In 1933, the team that is currently known as the Detroit Lions were called the “Portsmouth Spartans”. They changed their name the following year, and started the 1934 season with a 10-1 record. It was the only time that they would have such a record through eleven games, until now.
Lions Are Off To Their First 10-1 Start In 90 Years
With their 24-6 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Dan Campbell and the Lions are off to their best start in 90 years. It marks their 9th win in a row after a 1-1 start, and they have looked like the most dominant team in the NFL for essentially the entire season. The last time that they won 9 in a row was also during that 1934 campaign.
In just the last two weeks, the Lions have allowed a total of 12 points, while scoring 96 themselves. They have one of the more efficient and high-powered offenses in the league this year behind quarterback Jared Goff, and their defense has allowed fewer than 10 points in three different games this season, including the last two.
The @Lions have started the season 10-1.
This ties the 1934 Lions for the best start to a season in franchise history.#OnePride pic.twitter.com/WxaQSXn103
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) November 24, 2024
Despite the dominance that Detroit has shown thus far in 2024, their lead in the NFC North is still a slim one. The Vikings were able to survive in their game against the Bears in Week 12, and were able to keep pace with the Lions by improving their record to an impressive 9-2. Detroit currently owns the tiebreaker between the two sides, having won the Week 7 matchup, and they will wrap up the season with a rematch in what could be a very meaningful contest in Week 18.
In an interesting scheduling quirk, the next two games for the Lions will be played on Thursdays. The first will be a divisional matchup against the Bears, and will be the early game on the Thanksgiving holiday slate. The following week, they’ll take on another NFC North opponent in the Packers on Thursday Night Football in Week 14.
The early betting line for the game against the Bears has the Lions favored by a large 10.5-point spread.
