Lions Will Clinch Division with Win in Minnesota Sunday
After losing 2 of 3, the Lions bounced back with a convincing complete game win against the previously red-hot Broncos, 42-17. They looked a lot better with their 5 OL starters back playing again and the defense was flying around making plays.
Now it's on to play the Purple People Eaters with a chance to clinch a division title for the first time in 30 years. When they're on they're a fun team to watch. Here are the highlights in case you missed the game:
December 18th, 2023 at 7:46 AM ^
I’m torn on how to feel. I’m enjoying this ride a lot. I’m 42 years old. So the last time I felt like this was early 90s. But even then, I was young and naive. Let’s go, Leo’s.
On the other hand, I’m guarding against being punched in the nuts. Waiting for it to happen, and to hurt more, cause my guard is down.
December 18th, 2023 at 7:57 AM ^
I told a guy at the gym yesterday that I'm just taking it one day at a time. As long as we win the division and can hang a legit banner (not those fraudulent Wild Card ones), I'll be happy. Anything after that is gravy.
December 18th, 2023 at 12:17 PM ^
This is the way to combat Lions BPONE. I hoped for a division title at the beginning of the year - anything else would be a bonus. And now that they're 3 up with 3 to go, it's so, so close
A playoff game at Ford Field would be an INSANE environment!
December 18th, 2023 at 8:08 AM ^
As a long time Lions fan the punch in the nuts almost seems inevitable :(
December 18th, 2023 at 9:32 AM ^
Everyone sounds like they attend Lions Anonymous 🦁 😂
December 18th, 2023 at 9:15 AM ^
Shouldn't the comparison be 2014. Lions at 11-4 with a chance to win the division in Green Bay just after Christmas?
People always seem to retcon the decent Stafford Lions teams out of existence. Maybe understandably so, but it's not like the early 90s Lions did a whole lot better. Losing in the NFC game isn't exactly a golden memory.
December 18th, 2023 at 12:45 PM ^
I don't think anyone expected to win in Lambeau in December back in 2014. Those were still the days when it seemed impossible to beat Green Bay at home. 2017 they had a chance to win the division against GB at home at the end of the year, and blew it.
I think people retcon the Stafford years because they were never consistently good, didn't make the playoffs in consecutive years, and always were the last wild card team in. With three different coaches, "the year" was always at least a few years away.
Rodgers left Green Bay and they beat KC on opening night, so it finally seems like now is "the year" we've all been waiting for.
December 18th, 2023 at 11:10 PM ^
"The year" we might win a playoff game and possibly be competitive in a second. I think we're still maybe 2 stud playmakers away from competing for a Super Bowl.
Would love to be wrong...we'll see.
December 18th, 2023 at 12:53 PM ^
I'm 69, and watched many a Lions T'giving game at my gramma's house in Royal Oak in the early 60s. Alex Karras's was the first sports biography I ever read; the idea that you could buy two or three of the same shirt in different colors dazzled me. What have they had, seven or eight great seasons in the interim? I feel psychologically unprepared for them to be good. But they're fun to watch!
December 18th, 2023 at 1:25 PM ^
I'm right with ya. Getting excited about the Lions has always been a recipe for a dong punch.
December 18th, 2023 at 9:21 AM ^
Vlady, you live over that way. Can you maybe deliver a non-lethal supply of tea to the vikes on Sunday. You know, merry Christmas, here, try some of this…?
December 18th, 2023 at 10:15 AM ^
A special batch of Russian Christmas cookies, perhaps!
December 18th, 2023 at 10:41 AM ^
perfect, just what the russian doctor ordered. nothing dangerous, just enough to have them blow some assignments, drop a few passes. 
December 18th, 2023 at 8:04 AM ^
Playoff win over the Rams at ford field in the first round is about to be the most poetic win ever.
December 18th, 2023 at 8:06 AM ^
I mean Stafford will let us win, right?
December 18th, 2023 at 8:11 AM ^
Very true. I don’t mind beating Seattle as well. Or Green Bay. Or Minnesota. Or Dallas. So many teams I want to release this Lions rage on.
December 18th, 2023 at 8:22 AM ^
right now my ceiling is a win against say Rams in round one. Beating Dallas at Dallas or at home, then losing to the 49ers in the NFC Championship. that said with Dallas losing this week, Eagles would be more likely in the second round match up and an away game there would be much more difficult for our dome team.
December 18th, 2023 at 8:23 AM ^
Lions beat the Cowboys in the playoffs in this fashion:
While trailing in the final minute, Goff throws an incomplete pass on fourth down. Cowboys go nuts. Their offense starts to come out for the final kneel downs. BUT WAIT!!! The officials huddle and decide that the Cowboys defender actually committed pass interference of the last play! First down Detroit! The Lions score on the next play and win the game.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:16 AM ^
You got the matchup right but the result wrong.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:19 AM ^
I’d rather they curbstomp the falcons or whatever other hapless team “wins” the NFC south
December 18th, 2023 at 2:08 PM ^
Matt Stafford in 2009: "I want to help the Lions win a playoff game in Ford Field."
Somewhere: a monkey's paw curls
December 18th, 2023 at 8:21 AM ^
Forward down the field!!
December 18th, 2023 at 8:28 AM ^
I was all set to watch the Lions last night, because I only get so many chances to watch them what with living out of state and not having the pay per view package. Imagine my surprise when the 8:15 game turned out to be Saturday night...
Boo!!!
December 18th, 2023 at 9:14 AM ^
At least you didn't fly to Detroit on Sunday for the game.
