Detroit Cools Fontes’ Very Hot Seat

The temperature on the Wayne Fontes hot seat cooled down slightly Sunday.

Detroit hung on for a 17-16 victory over Seattle when Seahawk kicker Todd Peterson missed a last-second field goal from 41 yards, ending a four-game losing streak for the Lions and a three-game winning streak for Seattle.

Still, it was apparent the constant “Wayne Watch” is beginning to wear on Fontes, who spoke less than a minute after the victory.

“This game wasn’t about me,” Fontes said. “I’m not trying to be short with you, but this team played excellent football and never gave up.”

With that, Fontes walked out of the interview room.

Peterson, who earlier made field goals from 24, 25 and 21 yards, sent the ball wide right from 41 yards as time expired. Players on the Lion bench jumped and thrust their fists in the air, while their embattled coach hugged an assistant.

Fontes, who has guided the Lions to the playoffs the last three seasons, has a history of getting out of tight situations.

Last year, the Lions (5-6) were 3-6, but finished the regular season with a seven-game winning streak and Fontes wiggled off the hook. Again.

Fontes has an impressive record in November and December. During his tenure, the Lions are 35-26 overall in those months, 13-5 the last two seasons.

The joy on the Lion sideline was mirrored by frustration on the Seattle side.

“That was a bad one,” Seahawk Coach Dennis Erickson said. “It really rips you up to lose when you play that well, especially on the road.

“It’s a killer. We had a chance to go over .500, and a chance to win four consecutive for the first time since 1987. It would be easier to take if we got blown out.”

The Seahawks (5-6), who went 4-1 to get back to .500 after John Friesz replaced Rick Mirer at quarterback, had to play the fourth quarter without Friesz. He sprained his right knee on the first play of the period.

The Seahawks, behind the passing of Mirer and the running of Lamar Smith, drove from their 20 to the Detroit 24. They called a timeout with two seconds remaining and the ball in the center of the field.

The snap from Kevin Mawae to holder Rick Tuten appeared high, and Peterson’s kick had the distance, but not the direction.

“Rick did a great job of getting the ball down and lined up, and I thought I hit it really well,” Peterson said. “It just didn’t work. I thought it was headed right down the pipe, but it just didn’t go.”

Barry Sanders, who is 18 yards shy of his eighth straight 1,000-yard rushing season, carried 16 times for the Lions for 134 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

“We’ve been looking for something like this,” Sanders said. “We finally had something go our way.”

Detroit quarterback Don Majkowski, starting for injured Scott Mitchell, completed 18 of 23 passes for 157 yards.