DETROIT — The Lions were plagued by penalties throughout the preseason, but the team was optimistic those issues were correctable.
But they resourced in the home opener against Tennessee — in record numbers.
The Lions committed 17 penalties in a 16-15 loss Sunday against the Titans, which matches their most since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. They also had 17 in a 20-7 loss against the Cowboys on Nov. 20, 2005.
Their 138 penalty yards are a team high since 1999, which is as far back as the league's statistical system goes. Through two games, they've already racked up 22.