We are Approaching Football Valhalla
Mates,
For any football fan in the Michigan area it is an exceptional time, unprecedented really. Our beloved Wolverines have beaten ohio twice in a row, with all their institutional advantages, and each time in extremely convincing fashion. Winning like that against the most entitled fanbase on the planet brings extra joy.
We have of course won the B10 two times in a row. We are about to get to the tough part of our schedule, playing PSU on the road and ohio at home. Both games tough, both have significant risk of defeat, but we should probably be favored in both and if we can hold serve, another B10 championship game vs....Iowa? That'd give us a 3-peat. Trying not to get too far over our skis, nevertheless we are certainly the favorite right now and that feels great.
But add to all of that the Detroit Lions. Yes, the Detroit Lions. Tied for the best record in the NFL, winners of 13 of their last 16 games and overcoming some significant injuries along the way. These are not the 'same old Lions'. Barring some really hard turns of providence, the Lions are going to be NFC Central champs and have a home playoff game. And while they may not be favorites to win the NFC or go to the Super Bowl, they sure as heck have a very legitimate shot. That can be said with a straight face. For us long-suffering Lions fans that is pretty epic on it's own. Forward down the field!
Enjoy it while we can. Just like bad times don't last, neither do the good ones. Lean into this special time and savor it. Both teams at or near the very top of their game at the same time. Someday we'll look back and say, 'Remember when...' but for now it is right here. How cool is that?
XM
October 17th, 2023 at 6:43 AM ^
My focus is on taking down Staee - I'm glad you're excited but Valhalla will have to wait until next week.
October 17th, 2023 at 8:28 AM ^
We are getting close to the part of the movie where the monster jumps out from behind the scenery...
October 17th, 2023 at 6:44 AM ^
If the Lions and UM win nattys in the same year it triggers the second coming of Christ so really looking forward to that as well
October 17th, 2023 at 8:01 AM ^
Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... MASS HYSTERIA!
October 17th, 2023 at 8:10 AM ^
Do you mean real wrath of God type stuff?
October 17th, 2023 at 8:50 AM ^
Yeah, so either the Lions winning a Super Bowl means God is angry, or God finished His work and there's nothing left to do, so it's time to end the world as we know it.
Either way, the Lions winning will disrupt all balance in the earth.
October 18th, 2023 at 10:17 AM ^
but I feel fine
October 17th, 2023 at 10:15 AM ^
That Rapture, tho. Could be interesting.
October 17th, 2023 at 10:30 AM ^
that occurred to me. not on my theological bingo card, but hey, who knows.
October 17th, 2023 at 12:17 PM ^
God knows🙂
October 17th, 2023 at 6:56 AM ^
Lions will be NFC North & Central champs?! Woooo!
October 17th, 2023 at 7:05 AM ^
would you believe the black and blue division? the norris division?
October 17th, 2023 at 9:15 AM ^
I mean they just beat Tampa, so I think it works.
October 17th, 2023 at 7:21 AM ^
Agreed, but I think we have to die fighting to get to Valhalla?
Ok, sign me up.
October 17th, 2023 at 10:26 AM ^
Agree. Valhalla is where the Norse/Viking warriors went when they died in battle.
October 17th, 2023 at 10:32 AM ^
great. just great. getting called on tiny norse mythos particulars by my favorite simian.
October 17th, 2023 at 10:37 AM ^
"Lo, there do I see my father. Lo, there do I see my mother, and my sisters, and my brothers. Lo, there do I see the line of my people, Back to the beginning Lo, they do call to me. They bid me take my place among them, In the halls of Valhalla, Where the brave may live forever!"
October 17th, 2023 at 10:59 AM ^
and now we ride
to victory!!
October 17th, 2023 at 12:09 PM ^
Monolith is always stirring things up.
October 17th, 2023 at 12:55 PM ^
We'd still be running from lions on the Serengeti otherwise.
October 17th, 2023 at 7:34 AM ^
Lest we forget... On October 16, 2011, the Detroit Lions were 5-1 and recently on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
October 17th, 2023 at 7:38 AM ^
But how many kneecaps had we bitten off back then??
October 17th, 2023 at 7:43 AM ^
we hadn't won 13 out of 16 games. we are not reliant on one star, we have greater depth, far better game planning on both sides of the ball, and none of this is a fluke. about the only really devastating injury that i can see de-railing us is if goff gets injured.
October 17th, 2023 at 7:48 AM ^
The lack of self awareness in your comment is telling. The subhead is "Do you believe? Detroit does."
