GAME RECAP:  San Francisco 49ers 31 Detroit Lions 13

SCOREBOARD	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	FINAL
49ERS	7	14	0	3	31
LIONS	0	3	0	10	13

SCORING SUMMARY:

First Quarter  SFO - TD Bruce 6-yard pass from O'Sullivan [Nedney Kick], 2:16. Second Quarter  SFO - TD Gore 4-yard run [Nedney Kick], 12:52.  DET - FG Hanson 38-yards, 0:14.  SFO - TD Walker 24-yard pass from O'Sullivan [Nedney Kick], 5:48. Third Quarter  DET - FG Hanson 51-yards, 1:43. Fourth Quarter  SFO - TD Rossum 1-yard run [Nedney Kick], 9:31.  DET - TD Johnson 35-yard pass from Kitna [Nedney Kick], 6:57.  SFO - FG Nedney 25-yards, 4:25.

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DETROIT PLAYERS OF THE GAME:

Rudi Johnson	Ernie Sims	Jason Hanson
Led the Lions in rushing (83), receiving (48), and scored the only touchdown for Detroit	Lions leading tackler against Mike Martz's offense with 11 tackles on a long day	Veteran kicker still has the leg with FGs of 44 and 51-yards on the bay

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATS:

Passing

Rushing

Receiving

GAME SUMMARY:

The Lions fired Mike Martz after the 2007 season holding him accountable for the teams woes. But it was the defense that finished ranked dead last in the NFL. Martz got his revenge as the 49ers throttled the Lions 31-13 behind former Lions backup quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan. For the first time this season the Lions didn't spot their opponent a 21-point lead as Jason Hanson's field goal put Detroit on the board as San Francisco lead by only 14. It wouldn't take long for the niners to score again for a 21-3 lead putting the Lions in another huge hole early, one they wouldn't climb out of. Now it looks like the Lions have dug themselves into a huge hole for the season, one they won't climb out of either.

Detroit had one passing yard in the first quarter and just 16 in the second. Happy 36th Birthday Jon Kitna. J.T. O'Sullivan had 144 net passing yards and two touchdowns in the Mike Martz system. His first touchdown pass was to former Ram Issac Bruce from six yards out and his second to Delaine Walker from 24 yards out. In between, Frank Gore punched it in from 4-yards out. The Lions only score in the first half was a 44-yard field goal by Jason Hanson.

There would be no comeback in the second half today. Jason Hanson would add another field goal in the third quarter good from 51-yards out. That would be the only score by either team in the third quarter. But the 49ers would pad their lead thanks to Allen Rossum's one-yard run. Detroit would finally score a touchdown as Rudi Johnson turned a Jon Kitna pass into a 35-yard scoring grab. The Lion's on-side kick, however, would be taken cleanly by Arnez Battle inside the Lions ten. A few plays latter Joe Nedney put through a 25-yard field goal.

Mike Martz proved to be the scapegoat in Detroit last year. They said he couldn't run the ball, yet Frank Gore had 27 rushes for 130 yards and San Francisco had 182 as a team. They said the Lions couldn't control the clock with Martz at the helm, yet the niners dominated the clock with over 35 minutes with the ball. They said J.T. O'Sullivan couldn't hold Jon Kitna's clipboard in Detroit last season, yet he totally outperformed the Lions veteran quarterback with more completions, yards, touchdowns, and no turnovers.

The Lions are now 0-3 heading into their bye week. The 2008 season is a disaster thus far, perhaps the best thing that can come out of it is a total collapse and a total makeover in the off season starting from the top down.

In the end three words truly sum up this game just like the first two game, same old Lions. Maybe even worse.

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Lions linebacker Ernie Sims tries slow down 49er running back Frank Gore.

VIDEO/AUDIO:

NEXT GAME:

The Lions have a bye next week and return to Ford Field to take on the Chicago Bears on Sunday, October 5, at 1:00PM.

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Written by: Paul Donaghy, Senior Writer