The Detroit Lions: How They Bring Passion To Football

                During the football season, the importance of it is usually how many games are won. This is what the players, coaches; the teams strive for: that winning season.

For the fans, we all admit we want our teams to win and achieve the Super Bowl title. However, this is not the true element of the game that brings us back each week. For the Detroit Lions, they are a team that has not had a winning season in quite some time. What is it about this team that draws a fan base that attracts them to watch the Lions, to cheer for them? It’s not the wins, it’s the team that draws us in, it is the team that brings these elements that we love to see in a football game.

                The offense is filled with many talents and many hearts. We just received Jahvid Best, the 30^th pick in the 1^st round of the 2010 draft. There aren’t enough words for this running back. So far, in two games, he had accounted for four touchdowns and managed to break a record of the most rushing receiving yards in the Detroit Lions history. His fast legs, as he avoids the opponents and slips through their defense, are just jaw-dropping to watch. Who knows what else he will accomplish this season, what else is he going to bring to the table for the Detroit Lions. I assure you Lions fans will tune in each week to watch Best strive past the expectations of a rookie running back.

                Calvin Johnson joined the Detroit Lions in the 2007 season. He made a strong debut to the NFL and contributed a lot to the Lions. Even during the 0-16 season his second year, Calvin Johnson finished as one of the strongest wide receivers and he lead the league in receiving touchdowns at 12. This season, he still proves to be a strong wide receiver, even beyond the “incomplete” call. He proves that he still has what it takes and why his nickname is still ‘Megatron’ among Lions staff and fans. This season, Lions fans know that Johnson will give ever ounce in his body to surpass his past season statistics and receive winning touchdowns for the team. Team along with Matthew Stafford, these two will produce magic on the field.

                Matthew Stafford, the sophomore starting quarterback that has more than a bad luck in injuries during his NFL debut. He became the first rookie quarterback to start for the Lions since 1968 which shows that he may end up being the Lions franchise player. Despite his injuries and miss games, each game he played in he always contributed to something. In all ten games that he started, he either threw or ran for a touchdown. That is a quarterback that gets results. Fans will forever remember him in his rookie season during the history breaking Cleveland Brown game. It was not the fact that he threw for five touchdowns being the youngest quarterback ever to do so. During the ‘Hail Mary’ ending, Stafford was tackled hard as he threw a hard one into the end zone. With a separated shoulder, he showed persistent and his love for the game as he pushed through it to throw the final touchdown as the time expired on the clock. That was when Matthew Stafford did not have to prove to the fans anymore about his worth. We all wanted him as our quarterback because he connected to us; he showed his love for the game.

                While the offense drew the fans into the game, they weren’t the only ones making history. The defense was as well. Though it has been hard to accumulate a strong defense against opponent’s offense, the Lions have done well rebuilding it. There are many players that can account for the defense line getting stronger, I am only going to name a few.

                Louis Delmas was drafted in 2009 and was a rookie starter for the Lions 2009 season.  As a safety, he has a intimidating presence on the field that strikes into the opposing team. He has been good in intercepting and getting those fumbles during the game. He made history to become the first rookie in NFL to record for a interception return for a touchdown, a fumble for a touchdown, and a safety in one season. Though he has been suffering through injuries this season, he still made his presence known and put pressure on the opponent’s offensive line.

                Kyle Vanden Bosch is a veteran defense end who joined the Detroit Lions this season. He is also making his presence known. He strikes fear in the offensive line and in the quarterback. He puts pressure on the quarterback to fire the ball and to hustle away. He puts the roar back in the Lions defense. As a leader, he pushing the others to reach their high potential. He also carries the love for the game and he brings to us what we wanted all along: a strong defensive player that will not give up until time expires. He shows frustration when the defense fails to stop the offense, he carries that and motivates him to play harder and to strike harder. Lions fan will surely tune in each week to watch him strike fear and rattle the opponent’s bones as he tackles them.

                Ndamukong Suh is the most dominating rookie defensive tackle most football fans have yet to seen in years and he is in the hands of the Detroit Lions. He is a relentless worker that will train and do anything to be the best defensive tackle in the NFL. He pushes through and place fear in the quarterback. The big guy on the team is a great assessment to the defense of the Lions. Fans will enjoy watching this rookie make his dominating impact during his rookie season.

                There are many other great talents that bring to the game what football fans look for while they watch it, these are just the highlights. The Detroit Lions has done great in rebuilding the team from the 2008 season. While we’re just not there yet, the Detroit Lions will have a dominating impact in future years and will make it to the top. While now it is a shame to watch all the hard work and talent go to waste at the end result of the past few games, it is what draws us and keeps us in each week. Each of these talent adds passion to the game, they add heart, courage, and the warrior-quality that we want to see in our team. The Detroit Lions are sparkling hope in the fan base and within themselves. While they have made individual history, they will make team history on good terms soon.

The Detroit Lions bring passion into the game of football.