Watch CBS News

Tony Ortiz: How The Lions Lost Far Worse Than Actual Loss

SAN DIEGO (WWJ) - After going 3-1 in pre-season play -- the Detroit Lions open up the regular season on the road with a loss to San Diego.

The first half belonged to Detroit with the Lions taking a 21-10 lead into the locker room at halftime. But the second half was all San Diego with the Chargers scoring 30 unanswered points to win 33-28.

WWJ's Tony Ortiz, on the sidelines game-time, says how the Lions lost is worse than actually losing.

"The fact that they got a 21-3 lead and then gave up 30 consecutive points is just unbearable - that was a team that ranked number two in defense last year and just couldn't find a way to stop the Chargers in this game," said Ortiz.

"I know a lot of people are going to blame the pass-rush - say 'why couldn't they get any pressure on Philip Rivers' and especially in the second half of that game. And the second thing you will probably hear is 'oh well, this wouldn't have happened if Ndamukong Suh had stuck around - not the case in either case. First of all- the pass-rush was not effective because the Chargers made a change in the second half; Philip Rivers got rid of the ball very quickly - three and five step drops - boom - the ball was out of his hands, so there was no chance for the pass-rush to get to him. Two -- even if Ndamukong Suh had been in the lineup for the Lions yesterday - the way the Chargers' offense was rolling, especially in the second half, they would have won the game no matter what."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.