ALLEN PARK — Penalties have been a concern for the Lions in recent weeks. It was no different on Sunday when they had nine penalties accepted which cost them 80 yards and possibly the game.

The previous week in the win over the Miami Dolphins the Lions had 10 penalties. In fact, they’ve accumulated 36 over the past four games.

The difference is they won the previous four games. On Sunday the penalties played a factor in the 14-6 loss to the Cardinals.

PHOTOS OF LOSS TO CARDINALS

“Those are a concern, we have far too many penalties. That’s just the honest fact,’’ Jim Caldwell said in his Monday presser. “We have to get it straightened out.

“How do you do it? You just continue to talk about it, you show examples, you make certain you have officiating at practice which we do. You talk about those things in detail. (If) guys are consistent in practice (at getting whistles) you better get somebody else in there to play,’’ Caldwell added.

Rob Sims’ face mask penalty in the second quarter on Sunday took the Lions out of field goal range. 

An interception by Glover Quin in the Cardinals’ first offensive series was negated because of a defensive holding penalty on C.J. Mosley.

“Those are things that make a huge difference. In a game like that is so tight that penalties really jump out at you,’’ Caldwell said “Particularly in the first half we have six, they have none.’’

The Cardinals’ finished with four penalties costing 35 yards.

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