Maybe Dan Campbell was right all along. As the newly appointed Detroit Lions head coach in January 2021, Campbell gave one of the more memorable introductory press conferences.
‘Here’s what I do know, is that this team is going to take on the identity of this city. And, this city’s been down, and it found a way to get up. It’s found a way to overcome adversity,’ said the gruff, bearded Campbell, at 6ft 5in a former Lions tight end.
‘So, this team’s going to be built on: We’re going to kick you in the teeth, all right, and when you punch us back, we’re going to smile at you and when you knock us down, we’re going to get up. And, on the way up, we’re going to bite a kneecap off.’
Stirring stuff. And it was easy to mock. After all, the Lions were the Lions. Built in Motor City, Detroit are synonymous with clunkers and non-starters. The Lions are one of four franchises to have never played in a Super Bowl. They are the only NFL team without a playoff win this century; their last post-season victory coming on January 5, 1992.
Under Rod Marinelli in 2008, they were the first team to go winless in a 16-game season. During an uptick in form in the 2010s under Jim Schwartz and then Jim Caldwell, the Lions reached the playoffs three times. And lost all three. The popular Caldwell was sacked and replaced by Bill Belichick disciple Matt Patricia in 2018. His three-year tenure was characterized by calamity and cuss words as he called out – and shipped out – his stars. Unsurprisingly, players despised him and many openly rejoiced when he was fired after three seasons and a record of 13 wins, 29 defeats and one tie.
In came Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes. Then Ben Johnson as offensive coordinator and Aaron Glenn as defensive coordinator. All four men have played a significant part in a cultural shift and change of identity which has rebuilt the Lions.
It is characterized by Campbell, who wears his heart on his sleeve and became a star of the popular NFL behind-the-scenes show Hard Knocks last summer.
Detroit have assembled one of the NFL’s best rosters by picking up a cast of prove-it free agents such as linebacker Alex Anzalone and cornerstone draft picks Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St Brown, Aidan Hutchison and Brian Branch.
They acquired quarterback Jared Goff (the No 1 overall pick of the 2016 draft) in March 2021 in a trade which saw Matthew Stafford (the Lions’ own No 1 overall pick of the 2009 draft) head to the LA Rams.
In 2019 Goff had led the Rams to Super Bowl LIII, losing 13-3 against the New England Patriots. But the Rams wanted an upgrade at quarterback and sent Goff and two first-round draft picks to Detroit. In a classic Lions outcome, Stafford won the Super Bowl in his first season in LA after spending the previous 12 years toiling in Detroit.
Goff’s future at the Lions has always looked uncertain. Never more so than after they began last season 1-6, and the Lions were doing their homework on the standout college quarterbacks CJ Stroud of Ohio State and Alabama’s Bryce Young ahead of the next year’s draft. To all and sundry, their year was over.
But something remarkable has happened since.
In the next 16 games they have won 13 and lost just three. Along the way they have beaten three of last year’s playoff teams. They won this year’s curtain-raiser with a win over the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs – on the road.
Detroit are one of five teams sitting at 5-1. They have won their last four games – all by double-digit margins, to match a franchise record set in 1969.
They have won in different ways, the hallmark of a decent team. One week their offence will put up points, the next they can rely on their defense to keep the opponents’ score down.
Behind a strong offensive line – the unit is ranked No 1 in the league by football boffins PFF – Goff is looking like a savvy veteran. With receivers St Brown and Josh Reynolds racking up almost 800 yards between them already, the Lions have won despite injuries to running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.
So far, that is. On Sunday they travel to Baltimore to face the 4-2 Ravens and their fearsome defense, the No 2-ranked unit in the NFL.
It is the perfect test for Campbell and the Lions – and will surely provide a box-office spectacle this weekend.
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