Support Your Detroit Lions and Jim Schwartz!

Dec 8, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz on the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey G. Pittenger-USA TODAY Sports

The “Same Old Lions,” mantra of the past needs to be permanently removed. It’s a shame that after every Detroit Lions loss, much of the public and media resorts directly to it. Even in close Lions victories it’s used. How is a team supposed to feel support from their fans when that happens?

There is not an NFL team out there that does not want to make their city proud. Yes, the Detroit Lions have never won a Super Bowl. Yes, Barry Sanders was still a Lion when we last won a playoff game.

So what. We have a team full of young talent that has made it to the playoffs recently and we are still complaining. What gives? We need to take it one step at a time, getting into the playoffs as a wildcard team was a huge achievement. Making the playoffs again as a wild card or division winner would be great.Playing capable of making the playoffs is what matters.

People are calling for Jim Schwartz job, even though we are only five seasons removed from him overtaking an 0-16 team, must stop. That would be a huge mistake. Jim Schwartz has led the Lions to more victories and playoff appearances than previous Lions head coaches-Marty Mornhinweg, Steve Mariucci and Rod Marinelli.

This makes Schwartz our most successful coach since Bobby Ross, who from 1997-2000, led the Lions to two playoff appearances. I’m not proclaiming that mediocrity is acceptable, but Lions fans must realize that the Jim Schwartz era is the best Detroit has had in some time.

A glowing example of this is that tonight our Detroit Lions are hosting Monday Night Football. In fact, this is the second time in three years Detroit has had the honor. It’s Detroit’s third year in a row playing in this game. That means the NFL has taken notice of a striving team and is supporting them by featuring Detroit as a major market.

And I won’t fail to repeat that this team is still only a handful of seasons removed from winning zero games. Another example of change needed is that Lions fans shouldn’t be insulting Lions players at charity events. Lions wide receiver, Nate Burleson, recently experienced this. A player knows that nobody is happy after losing a game, but to be heckled in that fashion is unacceptable.

The Detroit Lions take on the Baltimore Ravens tonight. Yes, the game is huge and will decide if the Lions remain in first place in their division. Yes, the game is being labeled a must win. But when the game ends, win or lose, how will the fans and media respond? That is what I will be paying attention to.