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The Detroit Lions Quiz (2000-2009): Test your fandom!

By Payne Schanski

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 11: A fan looks on with a bag on his head during a game between the Detroit Lions and the Arizona Cardinals at Ford Field on October 11, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 11: A fan looks on with a bag on his head during a game between the Detroit Lions and the Arizona Cardinals at Ford Field on October 11, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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14 Nov 1999: Johnnie Morton #87 of the Detroit Lions runs on the field during the game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Lions 23-19. Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport
14 Nov 1999: Johnnie Morton #87 of the Detroit Lions runs on the field during the game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Lions 23-19. Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport /

Answer: Johnnie Morton

The writers for The Tonight Show took special notice of the Lions’ 0-12 start to the 2001 season. As the losses piled up, so did the one-liners on Jay Leno’s opening monologue.

Wide receiver Johnnie Morton was apparently a regular viewer of the show, and didn’t take kindly to the weekly insults. With only a month left in the season, Morton got his catharsis.

In a back and forth game at the Silverdome, the Lions built up a 20-7 halftime lead only to watch it evaporate. Randy Moss exploded for two touchdown catches in the third quarter. The Vikings scored 17 unanswered points to regain the lead heading into the 4th.

Fullback Cory Schlesinger scored from a yard out with ten minutes left. The Pontiac crowd couldn’t do anything besides hold their breath the rest of the way. Minnesota got the ball back twice more, moving it into Lions territory both times.

With the game (and NFL infamy) on the line, the defense held up, and both Vikings drives stalled. Four straight Vikings incompletions in the final 30 seconds ended the game. The Lions players celebrated wildly.

Jay Leno was clearly still at the forefront of Johnnie Morton’s mind when he was interviewed on the field afterwards. When asked for his thoughts on the win, Morton yelled out something to the effect of, “JAY LENO CAN KISS MY ASS!!”

This got back to Leno and his staff, so of course they invited Morton onto the show shortly after. This has to be some kind of talk show record. The least amount of success ever to earn an athlete a trip onto the national late night circuit.

The Lions picked up another win over the Cowboys on the final day of the season to finish 2-14.

5. Which quarterback had the highest QB rating in the NFL in 2008?

(a) Dan Orlovsky

(b) Matt Ryan

(c) Phillip Rivers

(d) Whoever was playing against the Lions

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