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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) -- Bryant Westbrook didn't hug a teammate or
wave to a girlfriend in the stands after Detroit beat Atlanta 13-10
Sunday. The Lions cornerback walked directly toward his new head
coach, Gary Moeller, and extended his hand.
|  | | Atlanta running back Jamal Anderson had 119 yards on 25 carries, marking his first 100-yard game since a win over San Francisco in the 1998 playoffs. |
"This is because of you," Westbrook said to Moeller, who
replaced Bobby Ross after he resigned on Monday.
The Lions (6-4) didn't play 60 minutes of perfect football in
Moeller's debut, but they started the game inspired and finished it
by making just enough plays to keep their playoff hopes very much
alive.
Moeller was faced with a tough decision with five minutes to go.
His choice wasn't popular in the Silverdome, but the end result
sent the fans home happy.
The new coach was booed when he chose to go for the tie when the
Lions had the ball inches from the goal line on a fourth down.
Jason Hanson's 18-yard field goal tied it at 10.
Moeller said he never considered going for the touchdown.
"You get down there, you could have a fumble, all those little
things you worry about," he said. "I wasn't going to do that."
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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Question on the Falcons: How could Atlanta waste a 100-yard rushing
day by Jamal Anderson?
Donahoe: The Falcons have been trying to get Jamal Anderson going, and in
recent weeks he has looked more like his old self. He's run the ball hard,
he's made some good cuts and he's finished some runs. It was encouraging to
see him put together a 100-yard rushing game. The biggest problem the
Falcons had today was throwing the football. They had to play Danny Kanell because of the
injury to Chris Chandler, and
the passing game was inconsistent. Other than Jamal's running, the Falcons
generated very little offense.
Question on the Lions: How much of a difference did Gary Moeller make
in his debut?
Donahoe: It's hard to say whether Moeller made a difference today.
While it was a close game and sloppily played, the Lions won. That's the
positive start he was looking for. It's difficult to say in one week how
much of a difference Moeller will make. Right now, the win is the most
important thing.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director
of football operations.
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Moeller trusted his defense to hold Atlanta. It worked.
Danny Kanell's inaccurate pass was intercepted by Corwin Brown,
who returned the ball 10 yards to the Falcons 29 with 2:13 left.
Four plays later, Hanson kicked a winning 44-yarder.
Brown played for Moeller when he coached at Michigan from
1990-94.
"My main man," Brown said with a smile, referring to Moeller.
"I've got to make a play for him."
Westbrook ended Atlanta's comeback hopes when he intercepted
Kanell's pass at the Falcons 43 with 39 seconds left.
The Falcons (3-8) saw their streak of 16 victories when Jamal
Anderson has 20 or more carries, including their three wins this
year, snapped. Anderson had 25 carries for 119 yards, which marked
his first 100-yard game since the win over San Francisco in the
1998 playoffs.
Anderson realized the Falcons defied the odds by losing when he
had so many carries.
"I would not want to be in Vegas today," Anderson said.
Kanell started in place of Chris Chandler, who left last week's
game with a concussion. Kanell completed 14 of 34 passes with no
touchdowns and two interceptions.
The poor pass he threw that was intercepted by Brown bothered
Kanell after the game.
"It was just one of those plays where I was trying to make
something happen," Kanell said. "I put the ball in the wrong
spot. It was one of those stupid plays.
"I feel, personally, a lot of responsibility for this loss."
Charlie Batch was 12-of-27 for 128 yards with no touchdowns and
one interception. Herman Moore caught five passes for 76 yards and
James Stewart ran for 71 yards on 25 carries.
"Everything is not going to be pretty, but the bottom line is
to get the win," Batch said.
Stewart ended the opening drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Johnnie Morton ran for 27 yards on the previous play on what was
supposed to be a reverse-pass, but when the Falcons weren't fooled,
Morton changed field and used a block downfield from Batch.
Atlanta's Elijah Williams intercepted a poorly thrown pass from
Batch at Detroit's 25 midway through the second quarter. Three
plays later, Anderson scored easily on a 15-yard run to tie the
game at 7.
Moeller's energetic personality is in stark contrast to Ross'
stoic style.
"What you see is what you get, that's Mo," Brown said. "He's
not phony."
Westbrook, like his teammates, feels revitalized playing for
Moeller.
"He's a motivator, man," Westbrook said. "I really see why
Michigan won (Big Ten) titles. He gets you fired up. Not only
before the game, but all week."
Game notes
Falcons tackle Bob Whitfield, who started his
club-record 123rd straight game, left in the third quarter with
what the team called a "neck burner." He sat the rest of the game
with an ice bag against his neck. ... Lions tackle Aaron Gibson
left in the first quarter with a right shoulder bruise and did not
return. Gibson had surgery on the other shoulder last year, causing
him to miss his entire rookie season. ... The Lions observed
Veterans Day with a pregame moment of silence to honor those killed
and injured from the terrorist bombing aboard the USS Cole in
Yemen. Four local surviving crewmen were introduced on the field.
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ALSO SEE
Atlanta Clubhouse
Detroit Clubhouse
Week 11 wrap-ups
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Gary Moeller comments on his first victory as Lions' head coach.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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