*Sidenote: This is a long, winding piece. I wrote this only for my own reflection as a fan of the Lions for the first 10 years. I guess you could call it my Christmas gift. You don't have to read it, but if you do, thanks for reading.*
I was only 6 when I watched (or at least remember) my first dose of Lions football. It was 2001, the first year of the soon to be awful tenure of Matt Millen as the Lions GM. The Lions weren't very good that year - 2-14, to be exact - but I knew they were my team when, as the 0-12 team, they beat the Vikings by a FG to get their first win of my time watching them. I was beyond excited that they managed to win one, even if it took them 14 weeks to do it. The irony is that we weren't able to witness the final minutes of the win, due to our television going out, so we had to celebrate with the radio broadcast.
With that being said, every year from that point on I had optimism that the next year would be better then the previous one. Maybe it was just me being young and naive, I'm not sure, but I always had hope. As it turns out, the Lions didn't improve much for the next few years, fluctuating between 3, 5, and 6 wins. There were some highs, such as beating the Packers on Thanksgiving in 03 (their last win on Thanksgiving as of today) but it was more lows (Marty Mornhinweg taking the wind in OT against the Bears instead of the ball, Joey Harrington, of all people, getting revenge on the Lions by beating them on Thanksgiving). Through the first 6 seasons, I experienced 72 losses (compared to only 24 wins), numerous awful streaks (longest road losing streak), many terrible draft choices (Harrington, Charles Rogers, Roy and Mike Williams), and 4 different coaches.
However, then came along 2007. The Lions drafted the highly touted receiver out of Georgia Tech (aka Megatron; the one good pick Millen ever made), a very potent offense with the mad wizard Mike Martz as the OC, and a capable veteran QB (Jon Kitna). I had hope, although dampered expectations since this was a team coming off a 3-13 season. But then, to begin, there was the first glimmer of hope and excitement I've had as a Lions fan for the team to be in the playoff hunt. They were 6-2 at the halfway mark, were coming off a romp of the Denver Broncos, and it was thought that, at worst, they should go 4-4 and get a playoff spot for the first time in 8 years. Alas, the Lions showed me (and all saying they'd make the playoffs) by going 1-7 in the 2nd half of the season, clinching another losing season (although not 10+ loss season). Sure, it was a disappointing end to a promising start, but I figured with a few good draft picks and free agent signings this team could stay strong and go late into the season as a playoff contender. They were finally seeing the light and were gonna enter it...
And in comes 0-16. Let me tell you, I've witnessed some tough breaks as a sports fan (the previous 6 years of Lions football; my first 2 years as a Tigers fan (coincidentally around the same timeframe); MSU footballs collapses to UM and others during the John L. Smith era) but nothing was a bigger punch in the gut, kick a man when he's down move when the Lions final game was up against the Packers and '0-16' chants started. They were not only the laughingstock in NFL circles, but their futility was even talked about by late night talk shows, etc. In Michigan, you didn't wanna say you were a Lions fan because that would make you a subject of ridicule. It just wasn't a fun subject to bring up since there was so much wrong with this team. My brother, who was just as/bigger of a fan as I was, flipped teams and became a Steelers fan. While I never stopped cheering for them every Sunday, my excitement was dwindling and my patience was running out. Thankfully, the Lions finally cut the cord on Millen (which was a few years too late) and a new regime came in.
The first time I heard Jim Schwartz talk in an interview (I believe it was a PTI 5 minutes segment) I knew we landed the right guy. While Schwartz was saying some of the things that his predecessors said, it felt like his words meant more. Why? I'm not sure. Just a got feeling, I guess. Then they drafted Georgia QB Matthew Stafford as their first pick under new administration. While some thought they should go O-Line or even after the 2nd QB taken (Mark Sanchez), I remembered Stafford from his bowl game that year against MSU and he played pretty well. There were concerns about his accuracy, but I took blind faith with these guys because, simply, it wasn't Matt Millen making the pick.
The first season was rough, not surprising due to the turnover of all the poor talent. Still, watching the 2nd win they had that season (only on the Red Zone channel due to a blackout) it was the moment I realized the Lions had something special with Stafford. While he made some rookie mistakes, which wasn't surprising, that game against the Browns showed me what we previously didn't have - a young QB that's got the talent and balls to go come back and win us a game. I vividly remember him leading the team down the field, getting killed on a pass (which turned to be a PI and untimed down) and Daunte Culpepper coming in to try and throw the GW TD pass. But wait, the Browns burnt a TO, which allowed Stafford to come back in. While he was clearly hurt, he was gonna be the guy to win it or lose it for the Lions. Stafford took the snap, fired a fastball into a tight window to our other 1st round pick (Brandon Pettigrew) and the Lions were on the right side of a win for once. For him to come back in and throw the GW TD, from then on I knew we had a worthy QB. While that was their last win of the season, they yet again were trending slightly up.
