Detroit Lions close out their 2018 season in big way

The Detroit Lions finished the 2018 season with a shutout – a statement win – over the Green Bay Packers creating positive momentum for the new year.

The way the Detroit Lions finished the 2018 season is something fans have been looking for all year. The team walked onto Lambeau Field and crushed the Green Bay Packers. This victory wasn’t meaningless, or very costly at all. It was more glorious than anything else.

The Lions hadn’t shut out the Packers in 45 years. And they did it in Green Bay, to boot. When the game clock hit zero, the final score was 31-0. The type of victory that can make a statement to the rest of the league…if it hadn’t come in Week 17 after both teams were out of playoff contention.

This win came against a division rival that has historically caused the Lions trouble. As such, moving down from the number five overall draft pick to the number eight overall pick is nothing. Draft picks aren’t guaranteed to be great players. I really shouldn’t have to remind Lions fans about the busts this team has selected in the top 10 picks.

Gaining a ‘W’ against the Packers, no matter what time of year, and in shutout fashion, does more for the fanbase than ensuring a higher draft pick. It energizes fans that have longed to see the Lions beat division rivals on a regular basis. This is the fourth straight win over the Packers, after all. And it was awesome to see.

Sure, the golden boy for the Packers, quarterback Aaron Rodgers, was injured and not playing the majority of the game. Injuries happen and you can only play against the players that are on the field. It doesn’t make this win any less impressive. Just ask Cleveland Browns fans if any win this season (or in the past four seasons in their case) was meaningless.

They all matter. To the fans and to the players in the locker room. And to the ownership and to the coaches and everyone else in the organization still fighting for their jobs. I mean, “you play to win the game.” Right?

And now, looking into the future, the mentality of every player still on the roster next year is, “We can dominate the Packers in Green Bay. We’ve done it and can do it again.” Don’t underestimate the psychology of the game. Ending with a loss would have had the opposite effect for players and fans, alike.

The win prevented the “same old Lions” talk. The team didn’t roll over because the playoffs were out of reach. They battled and destroyed a division rival on the road. I’ll take that kind of performance at any time of the year. I’m a fan that wants to see the team win whenever possible and not constantly hoping for better things in the future.

That’s what losing to get a better draft pick is all about – hoping for a better future. I’ll take the win today and I’m sure every player in a Detroit Lions uniform would tell you the same thing. Nobody likes to lose.

So, heading into 2019, the Lions have positive things to build upon instead of disappointment and complete failure. This team will look different with new players and most likely some new coaches, but they can look at Week 17 and say, “Let’s keep doing that. Let’s keep shutting people out and dominating on the field.” After all, they just did it. They can do it again.