Detroit Lions fans have rare hope on Thanksgiving

There’s by no means been a extra thrilling time to be a Lions fan on Turkey Day than proper now. Detroit is 8-2 getting into Thursday’s matchup with Green Bay and hasn’t been this good to start out a season since 1962. Much of the fanbase wasn’t even alive the final time this franchise had this a lot hope on Thanksgiving. Waking up Thursday morning, not anticipating the worst from the Thanksgiving recreation, will likely be a primary for a lot of Detroit fans.

For the primary time in a very long time, that turkey dinner possible received’t be ruined earlier than of us can sit down on the desk. Detroit has misplaced six Turkey Day video games in a row. They haven’t been victorious on Thanksgiving since beating Minnesota in 2016. Nothing is assured, however the Lions are favored in opposition to the Packers this 12 months because the superior workforce. They’ve already traveled to Lambeau Field and overwhelmed the Packers earlier this season, so something lower than victory in Week 12 can be a shock.

Aside from a few years through the Matthew Stafford-Calvin Johnson period, the Lions are often lifeless within the water this far into the season. In truth, 2016 was additionally the final time this group made the postseason. All whereas coached by Jim Caldwell. He led the workforce to successful campaigns in three of his 4 years there and hasn’t obtained one other sniff at a head teaching gig since.

Since Caldwell was let go following the 2017 season, the Lions have just about been within the gutter till now. Most had been skeptical of Dan Campbell from Day One, however he’s confirmed all of the doubters mistaken. One extra win and the Lions are assured back-to-back successful seasons since Caldwell’s remaining two years. Before that, you’d have to return to the Barry Sanders period of the Nineteen Nineties. His groups completed over .500 for 3 consecutive years from ’93-95.

So, it’s comprehensible in case you see that Lions fan in your workplace performing extra chipper than common. They may not have to cancel Christmas this 12 months. And if issues fly off the rails throughout Thursday’s recreation after heaping reward on this squad, be at liberty in charge me. There’s by no means been a greater time to be a Lions fanatic. Now, the following step is making it to January and successful a playoff recreation. It’s been over 30 years since Detroit’s received a kind of, so they’re lengthy overdue.