NFL – Detroit, from the mocked dunce to the roaring Lions

It’s a recurring joke in the United States. A diversion of an image of Lion King. We see young Simba sitting next to his father, Mufasa. Both look into the distance. “Dad, what is that place over there, in the shadows?“, asks the son.”It’s the Super Bowl, no Lion has ever been there“, replies the father. The famous Disney cartoon was released in 1994. The joke worked ten years ago. It is still the case today. In reality, the Lions, those of Detroit, have never took part in the Super Bowl, the NFL’s grand finale, the first edition of which took place in 1967.

Only four franchises are in this case. But the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans arrived in the 90s and 2000s respectively. Only one other “historic” team, present since the start of the Super Bowl era, is still waiting its turn, the Cleveland Browns. Over the decades, Lions supporters have become accustomed to mediocrity, in a city which has nevertheless experienced its share of glory in other major disciplines of American sport.

The Detroit Pistons, in the NBA, have won three crowns (1989, 1990, 2004). The Tigers have won the World Series twice since World War II, in 1968 and 1984. As for the Red Wings, if they have fallen into line, they shone brightly in the NHL, especially in the 90s and 2000s . There, we don’t joke about hockey. Detroit is also nicknamed “Hockey Town”. The Lions, in the midst of all this, have more often than not aroused mockery or consternation. Until recently, they could even be considered the worst team in NFL history, with only one small game won in the playoffs in more than half a century. A misery.

But everything has changed since last year. The Michigan Lion suddenly emerged as a league stronghold. Detroit scored two victories in the playoffs and reached the American Conference final. It all ended badly, with a heartbreaking defeat against San Francisco while Dan Campbell‘s men led 24-7 at halftime before stalling. The first Super Bowl was there, very close, before slipping away. The disappointment was immense but the hope and ambition are definitely there now. This season, the team is progressing (7 wins, 1 loss) and thinking big.

So, how does a fan of a team like this live over time? Is he getting used to mediocrity? Is he jaded? Angry ? Fatalist? “This is a very good question for someone like me, who grew up in a family of Browns fans, although I switched to the Lions quite quicklyhe tells us. I think we are collectively lowering the bar of what gives us satisfaction.”

So, here, people take advantage of every little clearing. They are content with little. Sometimes their happiness means making others unhappy. “Beating the Packers at the end of the 2022 season to deprive them of the playoffs and making Aaron Rodgers leave Green Bay a loser, these are the kinds of things that Lions fans savored, rather than experiencing hours of glory in the playoffs“, admits Jeff the journalist.

Detroit has not lacked individual talent, however. Stars. Geniuses, even, sometimes. Another source of joy for followers. “Having stars like Barry Sanders (one of the greatest running backs of all time, NFL MVP in 1997, Editor’s note), Calvin Johnson (formidable receiver, nicknamed Megatron) or Matthew Stafford (emblematic quarterback of the team between 2009 and 2021) made some seasons frustrating but with incredible highlights and moments of pride“, continues Jeff Risdon.

Talent, great players, the Lions have seen some come and go, it’s true. But they never took the team to the top, or even among the best teams in the League. Worse, when Stafford left for Los Angeles after twelve years of loyal service, he immediately won the Super Bowl with the Rams. To say that all of Michigan harbored a certain bitterness with a very yellow smile is an understatement.

But the tide is turning. The 2023 campaign propelled Detroit among the leaders of the League and if the defeat in the conference final was hard to swallow, the team restarted at the same tempo the following year. Only the defending champion Kansas City, still undefeated (8-0) is doing better for the moment. However, two and a half years ago, the Lions were the worst team in the League. The recovery has been spectacular.

“In a way, it’s surprising, but the NFL is a league where everything can turn around very quickly, according to Jeff Risdon. The franchise had the intelligence not to make a sudden decision after certain disappointments. Staying faithful to the vision of general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell was decisive. Their belief in what they wanted to do is the fundamental reason why the team is so good now. The owners understood this and didn’t hesitate when things didn’t go well at first, which is rare.”

Continuity is too rare a virtue. Too many franchises want everything, right away. “Detroit has chosen a different path than most teams by focusing on developing its talents with coaches capable of teaching, coachingnotes the editor-in-chief of The Lions Wire. The staff is made up of former players recognized as leaders and intelligent people during their careers, such as LB coach Kelvin Sheppard, offensive line coach Hank Fraley and QB coach Mark Brunell, among others. Lions are somewhat unique in this approach.”

Result, the carbide attack. Jared Goff has fun behind a remarkable offensive line, notably with receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, one of the most prolific in the country. The defense relies in particular on the talent of its defensive backs, Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. She lost big with the serious injury to Aidan Hutchinson, out for the season, but even in his absence, the squad remained solid, even if his presence was missing in the pass rush.

Above all, after winning 19 of its last 25 regular season matches, the team seems to have a self-confidence that can carry it far. The Lions have notably just signed three victories on the road against the three other teams in the NFC North, Green Bay, Dallas and Minnesota. Impressive. “I feel like we can beat anyone“, proclaimed Dan Campbell. All said without boasting, but stated as a simple observation.

“I’ve said it many times: these Lions can win any game against any team, anywhere. That doesn’t mean they will, but they can. Right now, no other team in the NFC can say the same“, confirms Jeff Risdon.

Like everyone in Michigan, he now dreams of seeing the Lions experience their first Super Bowl. Even if it’s almost hard for him to imagine it. Not to mention a title…”It’s hard to fathom such a scenario…Generations of Lions fans, from the most casual to the most die-hard, would come together and celebrate. It’s already meaningful to see supporters displaying their pride in public or online, building a real community at a time when our country is not really good at that in general…“There is definitely something happening in the land of the Lions, ready to become kings of this jungle that is the NFL.