It’s been quite the season for the Detroit Lions.
Most wins in 30 years? Check. Division title? Check. Home playoff game? Check. Playoff game win? Check. NFC title game appearance? Check.
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Between finally having a dominant rushing attack, several Pro Bowl selections, beating Matthew Stafford in the playoffs and being in the final four teams left in play for the Super Bowl, the Lions have exorcised all of their demons. Well, almost all of them.
There’s one more thing plaguing this franchise dating back to 1957, their last championship. They haven’t ever been to the Super Bowl.
The Super Bowl era dates back to 1967. The only teams who haven’t at least been to a Super Bowl are the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans and of course, our Detroit Lions.
Yes, the Lions are entering the NFC title game vs. the 49ers with house money. If they lost, which Vegas seems to think is very likely, the season will still be measured as a major success. And most fans will feel good about the future of the franchise, no matter what happens.
But let’s not take this for granted. The Lions have only been in this position one time, back in 1991, and they lost -- big time. And they never made it back, until now.
I’m sure fans in 1991 thought, oh well, we’ll be back next year! We’ve got Barry Sanders!
The Lions need to grab this opportunity by the horns and get themselves to Vegas in two weeks, because the future is never guaranteed, no matter how good you think the team will be. It’s incredibly difficult to win in the NFL. It’s even harder to win in the playoffs.
As a fan, I’ll be happy with the season regardless of what happens tonight. But making it to the Super Bowl would make this season truly historic.
Better yet, let’s win the whole dang thing.