jaguars.com Senior Editor followed the action live as the Jaguars defeated the Lions in Detroit. Here's what he wrote.
Pregame - 10:03AM
Hi, everybody, and welcome to the press box at Ford Field. I'm a little sleepy this morning. The sign outside the hotel said, "Please do not bring hockey sticks into the hotel." I think you can figure out the rest. I'm going to get a cup of coffee and then have Ryan Robinson slap me across the face. The blog starts now, I think.
Pregame - 10:38AM
This is my first visit to Ford Field. It's impressive. When they start winning in Detroit, this building will fill up quickly and it'll be a very difficult place for visiting teams to play. The facility is connected to an old warehouse, which serves as the club seat dining area and general concourse area. Ford Field has a factory feel to it and it fits beautfiully into the downtown area.
Pregame - 10:40AM
Fred Taylor needs seven yards to reach 11,000 career rushing yards. I feel as though I've been writiing this for eight weeks. I predict that Fred will reach 11,000 on his second carry of the day.
Pregame - 10:43AM
This is the Jaguars' first game in Detroit since the Jaguars' inaugural season, 1995, when the Jaguars lost, 44-0, on Dec. 17 of that year. My enduring memory from that game is of the Lions taking a knee late in the third quarter. The Jags have won both games between the two teams since that game in '95. Both of them were played in Jacksonville.
Pregame - 10:57AM
As you probably remember, we had technical difficulties late in last Sunday's game in Cincinnati. All I can do is hope that doesn't happen again because I have absolutely no technical skill for correcting those problems. I write words; that's all. My fingers are crossed.
Pregame - 11:31AM
Jaguars inactives: William James, Chauncey Washington, Brian Witherspoon, Mike Peterson, Drew Miller, Milford Brown, Mike Walker and John Henderson.
Pregame - 11:32AM
Tony McDaniel starts for Henderson, Daryl Smith moves to middle linebacker for Mike Peterson and Clint Ingram replaces Smith at outside linebacker. Brian Williams replaces Drayton Florence at cornerback and Gerald Sensabaugh starts for Williams at safety.
Pregame - 11:49AM
Dennis Norman is starting for Tutan Reyes at right guard.
Pregame - 1:01PM
The Jaguars have won the toss and have elected to defer their choice until the second half. The Lions will receive the opening kickoff. Enjoy the game, everyone. Thanks for joining me.
15:00 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, DET: 0
Daunte Culpepper is the starting quarterback. He gets a big cheer.
14:17 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, DET: 0
Culpepper throws an awful pass on second down. In pregame, he couldn't hit the broad side of a tight end.
14:17 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, DET: 0
Intercepted by Rashean Mathis. The pass was intended for Calvin Johnson. Culpepper threw it way behind Johnson; an awful throw. The Jags have it at the Lions 24.
14:01 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, DET: 0
Fred Taylor gains six on first down. He only needs one yard.
13:26 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, DET: 0
Taylor gains one. That's it. Get the ball. He's at 11,000.
12:44 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, DET: 0
Incomplete on third down; bad throw. The linebacker stepped in front of the throw and nearly intercepted. It was intended for Jerry Porter. It was, of course, a slant.
12:37 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 0
Josh Scobee boots a 34-yard field goal. On the interception by Mathis, Johnson was wide open over the middle. Any kind of decent throw would've worked. Why wouldn't Rod Marinelli go with one of his backup quarterbacks, Drew Stanton or Drew Henson?
12:37 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 0
Not to belabor this, but I've never seen a quarterback throw as poorly in pregame as Culpepper did. Marinelli had to have seen that. Here's one for you: When they introduced Culpepper, he got cheered. When he threw the interception, he got booed, just three plays later.
11:07 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 0
Sacked by Clint Ingram on third down.
10:20 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 0
Culpepper is wearing play-bands on both wrists. What kind of message does that send? The Jags have it at their 35 after the punt.
10:20 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 0
What if Fred loses a yard on this play and then gains a yard on the next play? Does he become the first player in NFL history to reach 11,000 yards twice?
10:20 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 0
Incomplete for Porter; bad timing. Porter hadn't come out of his break when the ball was past him.
