The 0-16 Detroit Lions

Detroit made every effort to win its final game of 2008, rallying from a 14-point deficit to hang tight with the Packers well into the fourth quarter. In the end, a fate too strong for defeat -- a fate of repeated defeat -- sent the valiant but tremendously bad Lions to an 0-16 season.

Detroit's pitiful defense couldn't touch the Green Bay attack, which had 300 yards and 3 TDs from Aaron Rodgers (including a vital 71-yard TD to Donald Driver with late in the fourth) and almost 200 yards rushing between Ryan Grant and DeShawn Wynn. But Green Bay's defense is quite pitiful as well. The Lions had an opportunity to make a miracle with a couple minutes left, down 10 at midfield. Facing 4th and 27, Dan Orlovsky threw a interception returned 61 yards to seal the game. G.B. ran out the clock.

I still find it difficult to laugh too hard at Detroit's expense -- these players and fans haven't known the feeling of a win for more than a year's time. But the novelty, especially in today's parity-ridden NFL, is too much to cry over for the neutral party. I mean, the team's 2008 results look like this:

L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L

That's nuts! It is literally unbelievable. But if it's hope you need, Detroit: the awesome party is still on, and Miami has shown you can go from putrid to playoffs (maybe) in one summer. Chins up, friends.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.