by
Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit Lions official photo)
After an endless series of injuries, the Detroit Lions find themselves returning to a status they feel most comfortable with: Underdog.
Let’s face it, while the fans and team were a bit giddy being a favorite to win it all – and being talked about as America’s team -- it never felt right. Let Kansas City or Philly be America’s team (Dallas already sits in the dust bin of America’s favorite teams). The Lions’ are Detroit’s team, and that’s just fine. They’re about Grit. They’re about representing Detroit’s Blue Collar persona.
With so many injuries, it just feels right to be underdogs again, knowing that even Sunday's Chicago Bears game isn’t a sure thing. The team will only fight harder for every victory from here on out, and if they win, it’s likely to be with last minute touchdowns or field goals. The offense will also have to make sure it scores a lot of points to offset the deficit on defense.
Whatever happens, fans can’t look at the season as a failure if the team falls short in the playoffs. It has been an amazing run, particularly for lifelong fans who never dreamed this once-sorry franchise would be considered a contender for the Super Bowl.
In the end, it’s only a sport, and a brutal one at that. But this team has offered a welcome distraction from this year’s contentious politics and war -- if at least only momentarily.
And it’s really created one big family in the city and beyond –family that worries and talks obssessively about the health of its players like Aidan Hutchinson, David Montgomery and a whole lot more. The fans are all in emotionally. (Some fans should have that same concern for their own family members’ health.)
The players, Coach Dan Campbell, General Managers Brad Holmes, have become heroes in the community at a time where people are desperate for heroes.
At 12-2, the Lions are already winners. Nothing they can do this season will change that.
And the fans, too are winners, having been treated to some amazing football this season, not to mention the fiery and entertaining post-locker room talks from Dan Campbell.
For the fans, for the players, Underdog is just fine.
We’re unpretentious Detroiters, and Underdog is really how we roll best.