10:14 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 0
The Lions just lost their best pass-rusher, Dewayne White.
10:14 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 0
There it is. Fred just lost two yards. Give the ball back.
10:14 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 0
Punt time.
08:40 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 0
Derrick Harvey is in the game, at left end. Jeff Lageman said in pregame he thought Harvey would be moved to right end. Maybe later.
07:35 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 0
The bomb to Johnson. He beat Mathis who was also flagged for pass interference. It's declined. The play gained 51 to the Jaguars 34.
07:03 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 0
Oh, by the way, there was no pass-rush.
06:42 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 0
Culpepper scrambles and then finds Kevin Smith for 27 to the Jaguars seven.
06:10 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 0
Harvey had moved to right end but was playing with his left hand on the ground. Come on! Culpepper ran right away from him.
05:09 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 0
It's third and goal from the five. Marinelli is wearing some kind of goofy-looking t-shirt that looks like he bought it at a rummage sale.
04:46 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 0
They stopped Culpepper on a draw but there's a facemask penalty on the Jags. It's on Tony McDaniel. First down at the three.
04:18 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 0
Stanton's at quarterback. Kevin Smith ran right at Harvey at right end and was stopped on a shoestring tackle at the one.
03:33 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 7
Touchdown! Stanton to tight end John Owens. Stanton froze the Jags with a play-action fake. Owens leaked out into the end zone. It's Stanton's first career touchdown pass. He's a Michigan State kid.
03:33 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 7
Big gainer by Maurice Jones-Drew for 16 to the Jaguars 36.
02:13 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 7
David Garrard to Marcedes Lewis for a first down at the Jags 48. Good, tough catch by Lewis.
01:22 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 7
Jones-Drew just ran over a guy; safety Kalvin Pearson.
00:21 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 7
Naked boot gets the first down and a lot more. First down at the Lions 35. That's the end of the first quarter.
15:00 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, DET: 7
Garrard to Lewis at the five-yard line. Good throw.
14:15 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 9, DET: 7
Touchdown! Jones-Drew scores untouched. That was awfully easy.
14:15 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 10, DET: 7
Quentin Groves is at left end. They ran right at him for seven yards. Culpepper is back at quarterback.
12:45 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 10, DET: 7
Incomplete; it was way behind Johnson; terrible throw.
12:30 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 10, DET: 7
One of the things I've noticed is that the Lions are running at Harvey and Groves, wherever they are. That could just a coincidence; I don't know.
12:30 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 10, DET: 7
Fred is back over 11,000. Give him the ball.
11:55 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 10, DET: 7
It appears the Jags can run at will.
11:09 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 10, DET: 7
Garrard to Porter for a gain of 26 to the Lions 30.
10:27 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 10, DET: 7
There are receivers open all over the field. This one is getting away from the Lions.
10:27 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 10, DET: 7
If you turned the music and the PA off, this building would be quieter than the hallway outside my hotel room last night.
10:05 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 10, DET: 7
Fred cuts it back for a gain of 11 to the Lions 14.
09:25 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 10, DET: 7
The Jaguars offensive line is dominating.
08:47 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 10, DET: 7
Fred straight ahead to the one. Who wants to score a touchdown?
08:06 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 16, DET: 7
Touchdown! I guess Jones-Drew wanted to score a touchdown.
08:03 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 17, DET: 7
The Bengals would beat these guys by four touchdowns.
07:48 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 17, DET: 7
Culpepper throws for a first down. He had all day to throw. The rushers were on the ground.
07:06 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 17, DET: 7
Kevin Smith off right tackle for a gain of 15 to the Jaguars 40.
06:23 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 17, DET: 7
Groves is using a left-hand stance at right end, too. Maybe that's OK. I don't know.
05:02 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 17, DET: 7
Smith around right end for a first down at the Jags 23. They're attacking the Jags' ends.
02:18 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 17, DET: 7
Fourth and two and they're going to kick. Jason Hanson's kick is blocked by Gerald Sensabaugh and returned by Reggie Nelson to the Jags 42. Why wouldn't you go for it on fourth and two? The crowd booed the decision.
