SideLion Report
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Ranking every Detroit Lions team from the last 25 years (10-6)

By Payne Schanski

21 Nov 1999: Dorsey Levins #25 of the Green Bay Packers moves with the ball as Stephen Boyd #57 of the Detroit Lions tries to get in his way during the game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Lions 26-17. Mandatory Credit: Ezra O. Shaw /Allsport
21 Nov 1999: Dorsey Levins #25 of the Green Bay Packers moves with the ball as Stephen Boyd #57 of the Detroit Lions tries to get in his way during the game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Lions 26-17. Mandatory Credit: Ezra O. Shaw /Allsport /
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Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images /

8. The 2000 Detroit Lions

Record: 6

  • In some ways, the sequel to life after Barry Sanders went even better than the first, with the team improving to 9-7 in 2000. However, anytime your head coach quits with a winning record in the middle of the season (i.e. Bobby Ross), something within the franchise is seriously wrong. It would be one more season before we saw the full extent of that wrongness.

Achievements: 5.5

  • Started the season 2-0, without scoring a single offensive touchdown
  • Thanksgiving blowout win over the Patriots included Tom Brady‘s first regular season action as an NFL quarterback
  • Winning record without Barry Sanders, though hopes of another playoff appearance were dashed on the final play of the regular season

Star Power: 4

  • Desmond Howard, a Michigan legend who had a little magic left in the Honolulu Blue, making a Pro Bowl as a return specialist
  • LB Steven Boyd, not a style that you can really get excited about, but with a 2nd straight Pro Bowl
  • QB Charlie Batch, who unfortunately was the face of the team at this point

Entertainment Value: 8

  • Bobby Ross’s midseason meltdown was a major story, as was the return of former Wolverines Desmond Howard and Gary Moeller
  • Unorthodox in every way, but this team was surprisingly fun
  • A 55 yard field goal by the Bears was the only thing separating this motley crew from ten wins and another chance in the playoffs
  • I had a new stepbrother who didn’t like football, and I mistakenly thought that introducing him to the wonders of the 2000 Detroit Lions would be the cure

Total Score: 23.5

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