It is hard out there David. Us Lions fans have known very little of this misery (usually the misery is just misery and without any chance of winning)...being so close, yet so far (usually we are just so very very far...). The game in hand with 30 min to go, dropped passes on key plays, INT's off facemask deflections, questionable coaching decisions, Brock Purdy's scramble after scramble, the fumble...it goes on. This one will take a while to get over....but we are hungry and will fight on another day to bite that other kneecap.
Yes, welcome to the Vikings Paindome! Gary Anderson field goal, Brett Favre errant throw, the list goes on. The same choice, the same result twice, has to be a record in and of itself...the Lions own that all by themselves rather than a last minute meltdown. There should be some solace in that.
Growing up a lions fan, we nearly had nothing to root for. Making the playoff with Megatron and Stafford was a win in our books. Living in Buffalo the past 8 years has displayed a special kind of heartbreak. Detroiters are known for our toughness though. We fought through the Tigers 10 plus years of World Series hopefulness, Pistons embarrassing organization since roughly 2008, and the Red Wings holding relevance for the first time in a decade. I am proud of this Lions team as they had brough back a sense of pride to the city I am not sure I have seen in my lifetime. Gut-wrenching... no doubt. With that being said, it was fun to finally have a dog in the race.
As a life long Detroit fan this one stings doubly hard but I believe this team will learn from this. Some changes (not all welcome) are bound to happen in the off season. BTW - you nailed it! I had looked at flights and my brother had the Venetian rezy secured! 🥲
I always used to say being a Detroit Lions fan is the easiest thing in sports one win a season could even be viewed as a success. Now this does really hurt, you hit the nail on the head. It’s interesting the one year we won’t have a high draft pick the draft is in Detroit...
That's the kind of loss that damages the foundation of fandom. My dad is 74 years old and he still winces in visceral pain any time someone mentions the 1964 Phillies and Chico Ruiz. I feel for Lions fans today.
This loss stings more than if they had made it to the Super Bowl and lost. The Lions have never been to the dance. They played a magical 1st half yesterday, the 2nd half...not so much. I can tell you there is a fog here in Detroit, a hang over if you will. Everyone had Lions fever. The chanting of Jerod Goff at other sporting events, even high school basketball games, 62k fans at Ford Field to watch the game on TV. It was fun while it lasted. Now back to reality.
Well David, you wrapped it up as mercifully and sympathetically as you could. As a lifelong Lions fan, I can only say " at least they're not the Pistons"
As a Vikings bobo I should have been thrilled a few weeks back when the Packers Jordan Love squandered a cheesehead playoff comeback. Instead, his across-the-body, over-the-middle INT was nothing in the end but a trigger. “F*ing Favre,” is all I said as the 49er dback raced around the field - looking to me like a 2009 Saint. But it’s football, and we love it.
I feel like this was written just for me. A complete and brutal collapse in the second half left me bleary for most of the day. Here’s hoping we can take better advantage of the opportunity in 32 years, when we play in another NFC Championship game.
Dave, I’m not a football guy at all (in laws are 49er faithful to the point Catholic mass is involved), but thank you for rendering our national nonsense sport in reasonably legible terms to the rest of the world. Hoping and losing are universally human endeavo(u)rs.
The Vancouver Canucks are finally a great team again, for now. History says they have a 3 year window of winning every 15 years. Still hunting for Lord Stanley. The best part is you never know when the winning is going to end, so you have to savour it... or is that the worst part?
I would love to hear your perspective of the most unique club in all of the NFL- The Dallas Cowboys. What club are fans in there? I am reminded of the Darryl Hannah argument with Charlie Sheen in Wall Street- I am paraphrasing- once you have money and it is taken away, it would have been better if you never had it at all- and then Charlie yells- oh yeah- well that is bullshit! As he breaks his beer against his designer wall. But seriously , how can you reconcile the most valuable, glamorous, well branded team that has only lost for 30 years and basically being the biggest tease in all of sports!
It is hard out there David. Us Lions fans have known very little of this misery (usually the misery is just misery and without any chance of winning)...being so close, yet so far (usually we are just so very very far...). The game in hand with 30 min to go, dropped passes on key plays, INT's off facemask deflections, questionable coaching decisions, Brock Purdy's scramble after scramble, the fumble...it goes on. This one will take a while to get over....but we are hungry and will fight on another day to bite that other kneecap.