December 18th, 2023 at 8:32 AM ^
The Purple People Eaters. Originally the name of a great defensive line. Comprised of:
Alan Page
Carl Eller
Jim Marshall
Gary Larson
Playing for the embodiment of Scandinavian stoic, Bud Grant.
December 18th, 2023 at 8:49 AM ^
Larson later went on to create some funny cartoons
December 18th, 2023 at 8:59 AM ^
Wait, what? Was that the same Gary Larson?
EDIT: Dammit. I was got again...
December 18th, 2023 at 9:35 AM ^
Don't play the lotto this week.
December 18th, 2023 at 8:44 AM ^
Lions at least clinch a playoff berth with a Philly win tonight
But yeah, get that home playoff game, don't leave Sterling Sharpe wide open, and you're good
December 18th, 2023 at 8:51 AM ^
The saving grace of the NFL's old blackout rule was that I didn't have to see it on television. Gut punches don't feel as bad when listening to them.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:08 AM ^
p.s. just saw the news that Matt Patricia will be calling defensive plays for Philly...
Would be Patricia's only chance to get the Lions into the playoffs
December 18th, 2023 at 10:50 AM ^
I was at that game. Still too soon
December 18th, 2023 at 8:49 AM ^
Dogs and cats living together....Mass hysteria!
December 18th, 2023 at 9:15 AM ^
Grew up in the shadow of the Silverdome and parents had Lions season tickets so I went to a ton of games from 1967 - 1983. With the exception of the very early 70's & 80's I watched a lot of shitty football teams lose a ton of games.
Moved to northern Ohio in 89 and married a Browns season ticket holder in 2009 and been going to Browns games for the past 15 years. With the brief exception of the first 11 games of the 2014 season I watched a lot of shitty football teams lose a ton of games. Hell, the only year during that stretch where they were actually good, 2020, was the Covid year and we didnt attend any games!
To have the Lions atop the division and the Browns a five seed for the playoffs with three games to play is rare air indeed. Enjoy these moments, they are very hard to come by.
December 18th, 2023 at 9:24 AM ^
I still remember the lions losing to the Packers in the playoffs in January of 1994. We were playing in San Diego at Jack Murphy Stadium and the scoreboard was flashing the score to the NFL games.
December 18th, 2023 at 9:55 AM ^
Yeah, I was at that game and remember Farve heaving a 50 yard pass with the Packer's WR wide-open. I think the Lions defender fell down. Not sure why the Lions did not have a safety deep? That was the winning score with only a few minutes left in the game. I also went to the final season game, the week before, where the Lions beat the Packers handily and Sanders had a big game. But those are my Lions!
December 18th, 2023 at 10:27 AM ^
I was there as well; my dad got cheap tickets ($20, maybe?) in the upper deck top rows where you couldn’t see the screen.
That placed me in the corner where the TD was scored. There was another pass that was similarly open that didn’t connect a play or two before. Then I saw Favre roll out and absolutely heave the ball. And I looked down and Sterling Sharpe was all alone with nothing but end zone in front of him, and I said something to the effect of “oh, no.”
Fun fact: while my dad and I were there, my mom and sisters were at JLA watching the US figure skating national championship final. The one that Nancy Kerrigan could not skate.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:36 PM ^
My sister skated in those Nationals and we sat next to Michelle Kwan’s family during the long program (before anyone knew who she was) at JLA.
December 18th, 2023 at 9:29 AM ^
There's lots of ways we can back into the playoffs, but damnit, I want to sweep the rest of the schedule and go for something historic! Let's let other teams do the imploding and earn ourselves a bye, please!
December 18th, 2023 at 9:39 AM ^
Vikings are sweep-able, but depends on which Lions team shows up each night. JTT Simba or Matthew Broderick Simba?
Dallas's D looked vulnerable to the downhill running attack last night, but I wonder how much of that was opened up because Josh Allen was a madman running around with the ball, pump faking passes and breaking tackles left and right. Goff doesn't present quite the same threat there...
December 18th, 2023 at 10:55 AM ^
I too, want the Lions to TCB (take care of business), but a tie between the Vikings and Packers in two weeks results in the Lions winning the division.
I would accept that result.
December 18th, 2023 at 11:09 AM ^
Mr Elbel, unfortunately there is only one team that gets the bye. The number one seed doesn't play the first week while the other six teams square off. I guess it's mathematically possible so we can only hope....
December 18th, 2023 at 3:02 PM ^
the 49ers, cowboys, and eagles all have schedules that could make it happen. It's mathematically improbable, but hold up our end of the deal and the possibility is there for sure!
December 18th, 2023 at 9:40 AM ^
Didn't care of the Laporta or Gibbs pick man have I ever been proven wrong. The young offensive talent on this team is scary. Goff seems to feel more comfortable with the starting OL in tact. In those losses he seemed to have a little bit of the yips at time. Happy feet, throwing off schedule and Saturday night he looked like a surgeon at times! Fun to have a NFL team in Detroit that has a shot to do something!
December 18th, 2023 at 9:48 AM ^
I speak for EVERY BEARS fan...
December 18th, 2023 at 10:27 AM ^
gee, really sorry about that hail mary attempt of yours...
December 18th, 2023 at 9:49 AM ^
Vikings have a decent defense and of course they have Jefferson back on offense. The lions could win this game on the road but if they play poorly, like they did in Chicago they will probably lose. But at least they have the Vikings at home to end the season. Plus, the Vikings could lose on the road to Green Bay!
December 18th, 2023 at 9:55 AM ^
That game is in Minneapolis, not Green Bay.