Introduction

As we enter the (potential) 2011 NFL season, it marks the twenty year anniversary of the 1991 Detroit Lions team that came a game away from the Super Bowl. They were nothing more than a joke to those in the NFL, posting winning records in just 19 of their 47 seasons since becoming the Detroit Lions back in 1934. In their modern NFL years they had winning records just 5 times since the AFL-NFL merger.

Detroit came into 1991 in the middle of a drought. The 80’s had brought some success including the teams first playoff appearance since 1970. It also brought the arrival of a player who would not just become the greatest Lion to ever play the game, he became the Lions. Barry David Sanders was drafted with the third pick of the 1989 NFL Draft. 1991 was his third season as a back and already he was making his mark on Detroit. Sanders had already rushed for 2774 yards and 27 touchdowns entering 1991. He was the talk of the NFL for his on-field humility and flashy playing style. But it was clear the Lions needed to click more as a unit, rather than rely solely on the flashy young Sanders to win games.

In an effort to boost the offense, Detroit spent their first roundpick on a wide receiver from Virginia: Herman Moore. The Lions hoped the 6’4” receiver could boost the offense and serve as a weapon for quarterback Rodney Peete, in his third year out of USC, as well as add a dimension to make Sanders and his game more potent.

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