Absurd Stat Shows Just How Badly Lions Choke in 4th Quarter

Was the officiating terrible on Monday Night Football between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers? Absolutely. Did it benefit the Packers more than the Lions? I'd say so.

But at the end of the day, Detroit had a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter and blew it. Unfortunately, that's been a season-long occurrence for them this year.

The Lions have had a lead in the final minute of regulation in all five of their games this year, a pretty encouraging stat. However, they've blown that lead on three separate occasions, resulting in their 2-2-1 record.

And while some fans believe the team's loss to the Packers was unfair, the truth of the matter is that the Lions have consistently folded in crunch time. Holding onto a late lead can be one of the most difficult things in football, but the Lions have let what could have been an undefeated season slip away, and now find themselves at the cellar of the NFC North.

Even though the officiating was embarrassing last night, the Lions can't blame all their losses on the refs. At some point, they have to look at themselves in the mirror and realize they've wilted under the pressure week after week.

Matt Patricia will need to find a way to make sure his team can close out games, otherwise a promising looking season for Detroit could result in their third-straight year of missing the playoffs.