Top 9 Moments in Detroit Lions History

Nov 24, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field. Tampa Bay won 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Since everyone else who writes about the Lockout league is busy putting together their top ten list of anything that matters to its fan base, I felt it’s time to put down in print my favorite moments in Lions history.

Making the list was hard–it was AWFULLY hard to come up with positive moments for a franchise that has only won ONE, count ’em ONE, playoff game in most of our lifetimes. It’s so easy to come up with a list of the things that went wrong with this franchise that one wonders how this team is able to retain any fans at all!

My guess is that gullible people like myself just love the sport so much that rooting for the home team is as natural as bitching about the local politicians. The love of the sport, I think, comes from the way this sport mimics war more than any other sport on the planet. Kill or be killed. How can you not love that?

I decided to honor the new administration by including only nine of the top moments in Lions history and no, that’s not all I could think of. I firmly believe that this franchise is poised for a run of success that this city hasn’t seen for over fifty years. This rebirth started in 2009 when the Lions brought in Martin Mayhew, who hired Jim Schwartz, who in turn drafted Matthew Stafford, who chose number 9 to wear while resurrecting the Lions to glory.

At least one great moment is reserved for what is to come. In the meantime, here are my top nine.

Next: Moments 9-6