Detroit Lions

Ladies and Gentlemen, today's post is dedicated to the Detroit Lions, whose 44-7 victory over the Denver Broncos put them at 6-2, in 2nd place in the NFC Central behind the Green Bay Packers.

6-2. Sweet Baby Jesus.

I know this season probably won't or can't amount to anything, but John Kitna was a laughing stock when he said this team was capable of putting up 10 wins this year. Now, it's VERY early to predict a 4-4 finish (at worst) for a 10-6 record, but the fact that it's even within reach after 8 games in is amazing. Amazing. Let me tell you why.

I have been a Detroit Lions fan my entire life. The last time the Lions won a playoff game was in 1991. They then lost in the NFC championship to the Washington Redskins, 41-10. I was 6 years old, and I don't remember this. In 1993, 1994, and 1995, the Lions made the playoffs, losing each time in the first round, twice to the packers, and once in a crushing defeat to the Eagles. I have vivid memories of the loss to the Eagles, 58-37.

At that point, the prolific offense held by the Lions for years began to deteriorate into the team that I have followed and cheered for for the entirety of my teenage and adult years thus far. They made the playoffs again in 1997 and 1999, losing both times in the first round, again. After the 1999 season, Barry Sanders retired at age 30, tired of playing for a losing organization. All of the fans, including myself, were shocked - yet we continued to support the Lions. In 2000, despite losing Sanders and our head coach, we somehow managed to put together a 9-7 record (though we didn't make the playoffs).

That was the last time I saw the Lions with a winning record, or anything even close to a winning record.

2001 - 2-14, Going 0-12 to start the season.
2002 - 3-13
2003 - 5-11
2004 - 6-10
2005 - 5-11
2006 - 3-13

After countless top draft picks, poor front office moves, and little to no noticable desire from ownership to put a winning product on the field (or on the roads, as Ford Motor Company continues to go downhill), seats in our brand new stadium remain full of fans who are waiting for what they honestly believe might never happen.

Waiting for a winning team. Sellout after sellout, watching blowout after blowout, hoping that sometime, maybe by accident, the Lions would start winning.

It is 2007, my friends, and the Lions are 6-2 after 8 games. I'm not talking about playoffs, I'm not talking about the superbowl (god no - they've won 1 playoff game since the superbowl was created over 40 years ago). I'm talking about the fact that we are 2 wins away from a .500 season, 3 wins away from a WINNING season.

Steps have been made in the right direction. We're far from a great team, we're probably not even a good team, but we're FINALLY moving in the right direction. The key will be avoiding a complete collapse next season. CONSISTENT improvement is the key. Because, if anything, the Lions are certainly consistent.

If the Lions somehow make the playoffs this year, and make it to the superbowl and defeat the New England Patriots in a close game, I will never watch football again. Never. And with that, I leave you with the Lions fight song:

Forward down the field,
A charging team that will not yield,
And when the BLUE and SILVER wave,
Stand and cheer the brave:
RAH! RAH! RAH!
Go hard win the game!
With honor you will keep your fame!
Down the field and gain,
A Lions victory!

GOOOOOOOOOOOO LIONS!!!!!!!

(Roar)