Lions go for the dubious record of 0 and 16-at least they will not raise prices.

[faba]

Associated Press

Updated: December 27, 2008, 10:59 AM ET

• Comment
  
• Email
  
• Print
  

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Cornerback Travis Fisher said he won't fly back to Detroit from Green Bay if the Detroit Lions somehow manage to find a way to beat the Packers on Sunday.

"If we win, I ain't catching the plane back home," he said with a laugh. "I'll walk back to Detroit."

Chances are, Fisher won't have to worry about making the 482-mile trek.

Lions freeze '09 ticket prices

The Lions announced Friday that they will freeze ticket prices for next season and reduce prices for about 8 percent of the seats at Ford Field.

The reasons? A bad economy and the team's ineptitude on the field, said Bob Raymond, the Lions' vice president of business operations.

"The economy being No. 1, but let's face it, the team performance is also a factor in this," Raymond said, according to the Detriot News. "And our fans have made us aware of that. We have to address that: both the economy and the team performance."

"We see people struggling right now in this economy. And we obviously want to bring our season-ticket holders back," Raymond said, according to the report. "They've been very loyal to us over the last several years. We need their support now and want to continue to have their support."

Details on how much prices will be reduced and which seats will be discounted will be announced at a later date, the team said.

-- ESPN.com news services

A loss would install the Lions in their very own NFL Hall of Shame as the league's first team to go 0-16 in a season. They're already the first to go 0-15. A win, of course, would be better, allowing Detroit the dubious distinction of becoming the ninth franchise to finish a season 1-15.

The last team to finish the season winless was the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, an expansion franchise that went 0-14.

"It's incredible that a team could go that long in the NFL without winning a game," said Tim Katanski of Ypsilanti. "I mean, Tampa Bay was an expansion team, so they kind of have an excuse."

The Lions are 1-22 since the middle of last season and haven't won since Dec. 23, 2007, when they beat Kansas City.

It doesn't look good. After all, Green Bay is where this hideous streak began at the end of last season. Since then, the Lions have lost 16 straight and have been outscored 520-260.

If the Lions give up 48 points -- as they did in Week 2 against Green Bay -- they will break the 1981 Baltimore Colts NFL record (533) for points allowed in a season - by a single point.

When they were drafted, rookies Kevin Smith and Gosder Cherilus knew they were headed for a struggling franchise, but they never imagined a pitiful season like this.

"It's been a nightmare," Smith said. "It's totally embarrassing."

Cherilus agreed.

"It's Week 17 and I don't know what it's like to win an NFL game," he said somberly. "The situation we're in has to be enough to give everything you've got in this last game.

"It's our Super Bowl."

Though the Lions were 10

[4HCrew]

and to think the Jets raise prices off of a 4-12 season awesome!

[faba]

At least these guys give to you straight intead of spinning it

The reasons? A bad economy and the team's ineptitude on the field, said Bob Raymond, the Lions' vice president of business operations.

[indygirl4jets]

Not that I want it to happen because I have never liked the Lions but I have a hunch they just might beat the Packers on sunday.

[serphnx]

Not that I want it to happen because I have never liked the Lions but I have a hunch they just might beat the Packers on sunday.

I picked them to win this week. Then again I picked them to win last week too. Well, at least they will cover the spread this week maybe, that's a moral victory.