Although the Lions used to be the NFL’s punchline, now the joke is on everyone who doubted them. In recent years, many Detroiters knew just how bad the Lions were, even becoming the first team to finish a season with a 0-16 record in 2008. But what has changed to better them, and what was it that was holding them back?
The old coach, Matt Patricia, was one of the reasons for the team’s struggle. He had been said to be very rigid and had a bad attitude towards the players. This led to conflicts with the players and lots of trading. Another coach who was detrimental was Matt Millen, who got the job in 2001. His limited experience as only a linebacker hindered their ability to make draft decisions and strategies.
Even though most would say 2023 was the season where they most improved, they actually started to turn things around in 2021. In the 2021 draft, two significant players were gained. One being Amon-Ra St. Brown, and even though he was a fourth-round draft pick, he has proved to be one of the most reliable players, especially for quarterback Jared Goff. The other vital new player was Penei Sewell, who was even ranked the highest offensive lineman in the NFL top 100 by his peers. These two new outstanding players helped the team start pivoting to victory.
The team has also implemented new plays and strategies to lead them to victory. They have significantly changed the defensive line by adding new recruits and re-signing successes from their past. They also gave the offensive line top priority while continuing to have a stacked lineup. One of the most helpful strategies by far is the running game. It is known for its ability to be unpredictable through misdirection and zones. Sophomore Jacob Showalter said, “I think we really improved our run play and diverse play calling.”
Fans have often voiced their support and loyalty, which they believe was a key factor in the Lions’ improvement. The loyalty of Detroit’s fan base never strayed. Even during the disappointing seasons, the cheers were always the same. Sophomore Evan Mccullough shared, “I think the fans have helped, it’s always loud in there.”
Overall, although the Lions had many struggles through the years with coaching and bad seasons, they eventually broke out of their losing streak by subtly fixing their issues. They started strategically using their draft picks and seeing potential. Changing players as well as plays and focusing on certain areas of difficulty. Many other things have been credited to their newfound success, even the fans, but with all these things combined, they have finally begun to give the people of Detroit hope.
