Lions Joseph Fauria dances in the end zone.
It’s December 16th, the Detroit Lions sit uncomfortably at 7-6, and yet it feels like the Super Bowl is being played tonight at Ford Field. Such is life in the NFC North, football’s haven for mediocrity.
The Lions are in the proverbial driver’s seat. They “control their own destiny,” a freedom that still remains, but by only the slightest of margins after thrilling victories by both the Bears and Packers yesterday. Win the rest and the Lions are division champs; stumble even once, and it is likely another winter spent watching the playoffs from the comforts of 1-A, the designated stub for oversized recliners in the family den.
Success in professional sports ultimately boils down to how well a particular squad can handle a little adversity. Rarely does a season unfold with everything all peaches and cream -- there are injuries, fluky losses, and the requisite half-dozen personal fouls from Nick Fairley.
Some are better at overcoming this obstacle than others. The Lions, for instance, have made a living out of crashing into this hurdle. It’s almost become their calling card. But somehow, even after one win in the last four outings, including an indefensible home loss to the then 2-10 Buccaneers, they are still right where they need to be -- in prime position to capture a crown and host an actual NFL playoff game in three weeks.
The Ravens Are Tonight's Enemy
The Baltimore Ravens are the evening’s enemy. The defending Super Bowl champions have had a rocky campaign, unable to really generate momentum until the last month. They come in winners of three straight, though none of those were against top-level competition. While they sport an identical 7-6 mark to that of the Lions, their performance on the road has been rotten, winning just one time in six opportunities. Yet they stand in the same shoes as their foes in the Honolulu Silver and Blue; win the final three and they go dancing.
So much can change in the span of one football weekend. The Lions steamrolled the Packers on Thanksgiving and the town was buzzing. Ten days later, they got fourth-quarter blitzed by the Eagles and it was back to doom and gloom. This tilt with the Ravens will be the season’s definitive turning point. Take care of business on Monday Night Football and this town will have their playoff tickets printed by tomorrow morning. But find a way to lose, and virtually all hope will be lost; you might keep an eye on the proceedings over the final two weeks, but only because the weather is nasty and there ain’t much else to do.
Oddly enough, the Lions do have a history of taking out powerhouses on the Monday Night stage. In 1994, they went into Dallas and knocked off the reigning champs in overtime. They did it again in ’95 when the trophy-wielding 49ers came to town only to have the 0 and 3 Lions send ‘em packing. This franchise might not be good for much, but they darn sure know how to defeat the previous year’s Super Bowl winner in a night game the following season.
Detroit has always been a football-crazed town. No matter how bad it gets, the fans never go away. They’re the Cubs of the NFL; lose, lose, and lose...there will still be a bandwagon full of optimistic gentlemen in Spielman #54 jerseys showing up to watch training camp next August. But start to win just a little, and the city goes bananas.
With regards to the Lions, it isn’t often that people post frantically to social media sites, “NEED TICKETS FOR TONIGHT! WILL SIT ANYWHERE!! WILL PAY ANYTHING!!!” But such a plea is not uncommon on this day. Ford Field is just one of two current NFL venues never to have hosted a playoff game (FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland), and the possibility of that fact changing inside of the next 20 days is enough to make the Spirit of Detroit perspire in anticipation.
Tigers Have Owned The Town
The Tigers have owned the town for the last half-dozen years. The Pistons had center stage before that. And every time you look up, the Red Wings are raising a new banner to the rafters. The Lions are yet to have their moment.
A victory over the champs will not bring them a fancy ring or a clinched playoff berth, but it will go a long way toward the possibility of both. It is their opportunity to forge a new path and wash away the frustration of the past month.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it had to start at some point.
The Lions’ journey to the playoffs begins tonight.
