The Lions aren’t getting arrested at the rate they used to, but they’re still running afoul of the on-field law.
They were hit with three 15-yard penalties in last night’s loss to the Browns, and they were clearly struggling with their inability to keep their cool.
“Any time you have personal foul penalties, that’s a mental thing you have to do a better job of controlling yourself, controlling your emotions,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said, via Justin Rogers of MLive.com.
The first came when running back Reggie Bush shoved Browns linebacker D’Qwell Jackson (who Bush thought was guilty of a late hit), setting up a third-and-24.
“I know better,” Bush said. “I’ve been in this league long enough, and have enough experience, to know that those type of penalties can completely change a game, completely change the momentum of a game. It starts with me. I know better than to do things like that.”
Usual suspect Ndamukong Suh also was flagged for a late hit on Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden, and defensive end Willie Young for shoving a Browns player after the whistle.
Fair or not, Suh and the Lions have developed a reputation for an aggressive style, and their margin of error is not such that they can give up 45 yards a week without it costing them.