We are rapidly approaching the day (Sunday, January 28) when the Detroit Lions play against the San Francisco 49ers for a spot in that big game with the initials S.B. That special game that I am too jittery and superstitious to refer to by name.
I'm old enough to remember when the Lions were in this same position but came up short, so I'm trying not to get my hopes up. If the Lions win on Sunday, it will be one of the top five sports moments of my life, maybe even top three. Hell, it might be number one. I honestly can't even measure it at this point because I can't even imagine how it will feel. Suffice to say it will be tremendous, and for that reason I feel compelled to temper my enthusiasm for now.
Whatever happens on Sunday, it's been a great season for the Lions: a season in which the franchise has already exorcized a few demons. They won their first division title in 30 years and won their first playoff game in 32 years. In fact, the Lions have, thus far, won two playoff games. That's the first time they've won multiple playoff games in a season since 1957.
I feel a bit disappointed that I didn't make it to a game this season, but I was at least at Ford Field in 2022 when there were inklings that the Lions might finally be turning things around. That season, players like Alex Anzalone, Amon-Ra St. Brown, rookie Aidan Hutchinson, and Penei Sewell (to name a few) gave me hope that the Lions could at least be competitive. After a terrible start last season, the Lions were the hottest team in the NFL in the second half and finished the year with a winning record of nine wins, and eight losses. They narrowly missed the playoffs.
This year, rookies Jahmyr Gibbs (running back) and Sam LaPorta (tight end) have made significant contributions. It's heartening and exciting that the Lions' front office is finally making smart draft choices. Consistently bad personnel moves were yet another failure of this organization for decades, with only a few exceptions. Finally, the organization has become more savvy.
In Dan Campbell, the Lions finally have a coach who knows what he's doing. The players all seem to love him and play hard for him. Even though "Dan Gamble" does tend to get a bit too reckless with his on-field coaching decisions, he has tempered that a bit recently.
That leads me to perhaps the single most important reason the Lions have been successful the last few years: Sheila Ford Hamp. When long-time Lions owner William Clay Ford died in 2014, his widow Martha Firestone Ford assumed control. Unfortunately, the organization continued to tread water at best. It wasn't until daughter Sheila took over in 2020 that, at long last, the Lions made smart decisions. Sheila Ford Hamp hired general manager Brad Holmes and coach Campbell. And now, here we are.
The Lions might be ahead of schedule. I never would have guessed they'd be playing for a chance to play in that big final game that shall remain nameless for now. I hoped they'd make the playoffs, and they've already far exceeded my expectations.
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