Detroit (4-8) will travel to play the Rams (4-8) in a relatively insignificant game Sunday.
Caldwell, though, insisted the latest setback didn't sting more than the others.
With Detroit leading the Packers 20-0 midway through the third quarter of a prime-time game, a lot of people could see just how much things had improved. But the Lions let the lead and the game slip away.
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Lions coach Jim Caldwell is doing his best to look forward as Detroit's hopes of making the playoffs fade, refusing to rehash his team's disheartening loss to Green Bay on a Hail Mary.
"I know oftentimes, everybody kind of points to the fact, 'Well, you know, what are you playing for?'" Caldwell said. "These guys started playing this game, we started coaching this game, long before we knew we'd be at this particular stage. We did it because we love the game, did it because we love to compete and these guys are exactly the same way."
Until falling to the Packers,China Jerseys Free Shipping, Detroit hadn't lost since team President Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew were fired. And, the Lions were 3-1 with new offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter before getting beat by Green Bay.
"We've got to finish four games strong," Detroit safety Glover Quin said. "Like I always say, you can never know what happens. You've got to play them out and see how it turns out then."
Why did the Lions anticipate a lateral-filled final play, leading to them putting some defenders out of position — somewhere between the line of scrimmage and end zone — and keeping jump-ball specialist Calvin Johnson on the bench?
Why did the Lions rush Aaron Rodgers with just three players,Wholesale China Jerseys, none of whom was Ezekiel Ansah,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, giving the two-time MVP quarterback time to scramble and buy time to make a 61-yard pass on an untimed down?
"They all cut deep," he said. "They cut deep the second game of the season,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, the third game of the season, the fourth. I think this team's been battle tested mentally. They've gone though some very, very difficult times. And for them to hang together and play the kind of football we've played the last quarter, I think it's kind of a testament."
"It might not be appeasing to you or appealing to you, but the fact is that you have to get focused in on St. Louis in a hurry," Caldwell said.
"Some of you will ask me questions about last Thursday," Caldwell said Monday,Cheap NFL Jerseys, the first time he faced reporters since his postgame news conference. "I'm not going back there."
Those questions, and more like it, will be left unanswered by Detroit's coach.
The Lions had won three straight before losing to the Packers 27-23 on Thursday night, blowing a 20-0 second-half lead.
"We can't feel sorry for ourselves," Lions receiver Golden Tate said. "What's done is done. Just move forward and continue to grow. That's all we can do."
Caldwell insisted he and his players won't be thinking about their future with the franchise, which is led by impatient owner Martha Firestone Ford, when they finish up the season by facing St. Louis, New Orleans, San Francisco and Chicago.