Chalk it up to 2020. That could be the only logical explanation. The Detroit Lions who have underachieved for much of the season sit just one game out of a playoff spot. No kidding. The same Detroit Lions who fired general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia are in the playoff race. Though it will be difficult for them to get there.
Detroit Lions interim head coach, Darrell Bevell told his team he wanted them to play loose, free and have fun. Those words seemed to have impacted the Lions in a positive way.
Yesterday the Lions beat the Chicago Bears 34-30 in Chicago. Helping the Lions playoff cause both the Arizona Cardinal and Los Angeles Rams lost moving the Lions to one game out of the playoff picture.
After getting blown out in four of the teams last five games, things seemed bleak for the Lions. The team had sunk to the NFC North cellar. While the “same ‘ole Lions” showed up for the first three quarters vs the Bears, somehow through the defensive struggles the team fought it’s way back into the game.
The same defense that has looked suspect for much of the season (yes that is a very kind way to put it) came up with a huge fourth down stop to seal the Lions win at Soldier Field.
There is no way to know for certain if the Lions do make the playoffs Bevell will get the head coaching job, that will be up to the new general manager when they are hired.
One thing is for sure the next four weeks will be very tough games for the Detroit Lions to win. The team plays the Green Bay Packers next Sunday at Ford Field, followed by games against the Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings.
One thing that could help is that only the Titans are on the road. The other three games are in Detroit.
So the Lions are in the playoff race. Only in 2020 could this sort of season happen.
