A large part of what has made the Detroit Lions such a dominating force is a level of unselfish buy-in. When star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown isn't getting the ball, you're not going to see any change in energy or effort. St. Brown is going to be a willing blocker who fights for every yard for his team and keeps his energy levels consistent no matter what his stat line reads. This allows the Lions to stack a wealth of talent and build a culture focused on winning.
Rarely does a team so embody its head coach, taking on the energy of Dan Campbell. Detroit players truly love to play for one another, and it shows. This leads into a telling offseason response from Sam LaPorta when questioned about regression and concern about the tight end's numbers. LaPorta wasted zero time putting the questioning to bed with zero hint of frustration or concern about his role moving forward.
""Why didn't you get the ball as much? Like, dude, we scored the most points out of any team in the NFL in the last five years. Like, everybody deserves the ball.""Sam LaPorta
This energy is exactly the approach the Lions must maintain if they hope to find an elusive Super Bowl. Detroit doesn't have a Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, or Joe Burrow to deliver the team in the game's biggest moments. As great as Jared Goff has been, a Super Bowl win is going to require the Lions to consistently be the best team on the field. This means playing the exact type of football LaPorta's quote embodies.
As corny as it might seem, fighting relentlessly for the player next to you, no matter how many touches you're receiving, is what is needed to make the Lions great. LaPorta, supporting this along with St. Brown, sets the tone for the rest of the roster.
This isn't a team that is concerned with stats, but with the wins and losses and how they can help Detroit get a step closer to the ultimate goal. With this in mind, LaPorta's message should be taken to heart.