NFL
By: Greg Rector
I wrote in my season preview article that the Detroit Lions would win the NFC North with an 11-6 record. However, I didn’t see them as winners of the NFC Championship. The “All-Grit” Detroit Lions aren’t finally going to the Super Bowl. The only team from the Super Bowl era to never play in a Super Bowl game won’t face the hard task of knocking off Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid as the Detroit Lions will not play the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Sorry Cleveland Browns fans but your second franchise doesn’t count.
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell
“We’re gonna kick you in the teeth, and when you punch us back we’re gonna 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. We’re going to stand up, and it’s going to take two more shots to knock us down. And on the way up, we’re going to take your other kneecap, and we’re going to get up, and it’s gonna take three shots to get us down. And when we do, we’re gonna take another hunk out of you.” When he was introduced as the Detroit Lions head coach, Campbell was laughed at when he said those words. Today Campbell’s, Detroit Lions did exactly what he said his team would do.
So for all those who laughed at Dan Campbell, it’s time to eat some crow. That includes me because I laughed at his statement. No longer am I laughing at that statement. It’s been a wild and crazy ride from season one where the Detroit Lions were 0-10 and even last season when they were 2-6. Good on the owner Sheila Ford Hamp and general manager Brad Holmes to not panic and fire Campbell.
Dan Campbell went for the first down twice in this game once on 4th and two and in the 4th quarter on 4th and two which has been his calling card and both attempts failed. Instead of tying the game at 27 in the fourth quarter. Then the San Francisco 49ers were able to march down the field and chewed up the play clock.
Detroit Lions Lost
After scoring 24 points and making the San Francisco 49ers defense look foolish in the first half the Lions lost their momentum and they lost the game. It’s not unsual to lose a big lead in the NFL playoffs anymore. The Lions looked liked a team that was going to the Super Bowl and then the wheels fell off. Once Jahmyr Gibbs lost the fumble and the Niners recovered the football their offense went to work and Christain McCaffrey scored to tie the game at 24 all in the third quarter I knew the Detroit Lions wouldn’t be playing in Las Vegas.
Once the moentum was lost it wasn’t coming back for this young Detroit Lions roster. This wasn’t supposed to happen after the first half the Detroit Lions played. This is a learning experience that Dan Campbell will need to use positively with the Lions in the 2024 NFL season.
One play can turn around any game and when Brandon Aiyuk caught the football after what could have been an interception went off the Lions defenders facemask that’s the minute I knew the Detroit Lions weren’t going to the Super Bowl.
The 2023 NFL season was a great season for Detroit football. It will be interesting to see what the Lions do especially with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson leaves for being next Washington Commanders head coach.
Super Bowl
As a Dallas Cowboys fan I have to hope and pray the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers. We’ll see what happens in Las Vegas.
