After a long offseason, many had declared the Detroit Lions one of the NFL’s most overhyped teams.
Yes, they had won eight of their last 10 games to close the 2022 season. Yes, Dan Campbell had shown that he was clearly a great head coach and leader. And yes, they injected talent where they needed it. But these would inevitably be the same old bumbling Lions, stepping on rakes and falling flat on their face at the worst possible times. Right?
Don’t tell that to the boys in Honolulu Blue after Thursday night’s 21-20 emphatic statement win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Even without Chris Jones and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs were supposed to cruise over the Lions. After all, Patrick Mahomes was still playing quarterback for Kansas City, and Andy Reid was still head coach. The Chiefs have been the NFL’s gold standard for half a decade, thanks expressly to that dynamic duo. It would take a Herculean effort (and a beyond haphazard effort from a lackluster receiving corps) to topple the defending Super Bowl champions. That’s exactly what the Lions gave us.
After a spectacular first half from Mahomes that inspired some classic Campbell theatrics, Detroit did what it does best. It systematically wore the Chiefs down and ground the Kansas City defense into a fine paste. And seemingly everyone the Lions needed to shine contributed in a meaningful way.
All. Grit.#DETvsKC | 🎥 NBC pic.twitter.com/JZdK4rxWJq
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 8, 2023
Promising rookie safety Brian Branch recorded a key game-tying pick-six. Amon-Ra St. Brown was his usual reliable self in the passing game. Newcomer David Montgomery came alive in the fourth quarter, scoring the game-winning touchdown on a bruising run where rookie tight end Sam LaPorta made the most important block. Even Jared Goff — a football meme of mistakes with cinderblocks in his feet as a pocket passer — played solid enough to give the Lions a chance to drive a dagger into the Chiefs’ heart.
None of this was a guarantee. The Lions gave Patrick Mahomes multiple bites at the apple at the end of the game. With the ball in his hands in the final few minutes, Mahomes might be the most terrifying player in professional football. He’s a grim specter of inevitability that usually equates to a loss for his opponent. Except in this case, it didn’t matter. In one of the toughest road environments in the sport, on banner night for the defending champions, Detroit was prepared and utterly unfazed by No. 15 in red.
The Lions weren’t about to let this golden opportunity slip through their grasp.
Josh Paschal was ready for it 🙅♂️#DETvsKC | 🎥 NBC pic.twitter.com/J0rbwPlYOs
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 8, 2023
The Lions are 1 first down away from a win pic.twitter.com/XPcseKwZSP
— alex (@highlightheaven) September 8, 2023
To be clear, the Lions left a lot on the field. Their offense was just 5-of-15 on third down and was often stymied by a shorthanded defense missing its cornerstone defensive tackle (who was still in attendance, for some reason). Defensively, perhaps the league’s worst receiver group gave Detroit legitimate fits for much of the action. Plus, a supposedly revamped pass rush recorded zero sacks and just seven quarterback hits on 48 Chiefs dropbacks despite Aidan Hutchinson’s great efforts. There are many places where the Lions still have to polish up and refine themselves before they earn the label of a legitimate championship contender.
But something indeed felt different about Thursday night.
Detroit didn’t wilt in the waning moments the way we’ve come to expect over the last three decades. Poor teams fade under the pressure and intense spotlight when the chips are down. They get overwhelmed, make avoidable mistakes, and let the moment consume them. Heck, it’s part of the mystique of even attempting to beat Mahomes in the first place. Most of his opponents simply psyche themselves out when they have a chance to slam the door on the current face of the league. “He’s Mahomes! What possible chance could we have?”
The Lions didn’t let that happen. They bloomed and actually played better the more the game wore on. When it was time to respond and elevate their A-game, the Lions brought the hammer down. It’s only one example, but Kansas City’s offense recorded zero third-down conversions in the second half. This is how NFL teams make a name for themselves. To humble the reigning Super Bowl MVP — on the same evening the Chiefs raised another banner in his house — is beyond impressive.
These aren’t the same old bumbling Lions. And I have a feeling they’re just getting started showing us who they really are.
