The 2024 Detroit Lions: The NEW Biggest Letdown in NFL Playoff History

What the hell was that? Hey, Detroit Lions, you were the team that was supposed to break the narrative and end their years of misery. Instead, they piled on more misery. How could this happen? 15-2 in the regular season, destroying everyone in its path while laughing at the league. Many considered this squad as the one to dethrone the Chiefs off the mantle and reign along top of the NFL. That will have to wait, now.

I remember the 1997 playoffs when Jacksonville shocked everyone and defeated a Super Bowl contender in the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium. Many thought this was the biggest upset in NFL playoff history, other than the Jets beating the Colts in the Super Bowl. This upset could be up there. No one other than people in the D.C. area thought that the Commanders would have a shot against the Detroit Lions steamroller. Fortunately for those people, the former Washington Football Team decided to take control of this steamroller and steamroll all over the Lions and fans' hopes and dreams.

And, no, I don't want to hear that they should change the name back, they have more pressing needs to address like how about they fix their s---ty stadium?

For the Lions, it's a letdown of epic proportions. Since it's a letdown, we have to break it down.

-Jared Goff had an MVP-type season in 2024 (4629 yards, 37 TD's, 12 INT's, 111.8 rating) as his ascension to one of the top quarterbacks in the league was taking place if the Lions went to the Super Bowl. Instead, Jared Goff went back in time and found his 2016 self. Three interceptions, including one that resulted in a pick-six put Detroit in a difficult situation. And as what happened with Sam Darnold, everyone is pointing the finger at Goff. He also had two interceptions in the season finale against the Vikings. So, the Commanders probably saw film on how to combat him as they made him look confused and not his 2024 self.

-The offensive line and Jahmyr Gibbs were excellent as Gibbs went over 100 yards rushing and two TD's. However, they only had one receiving touchdown and tried a trick play with Jameson Williams throwing the ball, which resulted in an interception and the play that sealed the game.

-The defense, oh boy, the defense was not up to par in this game. Jayden Daniels went through and commanded a......Commanders offense as an embattled and undermanned unit couldn't keep up. Losing Aiden Hutchinson was a tough blow for them, yet they persevered with only two losses to their credit......well, now three.

-Many are throwing Dan Campbell under the bus after this game. Calm down, he is the reason why the Lions went 15-3. Remember, they only had three wins in 2021. There were times, as in the Williams play, were Detroit seemed desperate. It was clear that Dan Quinn won the coaching battle of the Dan's. Also, the injury bug wasn't kind to Detroit as players on the IR reached the double digits. I give him and his squad credit for overcoming those odds and collecting 15 wins this season.

So, here's the question on everybody's mind, is the Lions' Super Bowl window shutting? The answer is......no. If David Montgomery and Aiden Hutchinson can fully recover from season ending injuries, then they are good. If Jared Goff can have a repeat season as 2024, then they are good. If Dan Campbell doesn't try to overcoach, then they are good. The problem is that Lions fans are getting impatient due to the fact that the franchise has yet to make the Super Bowl. I give them about two to three years of a window. They just need to get over the hump.

Looks like you guys have to wait another year, Lions fans.

(For more content, check out our Facebook page, our website www.realsportsmarksaz.com and the Wix mobile app)