Who remembers when opposing fans loved a trip to 8 Mile town because they were assured a W? Just 5 years ago, the Detroit Lions went 0-16, that’s right they didn’t win a single game! They scored on average 16.75 points per game while giving up 32 points aka the Offense ranked 27th while the points allowed was the worse in the league that year. As a matter of fact, Detroit was last in the league in most categories that year.
Who remembers when opposing fans loved a trip to 8 Mile town because they were assured a W? Just 5 years ago, the Detroit Lions went 0-16, that’s right they didn’t win a single game! They scored on average 16.75 points per game while giving up 32 points aka the Offense ranked 27th while the points allowed was the worse in the league that year. As a matter of fact, Detroit was last in the league in most categories that year.
In 2009, Coach Jim Schwartz and #1 draft pick Matt Stafford came on board and they won 2 games with similarly horrible points difference of – 232. Offensive rankings did not improve that much whereas defence continued to stink..pheeewwww dead last.
2010 was the breakthrough year. The team that was dead last on defence and whose offense was ranked 30th in 2008 ended 2010 with a 6-10 record and a point difference of – 7!! They continued on that trajectory in 2011 and rode that wave all the way to their first Playoff appearance in 12 years. Though they lost the Wild Card race against New Orleans, the team had improved drastically. 2012 had shades of the old Detroit Lions with defence ranked 27th on points allowed and point difference of -65.
The 2013 season is hit or miss so far. While defence is still lagging in the bottom half of the league, offence is clicking. The 3 games they have won were somewhat comfortable while they lost a squeaker against Arizona. With 4 weeks into the league, Detroit is holding third place in the NFC with Chicago Bears on win percentage but holds the tie-breaker. But its early days yet bigger test are on the way.
One such is coming up next….Green Bay! It’s been 22 meetings between Packers and Lions(19 in the fabled Lambeau Field) with the cheese-heads UNDEFEATED in all 22 match-ups. Unlikely you say? Well Detroit is riding on a high of snapping another long held losing streak against the Redskins, it was a nearly 68 year winless drought!
My old coach had always said winning is a habit just as much as losing is a habit. Detroit muscled through a big mental challenge to beat the Redskins but do they have enough of that grit left to tackle another one this Sunday? Which Lions team will take the field, the 2008 or the 2011? Will Calvin “Megatron” Johnson continue to defy gravity and Reggie Bush continue to weave magic? I’m going to get my snacks ready; chips, dips and beer….light beer as I’m on a diet.
Writer: Shauna Douglas
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