DETROIT -- An all-too-familiar narrative played itself out in the Detroit Lions' season opener Sunday.
Yes, the Lions played hard against the Philadelphia Eagles. They even made it competitive late, pulling within three points of Philly with just under four minutes to play. But they fell short ... yet again.
For those who follow the franchise closely, close losses have become an ongoing theme in the Motor City. Including Sunday’s 38-35 defeat to the Eagles, the Lions have seven losses in one-score games since the start of 2021, tied with the Carolina Panthers for second most in the league, per ESPN Stats & Information research.