Sanders Fumbles Game Away to Arizona

It simply doesn’t happen. Barry Sanders does not fumble. Yet he did twice, and it kept the Detroit Lions winless.

Sanders’s first fumble in three seasons set up Arizona’s final scoring drive, and the Cardinals rallied from an 11-point deficit to beat the Lions, 20-17, Sunday.

Sanders had carried the ball 803 times without a fumble. He hadn’t fumbled since Dec. 6, 1992, in a game against the Green Bay Packers at Milwaukee.

“When I run, I expect to hang onto the ball,” Sanders said. “Those things are going to happen, interceptions, fumbles. I definitely could have picked a better time, but I don’t always make those decisions.”

Dave Krieg passed to Anthony Edwards with 2:31 remaining for the go-ahead score. The second fumble by Sanders ended the Lions’ last chance.

Sanders carried 24 times for 147 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown run for Detroit (0-3). But his first fourth-quawards. Krieg’s two-point conversion pass to Frank Sanders gave the Cardinals the three-point lead.

Detroit, aided by two of 10 penalties against the Cardinals, drove to the Arizona 40. Mitchell threw to Sanders on a three-yard swing pass on first down, but Clyde Simmons knocked the ball loose and Terry Hoage recovered for Arizona.

“That is something you never expect,” Lion Coach Wayne Fontes said. “Of all the great backs, I know he’ll come back and make some great plays before it’s over.”

The Cardinals (1-2) ran out the clock as what remained of the 58,727 fans at Detroit’s home opener called for the firing of Fontes. “Wayne must go!” they chanted.

“I’ve overcome it before,” Fontes said. “I’ve heard that tune before. That’s the nature of the job. I’ve heard that tune for seven years, and one day they will run out of quarters.”

The San Diego Chargers made the playoffs in 1992 after starting 0-4. But their next three games weren’t against San Francisco, Cleveland and at Green Bay. That’s what the Lions face now.

“That’s a very good football team, but they’ve played themselves into a helluva hole,” Cardinal Coach Buddy Ryan said.

Garrison Hearst turned in the first 100-yard game of his NFL career, gaining 121 yards in 22 carries for the Cardinals, who travel to Dallas next week.

Krieg, who was benched by Ryan a week earlier, showed the kind of flair at the end he displayed in helping the Lions into the playoffs last season. Krieg completed 15 of 24 passes for 158 yards.

“I think both teams contributed to this one,” Krieg said. “Barry doesn’t fumble very often, and they gave us one at the end of the half, but I think some of it was because of our determination.”

Mitchell completed 17 of 26 for 217 yards for Detroit, including a 39-yard scoring toss to Brett Perriman that put Detroit ahead, 10-0, in the second quarter.

But overall it was a woeful game between two struggling teams.

The Lion defense had seven sacks for 49 yards in losses, but Detroit also drew 15 penalties for 109 yards.

The Cardinals sacked Mitchell twice for 19 yards, but drew 10 flags for 82 yards.