The Detroit Lions “dream” 2024 season came to an early end in a divisional round loss to the Washington Commanders. The Lions were the NFC’s top seed but unfortunately were not able to take advantage.
After the NFC championship loss to the San Francisco 49ers last season, Detroit were the heavy favorites to reach the big game again and this time maybe even advance to the Super Bowl.
Throughout the 2024 regular season, the Lions seemed to be the team to beat in the NFC. They finished the year with a 15-2 record and locked up home-field advantage.
The Lions also had multiple players on their team who probably had the best year of their careers. Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-ra St. Brown, Kerby Joseph and Penei Sewell all played lights out this year and were destined to make the big game.
Despite all of the success in 2024, the Lions had a major problem entering the playoffs: injuries. The Lions had 18 players on injured reserve and even lost a couple of starters during their loss in the Divisional round.
The injuries played a factor in their loss as they gave up 45 points to the Commanders, including Goff’s pick six.
The Lions offense was able to put up 31 points, but also surrendered four turnovers in the process. Unfortunately it was all too much for Detroit as they fell to Washington.
This unfortunate postseason loss almost warrants the term “same old Lions.” Since Dan Campbell took over as the team’s head coach, he has coined the mantra “brand new Lions.”
The phrase is supposed to symbolize the change in culture for the Lions organization, a franchise that has been always associated with losing.
Since Campbell took over, the Lions have steadily improved each year and got the team’s first playoff in over two decades during the 2023 playoffs.
The playoff and regular season success has certainly given the “brand new Lions” mantra some merit, but unfortunately some old jokes may come back from the grave after the team fell to Washington.
Not only did the Lions lose in the Divisional round, but it was their first playoff game of the 2024 playoffs and with this loss, Detroit is now considered “first-round exits.”
The playoff loss has resurrected the old mantra, “same old Lions,” back from the grave. Detroit has once again choked in the playoffs and possibly squandered a great opportunity to make their first appearance in the big game.
To give Detroit the benefit of the doubt, the team had suffered from a litany of injuries, especially on the defensive side. Another thing worth noting is that this will likely not be Detroit’s last chance at a Super Bowl.
Jared Goff has a few more years on his contract and the team will likely lock up Gibbs as well. Star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson will return next year from his leg injury and Detroit will once again enter the season with guns blazing.
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