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Detroit Lions: Regardless of NFL rankings, defense still wins championships

By Robert Jones

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: Chris Jones #95 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts during the game against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: Chris Jones #95 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts during the game against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
(Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

The Detroit Lions suffered through another forgettable season, but they should pay attention to what the Chiefs accomplished on defense this year.

The Detroit Lions made it as far as you and I did this postseason. From the couch to the fridge and back again, because of their distant last-place finish in the NFC North.

No division title, no wildcard, not even a stinking .500 record. Just a humiliating 3-12-1 embarrassment to the franchise and its fans. Again.

Two years ago at this time, Matt Patricia was announced as the Lions new head coach. General manager Bob Quinn had brought in his old friend from New England to change the culture and transform this team into championship contenders.

In his first season at the helm, Patricia guided the Lions to a 6-10 record. Not what the fans had expected or hoped for, but given the idea that Patricia needed more of ‘his’ players to transform this club into winners, we were willing to see what happens in year two.

Especially given the fact that the defense was abysmal until the acquisition of Damon ‘Snacks’ Harrison, then suddenly blossomed into one of the better defenses in the NFL as they finished the campaign with the 10th best unit overall.

If the Lions could transform their predictable offense into something more explosive to go with the defense which only seemed to be trending upward, especially given the offseason acquisitions Quinn and Patricia made to upgrade the defensive line, this was going to be a team to be reckoned with.

Then reality came crashing in as the 2019 season turned into a nightmare for Lions fans everywhere. Sure Matthew Stafford was brilliant, but the running game was still inconsistent, the defense completely failed in every way possible and when Stafford’s season ended in Oakland, the Lions didn’t win another game the rest of the way.

All the expectations and hopes of Lions fans everywhere were once again dashed. Just like so many other seasons over the last six decades.

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