Back to the Detroit Lions Newsfeed

Lions fans bolt for the exits as Matt Patricia's debut turns into a nightmare

DETROIT -- The crowd at Ford Field was full for the start of a new season, but it was an apprehensive energy. Even after a pick-six touchdown on the first play to give the Lions the lead, they were ready with scattered boos whenever something bad might happen: three-and-outs, interceptions, big pass plays allowed to a rookie...

They ended up getting them all. The Lions went up and then went down, and by sometime early in the third quarter, they were falling all over themselves. As Matthew Stafford's passes just got picked off again and again and as Sam Darnold played some "Madden" on the field and as the old reliable special teams turned into an eye sore, leading to a 31-point deficit, the boos hit a crescendo and the fans started bolting for the exits.