Yes, welcome to the Vikings Paindome! Gary Anderson field goal, Brett Favre errant throw, the list goes on. The same choice, the same result twice, has to be a record in and of itself...the Lions own that all by themselves rather than a last minute meltdown. There should be some solace in that.
Growing up a lions fan, we nearly had nothing to root for. Making the playoff with Megatron and Stafford was a win in our books. Living in Buffalo the past 8 years has displayed a special kind of heartbreak. Detroiters are known for our toughness though. We fought through the Tigers 10 plus years of World Series hopefulness, Pistons embarrassing organization since roughly 2008, and the Red Wings holding relevance for the first time in a decade. I am proud of this Lions team as they had brough back a sense of pride to the city I am not sure I have seen in my lifetime. Gut-wrenching... no doubt. With that being said, it was fun to finally have a dog in the race.
As a life long Detroit fan this one stings doubly hard but I believe this team will learn from this. Some changes (not all welcome) are bound to happen in the off season. BTW - you nailed it! I had looked at flights and my brother had the Venetian rezy secured! 🥲
The reservation secured! Oh no! Sorry to hear it. Get that deposit back.
I always used to say being a Detroit Lions fan is the easiest thing in sports one win a season could even be viewed as a success. Now this does really hurt, you hit the nail on the head. It’s interesting the one year we won’t have a high draft pick the draft is in Detroit...
It's tough. No way around it. Can't believe the draft is in Detroit.
I’m from NYC, no skin in the game, but this Substack could be a metaphor for life itself.
That's the kind of loss that damages the foundation of fandom. My dad is 74 years old and he still winces in visceral pain any time someone mentions the 1964 Phillies and Chico Ruiz. I feel for Lions fans today.
As a tortured Toronto Maple Leafs fan, I feel for the Lions fans out there. Welcome to the club!
All hail Felix Potvin!
This loss stings more than if they had made it to the Super Bowl and lost. The Lions have never been to the dance. They played a magical 1st half yesterday, the 2nd half...not so much. I can tell you there is a fog here in Detroit, a hang over if you will. Everyone had Lions fever. The chanting of Jerod Goff at other sporting events, even high school basketball games, 62k fans at Ford Field to watch the game on TV. It was fun while it lasted. Now back to reality.
Well David, you wrapped it up as mercifully and sympathetically as you could. As a lifelong Lions fan, I can only say " at least they're not the Pistons"
As a Vikings bobo I should have been thrilled a few weeks back when the Packers Jordan Love squandered a cheesehead playoff comeback. Instead, his across-the-body, over-the-middle INT was nothing in the end but a trigger. “F*ing Favre,” is all I said as the 49er dback raced around the field - looking to me like a 2009 Saint. But it’s football, and we love it.
The good news: every day takes us closer to the moment the Vikings win the Super Bowl...
I feel like this was written just for me. A complete and brutal collapse in the second half left me bleary for most of the day. Here’s hoping we can take better advantage of the opportunity in 32 years, when we play in another NFC Championship game.
Dave, I’m not a football guy at all (in laws are 49er faithful to the point Catholic mass is involved), but thank you for rendering our national nonsense sport in reasonably legible terms to the rest of the world. Hoping and losing are universally human endeavo(u)rs.
The Vancouver Canucks are finally a great team again, for now. History says they have a 3 year window of winning every 15 years. Still hunting for Lord Stanley. The best part is you never know when the winning is going to end, so you have to savour it... or is that the worst part?
Great write up, as usual!
I would love to hear your perspective of the most unique club in all of the NFL- The Dallas Cowboys. What club are fans in there? I am reminded of the Darryl Hannah argument with Charlie Sheen in Wall Street- I am paraphrasing- once you have money and it is taken away, it would have been better if you never had it at all- and then Charlie yells- oh yeah- well that is bullshit! As he breaks his beer against his designer wall. But seriously , how can you reconcile the most valuable, glamorous, well branded team that has only lost for 30 years and basically being the biggest tease in all of sports!