Detroit Lions Control Own Destiny for Division Title

With a favorable home schedule against all division rivals, the Detroit Lions control their own destiny for their first division championship in 23 years.

Where were you in 1993?

Some of our readers likely weren’t born yet, and some of us were beginning our sophomore year in high school. Bill Clinton was in the first year of his presidency. Gas was $1.11 per gallon, a dozen eggs cost 87 cents, and a gallon of milk set you back $2.86.

In Detroit sports circles, the Bad Boy-era Detroit Pistons hit rock bottom. The Tigers spent much of the first-half in first place and flirted with the playoffs before falling, but experienced what would be their best season until 2006. The Red Wings‘ 25-year playoff streak had just exited toddler stage, at three years.

Divisional Title Drought

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Detroit Lions’ fans were shockingly watching their team win a second divisional title in three seasons. While it would end in heartbreaking fashion, the maligned Lions’ were seemingly rising from the ashes.

Sadly, 23 years later, we haven’t seen another divisional title nor a home playoff game (the highest wild-card used to host a playoff game before the divisions expanded to four per conference). We’ve talked about the Lions’ futility over the years, and no division title since 1993 is right up there.

Since the Detroit Lions won the NFC Central in 1993, every other franchise but one (Cleveland Browns, who were dormant from 1995 through 1998) has won at least one. Aside from Detroit and Cleveland, only Buffalo is without multiple division titles (winning lone division title in 1995). Three teams that didn’t even exist in 1993 (Texans, Panthers, Jaguars) have also won multiple division championships.

Favorable Home Schedule

We aren’t sure which of the injured players (Darius Slay, DeAndre Levy, Brandon Pettigrew, etc.) rumored for a post-bye return will be back. Nonetheless, the Lions who play on Sunday should be ready to roll over Jacksonville with the aid of a raucous Ford Field crowd. It’s not often they can celebrate a rare appearance at the top of the standings.

They next play Minnesota on Thanksgiving. The Vikings looked like the class of the league a month ago, so its possible they could get it all together on the national showcase and knock off the Lions. With Minnesota’s injuries and offensive woes, if Detroit wants to take the next step, they need to beat that team.

The toughest test of the season is having to face the Saints, Giants, and Cowboys on the road, with a lone home game against the woeful Bears during that stretch. The Lions conclude the season at home with the fading Packers.

If the Lions win all remaining home games, which they’ll likely be favored, they’d have nine wins. Steal one of those road games, and 10-6 should be good enough for the Detroit Lions to pick up their first ever NFC North title.

Can Lions Reverse History?

Could they bungle it down the stretch? Of course! It is the Lions we’re talking about, and we’ve seen this same scenario recently. Just three years earlier, in fact.

When the Lions won in Chicago in Week 10 of 2013 to improve to 6-3, they moved into first place in the NFC North. They followed this up by winning just once the rest of the way, finishing at 7-9.

History never seems to be on the Detroit Lions’ side, but they have a good shot at reversing their fortunes. By winning the division, the Lions would bring the first Lions home playoff game to the City of Detroit since the 1957 NFL Championship.

Next: Craziest Moments in Detroit Sports History

I’ve doubted this team all year, thinking they’d be an 8-8 team with a bright future that begins next year. This young Lions’ team has the chance to grab and run with this division far sooner than most anticipated.

For a city hungry to watch postseason football in person, can you imagine the atmosphere for a home playoff game at Ford Field?

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