9. The 2017 Detroit Lions
Record: 6
All things considered, this was a solid nine win season. As Jim Caldwell’s subsequent firing showed though, 9-7 is no longer the goal in Detroit.
Achievements: 6
- Season sweep over both the Packers and Bears
- 5-1 record in NFC North games
- Secured a winning record for the second year in a row, and 4th time with Matthew Stafford at quarterback
Star Power: 6
- Matthew Stafford, without huge numbers or accolades, but with one of the best seasons of his career
- CB Darius “Big Play” Slay, shutting down opposing receivers and earning first team All-Pro
- WR Golden Tate, without the same magic from 2014 and 2016, but still good for 1,003 receiving yards
Entertainment Value: 5
- This edition couldn’t possibly match the week-by-week hysterics induced by the 2016 squad
- Kenny Golladay 4th quarter catches against Arizona in the opener 1 gave us an early glimpse at the future highlight machine
- Nearly erased a 35 point deficit at New Orleans in an obscenely entertaining 15 minute stretch
- Golden Tate’s reverse pass to Matthew Stafford to close the season was a play so good that the Eagles won the Super Bowl with it a month later
- Did the Lions really just fire their coach after a winning season?
- Yes they did
Total Score: 23