After more than 30 years of setbacks and disappointments, The Detroit Lions They won a playoff game again. During that time, two Hall of Fame players retired without a single postseason finish, the first 0-16 mark in NFL history, and a title. Matthew Stafford As soon as he puts on another uniform.
Lions They beat Stafford and the Rams 24-23 on a night where fans seemed to make up for the 32-year wait. With an electrical environment that reaches 118 decibels (similar to an airplane turbine)and such figures Barry Sanders, Calvin Johnson and Eminem In the tribunal. But by then it had been three years in the making.
The Lions are the laughing stock of the NFL
Despite being one of its oldest NFL franchises, the Lions have had little success throughout their history. Detroit is one of four teams not to reach the Super Bowl. In fact, their only national conference championship game appearance was in the 1991 season, when they were crushed. 41-10 for Washington.
Since then, they've had some scandalous moments that have become hallmarks of the franchise. Among them, the following are most memorable:
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On July 27, 1999, Barry Sanders At age 31, he announced his retirement without warning. Sanders had 1,458 yards Walter Batten.
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In the 2008 season, the Lions would change First team to lose all 16 games in a season.
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That same year, in a scrimmage against the Minnesota Vikings, Dan Orlovsky He ran out alone from his own end zone when he felt pressure from Jared Allen. Minnesota won 12-10. That defense made the difference.
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The Lions lost games in incredible fashion. from Justin Tucker kicking Long field goal of history (66 yards) until 2021 “Ave Maria” by Aaron Rodgers 2015, preceded by a penalty on the previous play, other incredible defeats.
Arrival of another coach
Three years ago, at the presentation Daniel Campbell As the head coach of the Lions, some viewed him with optimistic eyes. After all, Campbell had little success as a player, and his coaching credentials weren't particularly impressive.
After five years on the Miami Dolphins staff, a 5-7 record as interim head coach in 2015, and four years as tight ends coach and assistant head coach with the New Orleans Saints, Detroit sought him out to turn the franchise's fortunes around. .
In a well-received press conference, many doubted his ability to lead a team. How many coaches used phrases like “kick you in the teeth” or “bite your knee” before — or after — Campbell?
On the field, his style is similar: aggressive. No coach has played more fourth downs than the Lions.But the team seems to have taken the same cue, off the board, into the field.
Creating a competitor
What Dan brought up with the general manager Brad Holmes It was a plan. Detroit opted for a new rebuild, but this time with the draft they are ready to put the team first and enter the club's new culture.
Holmes traded veteran Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams. Jared Goff He doesn't get along with the staff in Los Angeles. In Detroit, the University of California graduate has restarted his career and has become the face of Detroit's offense.
They also attracted some big free agents CJ Gardner-Johnson, Cam Sutton and David Montgomery, who contributed on both sides of the ball. The coaching staff has two coordinators: Brian Johnson on offense and Aaron Glenn, who could be sought out as head coach once the season ends.
Talent and youth for lions
However, the draft has been their main source of talent. Holmes has been correct in such selections Benny Sewell, Amon Rao St. Brown, Sam Laporta, Jahmir Gibbs, Aidan Hutchinson and Brian Branch, among others. Of the 23 players selected by Holmes and Campbell, 22 are still with the Lions and most are contributing on the field.
St. Brown and Sewell were first-team All-Pro selections this year, while rookie tight end LaPorta was a second-team selection. Laporta is having a historic season and is one of Goff's favorite weapons. Branch is a candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year, while Hutchinson has become a nightmare for opposing offenses.
The Lions chose a different path, far from offensive “gurus” or a quick fix through free agency, and everything points to a bright future in Detroit after a long wait.
