The Detroit Lions have had one of their best seasons yet, tying their franchise record with a regular season record of 12-5.
The Lions tied with the San Franciso 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys, for the best record in the National Football Conference after a win over their division rival, Chicago Bears. On Jan 14., the Lions won their first playoff game since 1992
Lions head coach and former player, Dan Campbell had the vision, and the players had the drive. Campbell has been the head for three years and in his first year, the Lions ended with a record of 3-13-1.
The city of Detroit seemed to have lost hope, though Campbell never did. In an interview he stated, “When you knock us down, we’re gonna get up, and when we get up, we’re gonna bite a kneecap off.”
Now, in the 2023 regular season, he led the team to one of the best records in the National Football League.
One of the key factors in this season's success was wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown brought in more than 1,500 receiving yards paired with 10 touchdowns.
Reportedly, what motivates St. Brown is a notebook he keeps that lists the names of the 16 wide receivers that were drafted before him.
“I read it every day three times,” St. Brown said during a prior media session.
With the Lions having a team full of young players their rookie tight end Sam LaPorta has gotten the job done.
LaPorta has been the definition of young talent for the Lions offense. He leads the NFL in touchdowns and finished fourth in receptions for tight ends this season.
Along with St. Brown and LaPorta, the Lions quarterback Jared Goff is the main man that has led his team to the overwhelming success and excitement.
Goff had been traded to Detroit from the Los Angeles Rams the same season that Campbell became the head coach. Dually, the 12-year quarterback for the Lions, Matthew Stafford, was traded to the Rams.
Goff has now put his time with the Rams behind him and is beginning to heat up with the Lions. He was ranked the second-best quarterback in the NFL for passing yards this season and fourth in touchdowns.
With Goff leading the high scoring offense and the stellar defense that follows, the Lions seem unstoppable and so does the city of Detroit.
Detroit has come together as a community to support its Lions.
“I know that Detroit is made up of great people,” Campbell said during prior media availability. “This community is strong.”
In the playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, fans were seen crying at the sight of the win.
The 60-year ticket holders now have a reason for their never-ending support for their Detroit Lions.
Even after the long-anticipated victory over Tampa Bay, the Lions season was cut short due to a loss against the San Francisco 49ers on Jan. 28.
Though the Lions did lose, fans can agree that this was one of the best seasons that they have ever watched and would not have had it any other way.