Even by preseason standards, this was an ugly one.
The Detroit Lions opened exhibition play with a 31-3 loss to the New England Patriots on Thursday and the lopsided score doesn’t even begin to explain the unsightliness on the field.
The Lions allowed nine sacks, completed just seven passes and were booed off the field at halftime after gaining just three first downs.
Matthew Stafford, Kerryon Johnson, Kenny Golladay, Jarrad Davis and Quandre Diggs were among the regulars who did not play for the Lions, and third-string quarterback David Fales played most of the game after Tom Savage left in the first quarter with an apparent concussion.