Lions take pride in finishing season on winning note

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (WXYZ) - "We've been one play away from flipping our record," said Lions head coach Jim Schwartz. "If we make those one plays then, you know, people say what they will. There's things we can all do better."

Calvin Johnson was certainly at his best against the Packers on Sunday night football with 118 yards receiving to place him over 1,500 for the year, but it wasn't enough to keep Detroit from dropping its fifth straight.

"There's been a lot of different injuries -- and just bumps in the road as you said -- and we just have to continue to push through it," said Lions wide receiver Kris Durham, who made national headlines for his one-handed catch at Lambeau Field.

However, for the third straight game the Lions blew a lead of 10-plus points, tying an NFL record shared by six other ball clubs.

The Lions now turn their attention to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

"We're going out there to win this game this week and beat the Cardinals or prepare to beat them," said John Wendling, a Lions safety. "We're gonna give it all we have."

With a 4-9 record for the Lions with just three games left in the regular season, a lot of football fans might say there's nothing for this team to play for. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford said that's not the case.

"You've gotta find ways to play as a team; play for pride, play for each other and for this organization," said Stafford.

"Unfortunately we're not going to the playoffs," said Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. "Any competitor, which I believe we're all competitors in this locker room, you don't want to lose those last three games."

If the Lions win out, they'll have a lot to build on heading into the 2013 season.