Have the Detroit Lions ever been ‘fun’ since their last championship?

Comebacks are always fun

Outside of the 1995 Detroit Lions, there aren’t a whole lot of other really ‘fun’ seasons that this franchise can boast of, but there is one other that was controversial among some fans, yet nevertheless, it kept us on pins and needles and had plenty of fun moments.

That would be the 2016 season. It was the come-back season for the Detroit Lions. Literally. After finishing a disappointing 7-9 in 2015, the Lions were able to turn things around, again literally, and finish 2016 with a 9-7 record and clinch a wildcard berth.

What most fans will probably remember the most is that with a record of 9-4 heading into Week 15 against the New York Giants, the Lions controlled their own destiny. Their magic number was two. Any combination of Detroit victories and Green Bay losses equaling two would give the Motor City the NFC North championship.

Unfortunately, the Lions lost all three games and the Packers won out. Including the season finale between the two with the divisional title on the line. Then, of course, Detroit went to Seattle for their wildcard game where they lost 26-6.

But if we consider the season as a whole, it was rather exciting and often very fun. Until Matthew Stafford injured his throwing hand in Week 14 against the Chicago Bears, every game the Lions played, win or lose, was decided by seven points or less except their 28-13 victory in New Orleans.

And all eight of the Lions other victories were late-game comeback wins. Until Stafford injured his hand, every game except one came down to the final minutes. The Lions clearly weren’t a great team, but they lived and died in the clutch all season long.

For many fans, it was an exciting and fun season. Others can only remember how it came crashing to a halt and want to blame Stafford for a season that ended so poorly. Yet, he was the author of all those exciting come back wins, which gave him the record for the most in a season. All those last-minute thrills of victory for the fans. In the end, was it enough? Well, technically anything short of winning the Super Bowl is a failure. But it was fun.

So while the Detroit Lions haven’t been winners, they have been ‘fun’ on occasion. As we look forward to this next season, there is hope that they might be fun again. With improvements to the offense, the return of a healthy Matthew Stafford, and the defense playing at an acceptable level, maybe they will be fun once more.

What Detroit Lions season or players do you think were fun? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below.