Reggie Bush Says Lions Have To 'Get Out Of Our Own Way' To Win On Thanksgiving
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
DETROIT (CBS DETROIT) - Dropping from 6-3 to 6-5 with two mistake-laden losses in two straight weeks, the Detroit Lions put themselves in a tight spot for Thursday's Thanksgiving matchup with the Green Bay Packers.
Dismayed refrains of "same old Lions" filled the airwaves, newspapers and social media after Sunday's loss to what was a 2-8 Tampa Bay team, but running back Reggie Bush takes a much more optimistic outlook on the situation.
"I honestly believe our record doesn't speak for itself," Bush said. "We're a lot better team than our record shows. We have gotten in trouble when we've gotten in our way. There hasn't been a team that's really just stopped us. We've stopped ourselves.
"Once we get out of our own way," Bush added, "you're going to see a great team."
What makes the team solid, according to Bush, is how various positions are gelling in the locker room.
"I feel like our chemistry every week has been going up," Bush said. "That's something that you really can't see from a fan's perspective, something that's kind of in-house, chemistry between me and Stafford and between Stafford and receivers and the running back and the offensive linemen and the way we block and all that stuff."
Despite all the speculation this week about whether there was a rift between Bush and quarterback Matthew Stafford, who did not publicly back up Bush's post-game assertion that the Lions needed a team meeting, Bush says the relationship between the two is fine.
"We were practicing all day, we were having a good time," Bush said. "We were high-fiving each other and pounding each other. There's nothing there. Me and Stafford are cool, man."
The Lions will certainly need both Bush and Stafford at their best as they try to win the team's first Thanksgiving game since 2003. After years of watching the Lions play on the holiday, Bush looks forward to participating for the home team.
"I know how special it is and I know how much it means to the city and how far it dates back in history," Bush said. "This game started in what, the 1930s? That's a long time. A long of guys that have come before us have paved the way for us to be here, so we've got to do it the right way."
As special as the game is, though, it might not top what happened Sunday, when the Lions brought the family of Marine Corps Captain Josh Munsee onto the field, showed a video message from Munsee and then brought Munsee - who had just completed his third deployment to Afghanistan - running out to meet his wife and children.
"I seen a couple guys tearing up," Bush said with a laugh. "Big Joe Fauria, he was definitely tearing up. I caught him tearing up... It's such a heartfelt, warming situation. I'm not going to lie. I got a little choked up too, but it was really cool to see something like that."
