DETROIT (AP) -Rod Marinelli patiently bided his time for more than three decades to be a head coach. The Detroit Lions (0-5) have made him wait more than a month for his first win.
Marinelli insists he's sticking to minute-to-minute details and is not beating himself up about lacking a victory on his resume.
``I'm not going to do that; I won't do that,'' he said. ``I just go back to work.''
Dick Jauron was willing to keep working for the Lions last season after serving as their interim coach for the final six games after Steve Mariucci was fired. But they chose Tampa Bay's defensive line coach over him and other candidates.
The Buffalo Bills hired Jauron in late January, four days after Marinelli earned his first head-coaching gig at any level. Jauron was not real interested in talking about getting passed over by the franchise that drafted him in 1973 and put him in a tough situation last season.
``Well, let's see, how do you say this? I'm really happy to be where I am,'' Jauron said. ``I guess that's the best answer to that. I had an opportunity to come to Buffalo and I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying it and what a great challenge it is at the same time.
``I try to spend as little time as possible looking back - its human nature to reflect at times - but, as much as I can avoid it, I avoid it.''
Jauron took over a team with mixed expectations and the Bills won two of their first four games before being routed last week at Chicago - where Detroit was also blown out in Week 2.
If the Bills (2-3) can reach .500 with a win Sunday at Ford Field, they can regain some momentum heading into next week's home game against idle New England (4-1).
As eager as Detroit is to get its first win, the Bills want to forget about their 40-7 loss to the Bears.
``Can't wait to get back out on Sunday to get that bad taste out of our mouth,'' Bills linebacker London Fletcher said.
Regardless of who team president Matt Millen has had as coach, losing has become as synonymous with Detroit as cars in recent years. Since 2001, the Lions are an NFL-worst 21-64.
``I just believe we're a better team than we've been the past few years,'' cornerback Dre' Bly said, almost pleading with reporters to believe what he was saying. ``It's just different. The mood is different. It's a play here and there that's the reason we're 0-5, but that's why I'm staying positive.''
Jauron understands why the Lions are staying upbeat.
``They're right. They've obviously been really close,'' Jauron said. ``They've done a lot of things right - the ball just bounces in funny directions sometimes and you can't do a whole lot about it except keep struggling, you know? Keep fighting through it. I know there's a lot of character there.''
Fletcher said Detroit doesn't look like an 0-5 team.
``When you look at their offensive personnel, which is what we're focused on, you can see some guys that can make plays,'' Fletcher said.
In spurts, the Lions have made plays under offensive coordinator Mike Martz and have been awful on defense since losing to Seattle 9-6 in the opener. Other than the 34-7 loss to Chicago, the Lions have had a chance to win their other four games, but have found a way to lose.
Quarterback J.P. Losman has led the Bills to victories when he has cut down on turnovers and mistakes. In Buffalo's three losses, Losman has committed six turnovers (four interceptions and two fumbles) and also was sacked for a decisive safety in the 19-17 loss to New England. In the two wins, Losman has not turned over the ball.
Besides taking better care of the ball, Losman needs to forget about last week's loss, which he acknowledged will probably not be erased from his mind for a couple of weeks.
``It was a wake-up call for everybody, especially offensively,'' Losman said. ``We have to be sharp and we can't make mistakes.''
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