffs," Brown said. "If we don’t, it’s going to be a battle."
The Lions (0-4) beat Chicago twice in 2007, when they started 6-2 only to lose seven of their last eight. They’ll be tested for the final 12 games, knowing a turnaround is unlikely.
Williams looked frustrated, slumping his shoulders and flailing his arms, but insisted he doesn’t want to be traded.
"All I want to do is win," Williams aid. "And it’s not happening."
Wins have been hard to come by in Detroit because of the decisions Matt Millen made in the draft and free agency, leading to an NFL-worst 31-84 record over the past seven-plus season.
Millen was fired as team president after the team started 0-3. Now, the focus has turned to the possible firing of Rod Marinelli, who is an NFC-worst 10-26 since becoming a head coach for the first time in 2006.
"I don’t look in the future," said Marinelli, who seemed beleaguered at his news conference. "I’m going to get up tomorrow and go to work."
Lions executive vice president Tom Lewand was asked if Marinelli could turn the team around. He dodged the question by saying he had tremendous respect for Marinelli.
"We had an awful game today, but it’s an organizational loss," Lewand said. "It’s not on any one individual."
One player dominated the Lions. Again.
Kyle Orton set career highs in yards passing, completions and quarterback rating while throwing two touchdowns.
He was 24-of-34 for 334 yards and had a 121.4 rating, improving to 3-0 against Detroit.
Like many NFL players, Orton loves playing the Lions.
"Yeah, I do for some reason," he said.
Orton surpassed his previous bests of 22 completions and 268 yards passing — both of which he reached last month against Tampa Bay — and a 103.3 rating, which he set in a 38-6 home win over the Lions in 2005.
"Kyle is real poised," said Devin Hester, who caught one of Orton’s TD passes. "He doesn’t let things get to him. He’s relaxed in the pocket. It seems like he wants to be the guy that takes control of the game."
Detroit played fourth-year quarterback Dan Orlovsky in the third quarter for the first time in his career because Marinelli said Jon Kitna had back spasms.
Orlovsky was 13-of-23 for 97 yards — all career highs — and threw an interception. Kitna was 8-of-16 for 74 yards and fumbled on the Lions’ fourth possession after they had minus-4 yards of offense on their first three possessions.
"We have a lot of problems," Kitna said. "We didn’t do anything good. We made some changes in the bye week, and it didn’t work out."
Chicago finished with its most lopsided road win against Detroit since winning 42-14 in 1948.
"It’s the best we’ve played as a team," Bears coach Lovie Smith said.
Detroit has given up 82 points in its first two games at Ford Field, matching a franchise record set in 1958 for points allowed in its first two home games.
"We’re not executing," Marinelli said. "It’s clear as a bell."
______
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
About Post Author
