I find you standing outside Ford Field on Sunday. It’s snowing. It’s cold. You are ready Detroit Lions gear.
“You know there’s no games today, right?” I ask.
“Don’t be an idiot,” you reply.
I look around. The parking lot is closed. The streets are empty. Ice has formed on the wicket.
“Let’s go, let’s read” you scream. “Let” go, Li-ons! Bum-bum, bum-bum-bum! “
“Why are you doing this?” I say.
“Getting into the spirit,” you respond.
Well, we all know this spirit. A karma that has energized the city since the Week 1 kickoff against the Los Angeles Rams. THE Lions Won that game, in overtime, in front of a nationally televised audience, and we were on a magic carpet ride to Dreamland.
The Lions cruised to 15-2, the best record in the NFC, a No. 1 seed and a first-round bye.
Then, last Saturday, they were gutted by a group of guys in the uniforms of Washington commanders.
The magic carpet threw us. Dreamland revoked our ticket.
“There is no game today,” I repeat.
“Yeah, there is,” you say.
“No, there isn’t.”
“Yeah, there is.”
“No.”
“Yeah.”
“No.”
“Listen, buddy. I have a schedule here. NFC Championship. January 26, 2025. Isn’t it today?
“Yes, but –”
“Let’s go, Let’s go!”
Oh, boy.
Hard lesson learned
Now, don’t get me wrong. We all wish it were that way. We’ve been planning a Super Bowl ever since the Lions shocked the world and made the NFC Championship last January, after posting their first two playoff victories in 32 years. But they lost that title game, surrendering a 24-7 halftime lead to the San Francisco 49ers.
“It’s okay,” he said. “We didn’t expect to get this far! Next year we will go even further!
Unfortunately, that’s what a lot of cities are saying. Cincinnati said so, when a last-second field goal kept the Bengals from the Super Bowl two years ago.
They haven’t been back to the playoffs since.
San Francisco said so, after the 49ers lost the Super Bowl to Kansas City in overtime last year. “It’s okay, we’re going to win it all next year!”
They went 6-11 in 2024 and finished last in their division.
The truth is the Lions gave us a wonderful season and a maddening offseason. It’s a hangover that won’t go away – for them, and for me, and you.
Which may explain why you just pulled a Lions helmet over your head.
“I think Jahmyr Gibbs has 100 rushing yards today,” you say.
“He won’t have one.”
“Why would you say that?
“He’s not playing.”
“Don’t tell me he’s hurt! Not another one! “
Oh, boy.
Injuries? Yes. An ice rink has fewer injuries. The lions broken legs, forearms, elbows, even a jaw. There were hamstrings, ankles, knees, pectorals. At one point we considered changing the official Lions colors to “the silver and blue tent.”
“I hope our defensive line holds up,” you say, shaking a pom-pom. “I’m sure Aaron Glenn will have them ready.”
“Uh, yeah,” I said. “About Aaron Glenn…”
“But even if we give up a lot of points, Ben Johnson will keep us ahead.”
“Yeah,” I said. “About Ben Johnson…”
“We win today and we’re in the Super Bowl!”
“Yeah,” I said. “About the Super Bowl -”
“Ja-Red-Goff!” Ja-Red Goff!
Oh, boy.
Shawn Windsor: Lions can’t sit PAT after record-breaking season – especially at this key position
Lions less than their mountain peak
It will be difficult to watch The Super Bowl. It’s hard to look at anyone representing the NFC and not think about how Detroit could beat them, if given another chance. The Lions had the best scoring offense in football. And aside from that collapse against Washington, a defense that managed to stand up on big occasions.
But if 2024 has taught us anything, it’s that it doesn’t matter how you play during the regular season, as long as you peak in January.
The truth is the Lions probably peaked in November, when they beat Jacksonville, 52-6. Then Alex Anzalone got injured. Detroit beat a weak Indianapolis team, then watched a bad Chicago team come back to within three points in the fourth quarter.
They needed a last-second goal to get past Green Bay, then got done deep by Buffalo and lost David Montgomery, Alim McNeil and Carlton Davis III in the process, three critical starters.
They beat Chicago thanks in part to two Bear fumbles and 10 Bear penalties. They outplayed San Francisco, but gave up nearly 500 yards of offense.
And in their last real hurray, they rallied to extinguish Minnesota’s challenge to their divisional crown, torturing Sam Darnold and winning, 31-9.
Turns out it was their mountain peak.
Just not on the highest mountain.
So now, as Shakespeare would say, comes the winter of our discontent. There will be debates about who the new coordinators should be, who the Lions should sign in free agency, who they should take in the draft.
But all that amazing And drang will be a poor substitute for what we – and they – really – really do, which is to play another game. Let these lions lace them up one more time.
Which, come to think of it, might explain what you do outside of an empty stadium, in the snow, with your face painted.
“There’s still no game today,” I said.
“There is if you believe,” you say.
“He’s not the Wizard of Oz.”
“Then why are you acting like the Scarecrow – with no brains?”
“I am -”
“Why are you acting like the Tin Man – heartless?”
“Well, I –”
“You should act like the lion. With courage. »’
“But, I –”
Suddenly the door opens. A security guard appears. For a moment I wonder, “Was I wrong? Was it a bad dream? Are Lions still alive? Does the magic carpet still fly?
“You models better come inside,” the guard said, “you’ll freeze in there.”
“Great!” You exclaim, gathering up your Sports Fox sign. “We can be first in line for the beer!”
Oh, boy.
Mitch Albom: A Letter to the Gridiron Deities from Disheartened Detroit Lions Fans
Contact Mitch Albom: [email protected]. Check out the latest updates with her charities, books and events at Mitchalbom.com. Follow him @Mitchalbom.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions made us believe. Now a maddening hangover sets in
