Even When They're Good, the Detroit Lions End Up Looking Bad

Justin Dargahi by Contributor Written on May 10, 2009
24 Sep 2000:  Johnnie Morton #87 of the Detroit Lions hugs teammate Herman Moore #84 (R-L) in celebration during the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.  The Lions defeated the Bears 21-14.Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel  /Allsport

The Detroit Lions were the most intriguing team of the entire 1995 NFL season.

Some good. Some bad.

The Lions started 0-3 and then 3-6 but managed to make the playoffs as they rode the most explosive offense in the league to seven-straight wins to finish the season.

The offense was led by QB Scott Mitchell (yes he was actually good for once), RB Barry Sanders and a great WR trio of Johnnie Morton, Brett Perriman and Herman Moore. Detroit also featured two pro-bowl offensive lineman in Kevin Glover and Lomas Brown.

After its horrible 3-6 start, Detroit would go on to finish 10-6 and were a team no one wanted to face going into the playoffs.

Despite their hot finish, the Lions were forced to go on the road to start the playoffs but were still huge favorites in Philadelphia against the Eagles, who were ironically led by former Lion QB Rodney Peete.

Naturally, Detroit quickly reverted back to its old embarrasing franchise form and got blownout 58-37 in a game that was actually more lopsided than the score would indicate.

And the Lions still haven't recovered.

The franchise hasn't won a single playoff game since and haven't been to the playoffs since 1999.

I guess you can call it the curse of the early Barry Sanders retirement, or the curse of Matt Millen or the curse of having a paper Lion logo.

Whatever it is, it doesn't look like the curse will be ending anytime soon, so Lions fans should cherish the '95 season like it was their last because it seems that it might have been.

(0)
...
Share This  
Crop_45x45
or to post this comment

4 Comments

There are no comments yet. Get the conversation started by leaving the first comment

Loading more comments...
posted just now
  • Loading...
  • Nobody has liked this comment yet
Cancel

This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete

244
reads

4
comments

written on May 10, 2009 History

The best Lions newsletter on the web

Subscribe Now

We will never share your email address


CBS Sports Official Partner
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Getty Images.
Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Getty Images is strictly prohibited.