Disappointment is one word that comes to mind when describing the playoff run of the 15-2, first-place NFC Detroit Lions. After securing the top seed in the playoffs and receiving a first-week bye, the last thing anyone thought was for a rookie quarterback to beat us at home and embarrass our injury-prone defense, winning 45-31. To make matters worse, shortly after the season, both Offensive Coordinator (OC) Ben Johnson and Defensive Coordinator (DC) Arron Glenn left the team to pursue head coaching jobs, along with multiple other position coaches as well. Many small position coaches needed to step up including John Morton as the new OC and Kelvin Sheppard as the new DC.
Even though the Lions took a hit to the coaching staff fans were still excited and hopeful for what can be accomplished this year with many of the previously out defensive stars returning to the lineup. Leading into week one away against the Green Bay Packers, all eyes were on the new defensive and offensive schemes. However, the Lions failed to meet their goals, losing 14-27, with struggles coming on both sides of the ball, including a lack of blocking on the offensive line and a lack of coverage in the man-man defense, making many fans worry about a possible fall-off of success in Detroit.
However, going into week two against the Chicago Bears, the Lions reawakened with intensity and grit, destroying the Bears and winning 52-21 in a statement victory. Although the Lions may have given up a lot of yards passing and a few touchdowns, the offense looked unstoppable with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery both scoring two rushing touchdowns each, bringing life back into the minds of Lions fans.
The next two weeks that followed were more of the same success, beating the Ravens in a thriller, 38-30 and steamrolling the Cleveland Browns, 34-10, proving that nothing had changed with the absence of our coordinators and that we had actually improved what the previous coaching staff could not.
Although the Lions may not be running 10 trick plays a game, and catching deep passes after deep passes, they have grown together as a team in so many ways and continue their dominance week after week.
