Detroit Lions 2020 season: Playing ‘Would you rather … ‘

Worst Case Scenarios

Scenario #3

Would you rather… the Lions go 8-8 with no fan restrictions, or go 11-5 in empty stadiums?

At 8-8, I’m not talking about a completely empty win column, but one that wouldn’t be full enough to get the Lions into the postseason but wouldn’t keep the current head coach in charge after season’s end. Would sacrificing the entire live fan experience of a mediocre-to-decent season be worth it for a better one that fans can’t really be a part of in-person?

There’s a very good chance that at least a portion of the upcoming season (if it starts on time) could be played behind closed doors. Picture about 64,980 of the 65,000 seats at Ford Field sitting vacant as the Honolulu Blues duke it out with the Bears on opening day, the atmosphere amounting to that of a vastly overqualified rec league game.

Would the team still run out to fireworks and a pump up video on the big screen? Would the twenty executives and senior employees jump out of their distanced seats when Kenny Golladay makes his first electrifying leaping touchdown catch of the season? Who goes ballistic the first time the Lions get screwed out of a victory by either a bad call or a technicality in the rulebook?

My answer: I guess all things considered, I’d go with 11-5 in an empty stadium. Still, how much of a karmic kick to the crotch (to borrow from fellow contributor Michael Kirkland) would it be to finally win the division and not even be able to go to the playoff game?

Pick your favorite Detroit Lions “Would you rather…?” question and make the case for your answer in the comment section below.