Chances are if you've been watching the NFL close enough, you're starting to find yourself rooting for the Detroit Lions. Go ahead, tell the truth...
The Detroit Lions has been getting the short end of the stick, over and over and over and over again this season. No matter their opponent, they've been in situations where they could easily have pulled in a few wins. But unfortunately, they still sit at the bottom of the NFL (next to the Jags) with zero wins.
If there is ANY team in the league who deserves a win, without actually having one, it's the Lions. And we are all sitting back feeling bad for this team. The Lions have the collective sympathy of every NFL fan and we're all secretly (some blatantly) rooting for their success.
We've seen fight. We've seen commitment. We've seen fire. We've seen a team that claws their way back into games and puts themselves into position to win, but the ball just never bounces their way. Such as...
Week #1 vs the 49ers - Goff leads a drive to get within a score to tie the game. They lose the onsides kick. Then their defense causes a turnover with 49 seconds left. Then an incompletion on 4th and 9 with :17 seconds ties it up in a bow and the 49ers win.
Week #3 vs the Ravens - The Lions had this game wrapped up and then Ravens kicker Justin Tucker had to break an all time NFL record in order the Ravens to walk out winners.
Week #4 vs the Bears - Trailing by 10pts with 4mins left to go. The Lions were ready to make a score and hold the Bears defense to get the ball back and march their way to a FG. But on 4 and 3 Goff throws another incomplete pass and the Bears start to run the clock on the ensuing possession.
Week #5 vs the Vikings - 4th quarter with :37 seconds left to go, Deandre Swift steps into the end zone, then a 2pt conversion by Goff give the Lions the 1 point lead. Then the Vikings go about 60 yards in :37 seconds to kick a last second FG to rip the win away from the Lions.
Al that this team has experienced has brought the passion and emotion out of their head coach, who started the season talking about eating kneecaps. After so many close and heart wrenching losses, Dan Campbell's love of the game and his team was on full display.
If you love football, you've got to be rooting for this team.