Detroit Lions: Looking Back on a Season of Expectations

For the first time since Barry Sanders was playing, the Detroit Lions have finally given their fans something to look forward to next season. Sure, last season was an improvement over the previous one (though what wouldn't be?), but the Lions have finally put something on the field that has us wishing the season hasn't ended.

When the season began, Lions fans were optimistic for a number of reasons. Franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford, while having an average rookie season, gave us hope that we might actually have a QB who could lead this team to a winning season for once. The draft and free agency also gave us reasons to be hopeful. First-round picks Ndamukong Suh and Jahvid Best were expected to be big boosts to the Lions defense and running game, respectively.

So, did the season go as expected? The Lions didn't make the playoffs, though I don't think anyone realistically predicted that. We also lost our franchise quarterback for 13 games, and our rookie running back suffered from turf toe on both feet. But we did triple our winning total from last year. There were streaks broken, road wins and Pro Bowl announcements.

Here are some reasons that have Lions fans hopeful for next season:

• An NFL record 26-game road losing streak finally came to an end in Tampa Bay

• 

  The 19 game divisional losing streak ended with a win against Green Bay, which also broke the 10-game losing streak to the Packers

• The first four-game winning streak since 1999

• The first four-game (or more) winning streak to end the season since 1995

• First back-to-back road wins since 1993

Pro Bowl announcements came for Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh. The latter is the Lions' first rookie Pro Bowler since Barry Sanders, and the first rookie defensive tackle since Al “Bubba” Baker in 1978 (who also went on to win Defensive Rookie of the Year).

Looking back on all these achievements, I can't help but wonder what could've been had Matthew Stafford and Jahvid Best been healthy all season. But for once, I didn't find myself waiting for the season to end. I'm not saying that the four-game streak to end the season means that we'll be making the playoffs next year. The Lions will have to continue to work hard. Our star players will have to remain healthy. But I'm still hopeful, and that's all that matters right now.