02:00 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 17, DET: 7
Jones-Drew for 15. If I'm the Lions, I'm hoping my defense has quit because if they haven't quit, then they have a terrible talent problem.
01:59 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 17, DET: 7
Sacked! Tony Pashos was run over. It's a loss of 11.
01:13 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 17, DET: 7
Garrard to Lewis to within four of a first down, but Garrard throws incomplete on third down. The Jags are going for it on fourth and four.
01:09 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 17, DET: 7
The Lions call time out. I wonder what they're thinking. With a 17-7 lead, going for it on fourth and four at the 36 doesn't show much fear.
01:09 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 17, DET: 7
Why should they fear the Lions. It's complete to Matt Jones for 22 to the Lions 15. It was so easy.
00:39 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 23, DET: 7
Jones-Drew runs through three guys to the eight. The Jags are no-huddle and Jones-Drew runs around right end untouched for a touchdown.
00:32 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 24, DET: 7
The crowd has gone from booing to cheering bad plays. This is ugly.
Halftime
The hand on the ground thing intrigued me so I asked Jeff Lageman about it at halftime and he said it doesn't matter. Guys put whatever hand on the ground that makes them feel comfortable.
Halftime
The Lions are announcing their all-time team and it includes some very impressive players. If they'd agree to put on the pads, they might beat this year's Lions team.
Halftime
Taylor and Jones-Drew are just 11 yards shy of a combined 100 yards rushing, which would mark only the third time this season they've reached that figure.
Halftime
Garrard has thrown for 132 yards and a 103.5 passer rating.
13:36 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 24, DET: 7
The Jaguars are driving. They're at the 50.
11:55 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 24, DET: 7
This is like watching a training camp practice when the first-team offense is practicing against the second-team defense.
10:39 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 24, DET: 7
Beautiful throw by Garrard to Matt Jones on third down. Detroit is defenseless.
09:19 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 24, DET: 7
Garrard to Matt Jones on the slant for a first down at the 12.
07:58 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 24, DET: 7
Get ready. There's probably going to be a touchdown on this next play.
07:00 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 24, DET: 7
False start. It might take a couple of plays.
05:40 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 31, DET: 7
Touchdown! Wrong, it only took one play, a pass from Garrard to Porter. That drive was nearly 10 minutes long. These poor people in this town. They have suffered for so long and there is no end in sight. If I was a sportswriter in this town, I don't know what I could tell them.
04:14 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 31, DET: 7
The Jags have it back. I'm going to give you advanced warning: I will be heading downstairs before the game ends.
01:39 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 31, DET: 7
The boos are deafening. This is one of the lowlights in Lions history. Garrard can pick a receiver. Everybody is open.
00:10 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 31, DET: 7
That's the end of the third quarter. The crowd cheers.
14:56 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 37, DET: 7
Touchdown! Garrard to Troy Williamson for 10 yards and a score. That's the ninth Jaguars player to catch a pass. It was ridiculously easy.
14:56 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 38, DET: 7
Stanton is back in at quarterback. The crowd cheers. I guess they already don't like Culpepper.
14:20 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 38, DET: 7
He's sacked. The Lions have clearly quit.
13:50 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 38, DET: 7
He's sacked again, this time by Harvey. It's punt time.
12:52 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 38, DET: 7
After this 10-play, time-consuming touchdown drive by the Jaguars, I'm gonna shut it down. Cleo Lemon is in at quarterback. Garrard was 18 of 25 for 238 yards, two touchdowns and a 128.4 passer rating.
12:06 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 38, DET: 7
I was wrong. Three and out.
11:09 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 38, DET: 7
Bomb to Johnson, who took it away from Mathis.
09:23 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 38, DET: 7
Sacked by Rob Meier. Fourth and 12.
09:23 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 38, DET: 7
Stanton to Brandon Middleton for a first down at the Jaguars 13.
06:02 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 38, DET: 14
Touchdown! Smith on a one-yard run. Much too little much too late for the Lions. That's all for me, folks. I'm closin' up shop and work my way toward the elevator. Thanks for joining me today. See you next Sunday.
