The Detroit Lions look no closer to a Super Bowl appearance

The Detroit Lions did not play well in the 2018 season. The Super Bowl seems even more out of reach now, than it did a year ago.

With the completion of Super Bowl LIII this past Sunday, the off-season officially begins for the Detroit Lions and the rest of the NFL. The Lions have built the current regime in the image of the now six-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

The Patriots is what this franchise hopes to become – well, one title will suffice… six is unfathomable. The hires of general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia (both former Patriots) is all about catching some of that championship magic.

The truth is there is no magic to the Patriots. Having quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick at the helm certainly doesn’t hurt their sustained excellence. But it is more than that.

The Patriots have built a culture of winning that is unmatched by any other team in the nearly 100-year history of the NFL – enjoy this link to a great Super Bowl commercial featuring the greatest running back – Barry Sanders – in that near-century of pro football.

It is obvious why Detroit would want a piece of that championship formula. But looking at the Lions last season, it is hard to see signs of a winning culture. Just six wins will do that.

So, can this team get there? Obviously, all but one team can truly say they have reached their ultimate goal: a Lombardi Trophy. So, the Lions aren’t alone in their football futility.