The following year began with promise against Chicago, only for 2 disheartening moments to happen in the game - Stafford got killed by Julius Peppers in the 2nd quarter on a blindside hit (which would sideline him for a good few weeks) and 'The Process' rule (which still leaves a bad taste in my mouth). From there, the Lions began 2-10, and it appeared to be another lost season. The team was bad, the QB was hurt, and the fans didn't seem to care. But for some reason, this team didn't mail it in in December. I was there on December 12th when they took on the Packers, a team fighting for a playoff spot. Being lead by 3rd string QB Drew Stanton, the game had a feel of 35-17 coming. But then the unthinkable happened, the defense held the potent Packer attack to 3 points through 3 quarters and they had backup QB Matt Flynn in. Drew Stanton finally got them in the end zone, on a TE screen to Will Heller. While it was only 7 points, 7 was enough and the Lions actually knocked off a legit playoff contender at home.
I thought it was a fluke, but then I was treated to another win the following week, a 23-20 overtime victory over ANOTHER playoff dreamer - Tampa Bay. Those 2 wins were great, and the following 2 were icing on the cake. While it was only 6-10, it was clear this time that the team didn't give up and, with a few more acquisitions and healthy QB, could be a darkhorse playoff contender in 2011. This season had legitimate playoff aspirations, although it seemed a lot of things would have to go right.
And at first, they did. Matthew Stafford, while battered and bruised, never blinked an eye and stayed on the field for all 15 games. They somehow pulled off 2 20 point comebacks in a row on the road, something unthinkable by the Patriots, let alone the Lions. Then once they stomped on the Bears on Monday Night Football, their return to football relevance, this team seemed like it would cruise into the playoffs. However, this is the part where I have to remind you that this is the Lions we're talking about, cruising is not an option. First there was 'handshake-gate', which was slightly overblown by the media and was no big deal as it was only loss #1. Then the loss turned into 2 against the Falcons, and after a blowout over the Broncos the Lions were 6-2 at the bye and in good position (similar to 2007). However, following the bye, the Lions were embarrassed by the Bears and it was the thought of 'here we go again'. After their defeat of the lowly (at the time) Panthers, everything seemed settled and it was time for the big showdown against the undefeated defending champs, at home, on Thanksgiving. For once, the Lions were the main attraction. But then 'The Stomp' happened, which caused the Lions to be blasted by the media for being an immature, reckless team. The following week against the Saints didn't help the matter, with 3 different players being fined (to my count). At 7-5, you sensed a collapse coming. It was a young team that finally experienced some hard times, and with some games against teams who were in the playoff hunt as well, it looked like the Lions would fold and we'd have to 'wait till next year'. The Lions, though, squeaked out a 6 point win over Minnesota (which was a gift due to a facemask on the last play, not that I was complaining). Then came the Megadrive (13 point comeback in 1/2 a quarter at Oakland) to give them their first winning season during my time as a fan. With 9 wins, these guys had a simple objective - win one of your last two, preferably the first against San Diego at home, and you're in.
The Chargers were making their late season push, though, and just came off a massacre of the AFC favorite Ravens. While some people were picking us, Philip Rivers was hot and it would be a tall task to stop their offense. I didn't see the first half, but I was getting updates that they scored. Then they scored again. And again. And one more time for good measure. It was 24-0 at half, and the Lions looked to be on their way to the playoffs. But hey, it's the Lions, so expect the impossible. The Chargers went down and scored a TD to tighten it up. I thought fine, Staffords been great all day, just get him the ball and they'll take it down the field. Silly me, Norv Turner had a trick up his sleeve, and the Chargers pulled off an onside kick. They took it all the way down to the 3 before settling for a FG. While it was a 2 TD game with around 20 minutes left, you felt this was one of those games where the Lions would lose, the teams chasing them would win, and the Lions would have to try to win in Lambeau Field in Week 17, where they haven't won since my oldest sister was born (1991).
But then the Lions showed why they weren't your 'same ol' Lions'. Stafford methodically took them down the field and Kevin Smith ran it in from 6 yards out to put them up 21. After they got a 4th down stop on the ensuing drive, I could almost taste the playoff berth. Then the time ran down, the Chargers waved the white flag, and I saw the first gatorade bath for a Lions coach that was really worth something. After all the pains I suffered watching this franchise, I finally saw success. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. It was an early Christmas present, for sure. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. I'm still smiling right now. I know I've rambled on here for over an hour, but I just wanna show my gratitude for these guys finally grabbing the game by the horns and running with it. I know they won't see it, but me typing it makes it feel like they know how I feel. While it might seem pathetic that a 16 year old is typing a novel on how he's experienced a lot of downs of the crappy team he supports in only a decade of cheering for them, I don't really care. I love sports. I love the pride that I take in my teams. I'm not afraid to show it. I ride the highs high and the lows low. Do I take sports too seriously? Yeah. What those guys do with a ball won't make me a better or worse person in real life. But what sports does is bring me enjoyment and entertainment. A thrill. It gives me unity with fellow fans. I stuck through these guys when they were laughed at (although it was tough to show fandom then) and now I feel it's paying off. And finally, after 12 long, dreadful years, I can say that the Detroit Lions are coming back for a shot at the Lombardi Trophy.
Merry Christmas everyone.