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Ranking every Detroit Lions team from the last 25 years (15-11)

By Payne Schanski

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 08: Calvin Johnson #81 of the Detroit Lions carries the ball as Nate Allen #29 of the Philadelphia Eagles defends on December 8, 2013 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 08: Calvin Johnson #81 of the Detroit Lions carries the ball as Nate Allen #29 of the Philadelphia Eagles defends on December 8, 2013 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images /

11. The 2013 Detroit Lions

Record: 4.5

2013 still haunts me for what should have been. I still can’t piece together how exactly this thing went so far south, but 7-9 after a 6-3 start (and with an absolutely loaded offense) makes this pound-for-pound the most disappointing Lions season I can remember.

Achievements: 1

  • Calvin Johnson’s 329 receiving yards in the classic “Fake Spike Game” against Dallas.
  • Running backs Reggie Bush and Joique Bell each had 500 rushing and 500 receiving yards for the season
  • Compared to what they were capable of, this Lions team accomplished next to nothing

Star Power: 8

  • Prime Calvin Johnson, earning first team All-Pro
  • Prime Ndamukong Suh, earning first team All-Pro
  • RB Reggie Bush, making good as a free agent pickup, with over 1,500 yards from scrimmage

HOW WAS THIS TEAM NOT BETTER??

Entertainment Value: 8

  • Not only were the Lions legitimately good, but the NFC North title was handed to them on a silver platter when Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler both went down mid-season. Somehow, Jim Schwartz’s final team spilled the platter. Despite 4th quarter leads in every game in the second half of the season, Detroit lost six out of seven down the stretch, missing out on everything.
  • Even so, 2013 was undeniably entertaining…the Fake Spike, the Snow Bowl in Philly, Thanksgiving revenge on Matt Flynn, and even Justin Tucker‘s 61 yard dagger at home on Monday Night all stand out in my mind when thinking of that year.

Final Score: 21.5

Ranking every Detroit Lions team from the last 25 years (10-6). dark. Next

CLICK HERE to continue as the countdown enters the Top 10 (10 through 6), where we’ll finally recap some winning seasons, a few playoff appearances, and get closer to revealing the greatest Lions season of the past quarter century.

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