The afternoon hosts of the native sports activities speak radio present had been in settlement: if the Lions do not win the Tremendous Bowl, the season can be a failure.
Even taking part in within the greatest American sporting occasion for the primary time in 58 years would not be sufficient?
Then they took a name from a fan. “Obtained to confess,” the caller mentioned, “if they do not win it, I will be devastated.”
Welcome to Detroit within the winter of 2025, the place the obsession over town’s lengthy downtrodden NFL franchise has kicked into overdrive.
Because the staff begins its playoff run, the followers’ expectations are via the roof of Ford Area. The native information stations may as effectively be renamed “The Lions Information And Leisure Networks.” Jared Goff chants are as prevalent as snow squalls.
Although GM Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell have constructed a roster and tradition that ought to final for a number of seasons, there’s an “all or nothing” feeling to this postseason. After the Lions got here achingly near the Tremendous Bowl final season, squandering a 17-point halftime result in San Francisco within the NFC Championship recreation, there is a perception all through the group and state that that is their 12 months.
Holmes set the bar even earlier than the season started when requested about his expectations.
“For this season?” he mentioned. “Win the Tremendous Bowl.”
So, can the Lions truly pull off this feat? Completely. They’ve been the category of the NFC, using an offense that produced an NFL-high 33.2 factors per recreation.
There are two main considerations for the top-seeded Lions as they head into their divisional matchup with Washington on Saturday evening: accidents and strain.
Whereas their offense suffered comparatively few vital accidents, their protection was decimated. The Lions had 13 defensive gamers on injured reserve originally of the month.
The largest loss was celebrity cross rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who sustained a damaged leg resulting from “pleasant fireplace” within the fifth recreation of the season. There is a longshot probability Hutchinson may return if the Lions make it to New Orleans.
Defensive deal with Alim McNeill, the participant who collided with Hutchinson, is out for the season resulting from a torn ACL. Defensive finish Marcus Davenport, linebackers Derrick Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez and cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Khalil Dorsey are a few of the different vital gamers on injured reserve.
The accidents caught as much as them in mid-December when Buffalo gouged that unit for 559 yards and 48 factors within the Lions’ second loss.
Detroit acquired a key participant, linebacker Alex Anzalone, again from a damaged arm in its regular-season finale. That, and a masterful recreation plan from defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, allowed the Lions to diffuse Minnesota’s offense and declare the NFC North title and high seed.
A much-needed bye week allowed a few of the Lions’ strolling wounded to get again for the playoffs, most notably working again David Montgomery. He injured his knee in the course of the loss to the Payments.
Not that the Lions offense suffered a lot with out him. Goff, apart from a weird five-interception outing at Houston, has commonly picked aside defenses behind the league’s greatest offensive line. Montgomery’s working again accomplice, lightning-quick Jahmyr Gibbs, leads the NFL in touchdowns.
The broad receiver group is headed by All-Professional Amon-Ra St. Brown and deep menace Jameson Williams. Defenses additionally must account for tight finish Sam LaPorta and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s seemingly infinite provide of trick performs.
The Commanders, regardless of their uber-talented rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, do not appear able to sluggish Detroit’s juggernaut. Potential NFC Championship matchups with Philadelphia or the Los Angeles Rams would, on paper, pose a lot larger challenges.
The Eagles have a high-powered offense of their very own behind 2,000-yard rusher Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts. The Rams, led by longtime Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, almost knocked the Lions out of final season’s playoffs. They’re going to have expertise coping with the raucous Ford Area crowd.
That is the place the strain half is available in. The Lions confirmed resilience and toughness all through the common season. Can they deal with the burden of overwhelming expectations when adversity strikes in a do-or-die scenario?
One factor’s for positive: if they do not, there can be an infinite letdown and loads of devastated followers.