Lions 0-8, but Orlovsky's giddy

Football players don't always flash toothy smiles for media guide photos.

Especially if they play for the Detroit Lions.

Dan Orlovsky did this year.

And guess what?

The fourth-year pro quarterback, who never started an NFL game until three weeks ago, is still smiling. Never mind that Detroit lost a fourth-quarter lead and fell 27-23 to the Bears on Sunday. Forget that the Lions still haven't won a game this season.

And, oh, Detroit has agreed to terms on a contract with Daunte Culpepper, who could end up replacing Orlovsky behind center.

"I had a ton of fun today," Orlovsky insisted. "That was the most fun I've had playing ball in a long time. I absolutely love playing for this team, and I know we're 0-8.

"But I will hang my hat on the line every week with these guys. I was telling some of those guys that I know we came up on the wrong end - and that's the bottom line - but I love playing with those guys up front. I absolutely love it."

Orlovsky was loving it most in the first half. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound QB threw touchdown passes of 17 yards to Calvin Johnson and 14 yards to Shaun McDonald, as the Lions stunned the Bears with 23 second-quarter points. While the Lions didn't score in the second half, Orlovsky finished with 292 passing yards (28 of 47).

"I see improvement with him every week," said Johnson, the second pick overall in the 2007 draft, who caught 8 passes for 94 yards. "He's taking control of the huddle. I think he makes some good throws every time he gets in there. He's doing a good job."

Detroit had a chance to pad its lead early in the fourth, but Bears rookie safety Craig Steltz intercepted Orlovsky's intended pass for Johnson at the goal line.

"I just completely did what I wasn't supposed to do," Orlovsky said. "We called the play that (McDonald) scored on. Calvin had a skinny post. I thought I could move Steltz and get the ball to Calvin. Mike (Furrey) was wide open on the sideline. I just tried to do too much."