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Detroit Lions Can Beat Seahawks; Other Detroit Teams Have Faced Longer Odds

By Matt Pelc

Jan 1, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions fans during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions fans during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 7, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers former player Joel Zumaya laughs with Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35). After throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 7, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers former player Joel Zumaya laughs with Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35). After throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

2006 Detroit Tigers

You’d have thought Detroit fans would have been ecstatic in 2006. After all, they were seeing the Detroit Tigers return to the postseason in 2006 after 12-straight losing seasons. They clinched a playoff berth a week before season’s end. Only a couple more victories, or losses from the Minnesota Twins, would clinch their first ever AL Central title.

That didn’t happen. The Tigers dropped the final five games of the season and were regulated to wild-card status.

Facing the New York Yankees was Detroit’s prize for “backing into the playoffs,” a team littered with All Stars. Fans who were ecstatic one week over the postseason were now predicting a quick demise for their baseball team.

With an 8-4 loss at Yankee Stadium to open the playoffs, this was reinforced as the Tigers dropped their sixth straight.

The next afternoon, however, the Tigers were reborn. Behind their rookie ace, Justin Verlander, and bullpen fireballer, Joel Zumaya, they held New York’s bats in check to go home tied.

The Detroit Tigers won the next seven games to claim their first pennant in 18 years. We won’t talk about those next five games….

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