After decades of disappointment from the Detroit Lions, it’s understandable that fans might be skeptical. Many long-time fans even believed the team was cursed. After all, this is the same franchise that’s never been to a Super Bowl. It took over 30 years to return to the NFC Divisional Playoff. Perhaps fans don’t see what’s special about these Detroit Lions.
What’s So Special About These Detroit Lions?
Just like the Boston Red Sox had the Curse of the Bambino, the Lions suffered a legendary curse, courtesy of Bobby Layne, their embittered former quarterback. Layne was so furious about being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers that he declared it would be fifty years before they won a championship. Layne wasn’t far off. The curse has finally been lifted but it’s taken 65 years.
That Was Then…This Is Now
The Lions have had great players in the past with Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson. But unlike Lions teams of the past, this crew isn’t dependent on any one individual player. The once cellar-dwelling Lions are coming off a historic 2023 season that saw the team come within 30 minutes of reaching the Super Bowl. But there’s still work to be done.
However, any fans doubting this special team isn’t capable of accomplishing more would be mistaken. As coach Dan Campbell has preached, this is a team with grit. When they get knocked down, they get back up. If the team finds themselves behind late in the game, nine times out of ten, they’ll find a way to turn the tide. The offense abruptly downshifts to another gear and they find creative plays to win the game.
In the Lions’ 42-29 victory over Seattle, Jared Goff was perfect on the night, 18/18 for 292 yards and a receiving touchdown! Goff’s best pass of the game was a 70-yard touchdown bomb to lightning-fast wide receiver, Jameson Williams.
The Lions Special Heroes
But Goff wasn’t the only hero of the night. This was a team effort worthy of multiple game balls being distributed by the coach. Amon-Ra St. Brown, David Montgomery, and Jahmyr Gibbs all played a huge role in the offense’s scoring. St. Brown proved again that he is every bit as talented throwing a football as he is receiving. St. Brown’s perfectly timed “Sun-God Special Delivery” to Goff was a thing of beauty.
Once again, Montgomery looked like Marshawn Lynch with his “Beastmode” moves as he dragged a crew of Seattle defenders across the field. With two rushing two touchdowns, Gibbs proved as slippery and elusive as an eel to the Seattle defense.
Another factor that makes this team special is the fact that if one player is limited or isn’t at his best, someone else steps up. The sheer depth of athleticism makes it hard for opposing defenses to cover all the targets at once. Someone is bound to get open and that’s when the magic happens.
When Seattle attempted a late-game comeback with less than two minutes remaining, our defense took control. Perfectly positioned in the endzone, Kerby Joseph grabbed his third interception of the season that gave the Lions the victory.
Detroit Lions Special Teams
One of the things that makes this team so different has been the consistent playmaking ability of the special teams. Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp has done an extraordinary job of preparing players with a game strategy that doesn’t merely complement the offense or defense but one that stands on its own to create scoring opportunities.
Punters tend to be one of the unsung heroes of the team. Rarely is a punter singled out for making game-changing plays. But Lions punter Jack Fox is getting a great deal of well-deserved praise. In week 3, Fox was named as the NFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week. During the Lions’ 20-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, Fox punted five times, and three of those punts forced the opposition to start from inside their 10-yard line. Another punt landed the Cardinals inside their 20-yard line. Fox’s final punt of the game was a 68-yard shot straight into the end zone.
Catching the Opposition Off Guard
It was a stunning example of a punter making plays to give the defense a clear advantage. When an opposing offense is forced to start at the two-yard line, there’s a lot of ground to make up before reaching the end zone. While Fox’s ability to deliver precision kicks that pin the opposition deep in their territory is game-changing, that’s not the only skill he brings to the game. A week earlier, Fox set the NFL on notice that he is a dangerous weapon with a football in his hands.
In the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Lions were forced to punt from their 20-yard line. Instead, Fox launched a 17-yard throw to rookie Sione Vaki who made the first down reception. This is not Fox’s first successful fake punt for the Lions. Fox has been the Lions’ punter since 2021 and has been called upon several times to deliver a precision throw.
Another Special Weapon
Another valuable special teams player is field goal kicker Jake Bates. Bates had a relatively quiet night on Monday. With the Lions scoring touchdowns at will, there was no need for his field goal prowess. But Bates’ ability to provide 6/6 extra points was significant. Additionally, the Lions have confidence in knowing that his long-distance kicking talent provides them with another option in 4th down scenarios.
The victory over Seattle was a hard-fought game that required the entire team’s best effort. Everyone stepped up and delivered. Perhaps, best of all, the Lions reported no additional injuries following Monday night’s routing of Seattle. They head into the bye week 3-1, and second overall in a tough division. It finally, looks as if this special Lions team has all the elements in place to reach the Super Bowl this year.
Main Image: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
