Just a few years ago, a Detroit Lions fan would likely be ecstatic to hear that their team will be playing in the Super Bowl in 2024, but they might also find it hard to believe. The only team in the conference finals that missed the playoffs the previous year is the Lions.
In the NFC Championship, the No. 3 Lions and the No. 1 San Francisco 49ers will square off at Levi’s Stadium. The Niners advanced by defeating the No. 7 Green Bay Packers in the divisional round after receiving a bye during Super Wild Card Weekend.
Detroit is worthy of this. The last time Lions supporters had seen a playoff victory was 32 years ago, until this season. It’s an extended period of time. Their first home playoff victory since 1991 came in the wild-card game against the Los Angeles Rams. Fans have shown a great deal of patience.
After defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Lions won two playoff games in a single season for the first time in 67 years. For the last instance, you have to travel all the way back to 1957.
Since at least 2018, Detroit has come together in support of the Lions and has shown up in force, generating boisterous scenes at Ford Field and paying the highest amount for a wild card ticket.
Celebrity admirers are displaying up to each game to hype up the fans and the environment they’ve created is one that’s hard to root against.
Dan Campbell, the head coach, is undoubtedly a distinctive figure who also has some distinctive sound bites.
“We’re going to kick you in the teeth, and when you punch us back, we’re going to smile at you, and when you knock us down, we’re going to get up, and on the way, we’re going to bite a kneecap off” is one of his most famous sayings.
And that’s only one example of many that he has. The players and the fan base have embraced his approach, and it is obvious that whatever he is doing is effective. Even though Campbell has only been Detroit’s head coach for three years, his accomplishments with the squad are surely worthy of praise and celebration.
2021 was his first season on the squad; they finished 3-13, finished worst in the division, and had a -142 point difference. The squad finished second in the division and had their first winning season since 2017 the following year, going 9-8. The squad currently has a +66 point differential this season and is just one victory away from playing in the Super Bowl.
Observing the Lions’ ascent has been thrilling. The Lions were last in their division just two seasons ago; from 2018 to 2021, they were in this position annually.
They were 3-13-1 in 2021, then two seasons later, in 2023, they won the NFC North with a 12-5 record. This was their first divisional championship as NFC North members; their last division victory came in 1993 when they were named NFC Central champions. Prior to 2023, the Lions had not experienced a 12-win season since 1991, when they also played in their final playoff game.
The Lions had a losing season less than 20 years ago, so their current position as the favorites to win the Super Bowl represents a remarkable comeback.
Watching them turn things around has been both unexpected and captivating. A team that was in the trenches only a few years ago and is currently in the conference championship is difficult to not support.
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