NFC Northern Division Detroit Lions Shirt. The Old Lions Are Gone, and the New Are Just Beginning. After winning its first division title Sunday since 1993, Detroit coach Dan Campbell and his team may leave a legacy. In the discussion, Detroit coach Dan Campbell told his players they had an opportunity to establish a legacy with a team that hadn’t won a playoff game or league title in 31 or 66 years. “We’ll hit some bumps in the road,” Campbell informed his players. “You were made for that s—.” With two days to break a Minnesota drought, Campbell’s Lions had to show it again. They led 17–7 in the last two minutes of the first half but fell behind 21–17 three minutes into the third quarter after allowing scores on both sides. Lions encountered a problem. It was gut-check time. No one needed to speak. “I wish there was some magic phrase that someone said,” quarterback Jared Goff said from the victorious locker room. However, we operate. We reply. Our teammates are remarkable. They are unaffected by much. We’ve had much worse situations. It was minor. We stop thinking and resume work.” Goff and the Lions put off a 13-play, 75-yard drive with Amon-Ra St. Brown scoring from a yard out to take the lead. For all the emotion—every bit of it justified—Sunday brought to Detroit, the Lions’ win was frigid and workmanlike. It didn’t smell or feel special. Instead, it was a great squad following its coach’s Week 1 strategy. And Goff was correct. Many players had faced considerably worse: The 3-13-1 start to the Campbell era, the 1–6 start last year, and the 38–6 loss in Baltimore earlier this year. They consistently proved the Lions are gone. Every time, they reacted. Better yet, the new Lions appear to be only beginning. Before Sunday, the Lions had not won the NFC North in 22 years. They had no division titles since 1993. Ford Field opened in 2002 and hosted Super Bowl XL without the Lions. The first Michigan one since January 1994 will come now. It could be the Cowboys’ first postseason win since Jan. 5, 1992, when Wayne Fontes upset Jimmy Johnson in his sole playoff loss as coach. Goff did take a minute after Sunday’s game. He was sitting on the visitors bench at U.S. Bank Stadium when third-year safety Ifeatu Melifonwu—who returned with Goff in the Matthew Stafford deal three years ago—picked off Nick Mullens to seal the 30–24 win with 49 seconds left. The stadium video boards showed the play. “It was pretty emotional—cathartic,” Goff says. You get there at the end and feel like we could have won on offense. We finished poorly there. … And Iffy makes our play of the day.” Goff grabbed his helmet and ran onto the field for kneeldowns. Goff then had to identify someone from the Lions’ “Old Guard,” players who predated the present regime and fully understood the franchise’s journey. “I gave [left tackle] Taylor [Decker] a big hug on the final knee, celebrated there and said, ‘You’re a division champ,’” Goff adds. “It felt emotional. It was fun.” Goff had to feel it too. Two years after guiding the Rams to a Super Bowl, signing a huge extension in Los Angeles, and bringing Stafford to the Rams, he was dealt. LA released him, saying he wasn’t good enough. And now he had the ultimate redemption story, leading the Lions to NFL success. But on this day, he didn’t want to talk about the past, which may say the most about how Campbell and GM Brad Holmes have developed the Lions into a tight-knit, gritty team that doesn’t melt in the heat. Perhaps settling the score would have been good. Maybe the Lions will play the Rams in the playoffs. Decker’s expression was superior. “I’m so much more proud of my teammates and all the people that have been here,” Goff adds. “That overwhelms any personal vindication or satisfaction. I’m glad I could do it and participate. Seriously, it’s the guys in this room and locker room. Taylor Decker has eight years and Frank Ragnow six. “I think about those guys and am proud to be the first in a long time to do it with them.” Fourth-down conversion and two touchdowns by Jahmyr Gibbs. After a successful year in the passing game, tight end Sam LaPorta became a blocker. The game’s first 20 minutes saw Brian Branch pick and strip sack. Jack Campbell was everywhere on defense. Four front-line players picked in the first two rounds played most of the plays and were trusted throughout.

Is this the greatest Detroit Lions team in your lifetime? – NFC Northern Division Detroit Lions Shirt:

I understand if you’re still buzzing from the Detroit Lions’ divisional title win this weekend. Breaking a 30-year drought and winning this team’s first 2000s banner deserves a longer celebration. Lions fans are celebrating a historic event. Just ask coach Dan Campbell. In his postgame team celebration speech, Campbell said, “Whenever you do something like what we just did, it’s special.” “Man, it doesn’t matter. They’re special regardless of how many you win. But yeah, when you’re part of the organization and it’s been 30 years since we won a championship, it’s special.” Lions fans have endured much. Lean years are all we know. Sunday was the height of fandom for several younger team fans. Which prompts today’s Q&A: Some won’t say much until we see how this squad performs in the playoffs, which is fair. Some may call Detroit a preseason disappointment if they lose at home in the first round. My opinion is that judging a team by one game is unfair. A single-game elimination competition may not decide the “best” squad. Naturally, I was alive when the Lions reached the NFC Championship Game in 1991, the only time in franchise history. Is this team better? Hard to say. I was five, so I don’t remember how good that team was. However, statistics can show how good that squad was. Only two teams beat the 1991 Lions, who went 12-4. Only one team is better than the 11-4 Lions. The 1991 Lions had an eighth-best NFL point differential of +44. The Lions are +57, seventh in the NFL. The 1991 Lions had a 2.9% DVOA, ranking 13th out of 28 teams. Before MNF, the Lions were seventh in DVOA at 14.6%. However, that famous Lions club was more balanced, scoring ninth and allowing 11th. The Lions are fourth in scoring and 24th in allowing. I think these teams are comparable. I think the 2014 Detroit Lions belong in this discussion too. This is the finest Lions squad I can remember, despite going 11-5 and losing their playoff game in Dallas. Third in DVOA and third in points allowed, their defense was outstanding. Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, and Reggie Bush made the offense dynamic despite its conservatism. Overall, that club ranked 13th in DVOA (+5.4%) and point differential (+39). You may argue that the 2023 Lions team is the best in my lifetime. In the era of modern football, the Lions boast one of the most dangerous assaults, which can take a club far despite their defense. Where do the 2023 Lions fit in to team history? Share your opinions in the comments. NFC Northern Division Detroit Lions Shirt.