October 17th, 2023 at 8:45 AM ^
Wut?
First of all, Detroit went 10-6 that year and made the playoffs for the first time since 1999. It's kind of weird that Detroit was on the SI cover following their first loss after starting 5-0 when Jim Schwartz told Jim Harbaugh to "know the rules" and then Harbaugh lifted his shirt over his nipple and slapped Schwartz on the back postgame and Schwartz took off running after Harbaugh like Paterno after a ref and then whining about how in this league there's a protocol...but I digress.
Point is, 2011 was worth believing in.
In 2023, people outside Detroit believe. This team has been getting hype and attention nationally since before the year began, and that's due to not only Detroit actually being legitimately good, but the division being really bad.
October 17th, 2023 at 10:27 AM ^
rufus, looks like you were aware, but not fully aware.
October 17th, 2023 at 10:58 AM ^
Rufus: Don’t be a dick
October 17th, 2023 at 6:02 PM ^
Bless your heart!
October 17th, 2023 at 8:10 AM ^
Deep as heck. Even with Branch, Gibbs, and Montgomery out, still beat a good Bucs team convincingly, on the road.
I’m willing to say this is the best Lions team I’ve seen in my lifetime. There were good teams in the 90s and the Schwarz & Campbell eras, with an handful of all-stars who were fun to watch and won some games, but the teams all had major gaps. This team, much more complete, a total package. BNL
October 17th, 2023 at 7:51 AM ^
Thank you. Michigan sports fandom has taught me that teams can look great and yet end up with no hardware at the end of the season. That year I was also convinced the Tigers would win the WS after beating the Yankees in the playoffs and that Brady Hoke would win multiple B1G titles at Michigan.
October 18th, 2023 at 10:20 AM ^
No headset=no titles
October 17th, 2023 at 2:01 PM ^
I see the author of that cover story is named Hack.
October 17th, 2023 at 7:44 AM ^
When it comes to the Lions, and their legit Super Bowl chances, I'm convinced of one thing...
...Jesus is coming back. After suffering through 40+ years of Lions futility, I'm willing to take all the #nopolitics negs for my only explanation for this.
October 17th, 2023 at 7:46 AM ^
You're right!
And when you're right, you're right.
And you, you're always right !
October 17th, 2023 at 7:59 AM ^
oh, i can most definitely be wrong. heck, rufus (just above) thinks i am.
and to be realistic, sure, we might not win much of anything for either team. but we are in very rare air right now and that is worth taking a moment to enjoy.
October 17th, 2023 at 8:18 AM ^
Modest, too. Sign of a good leader.
(Though to be honest, the “always” but was just to complete the quote from Spaceballs.)
Howeva, this is a good point- the lack of tangible, meaningful results (winning conference or division or playoff wins) is significant. They haven’t won anything yet. But while outcomes are of principal importance, they are not a leading indicator. Process, consistency, thoroughness, culture, strategy, etc. These things are not equal to wins, but are necessary to get them. And what we are seeing from both teams is a level of quality in those attributes and others that point to success for as long as these configurations stay together, and this is distinct from prior incarnations of these teams in recent memory. Not to be discounted, recent memory be damned!
October 17th, 2023 at 6:20 PM ^
Talent and identifying and acquiring it since Sewell has been consistently good. Haven't seen this many good and playing draft picks in recent memory.
October 17th, 2023 at 10:30 AM ^
Now give me paw!!!!
October 17th, 2023 at 7:48 AM ^
XM writes: "... with all their institutional advantages ..."
Indeed. Look what they're doing, again, in recruiting:
https://247sports.com/Season/2024-Football/CompositeTeamRankings/
What would it take for them to slip beneath that level just once? Five 0-12 seasons in a row? I wonder.
October 17th, 2023 at 8:54 AM ^
The first step is to blow them out again/getting Day fired.
October 17th, 2023 at 9:03 AM ^
Have you not learned that they upgrade every damn time they fire a coach! Even their interim coach, who sucked filling in for a season, ended up going to the College Football Playoffs with a group of 5 school.
October 17th, 2023 at 9:36 AM ^
Academic rigor. A map of where the campus is.
October 17th, 2023 at 2:00 PM ^
Jesus
#1 overall
2 of top 10
and 5 of top 36
Ridiculous
October 17th, 2023 at 7:51 AM ^
Well Said! Savor this rarefied air that we're in right now.
October 17th, 2023 at 8:00 AM ^
Well said. In the back of my mind, I'm waiting for the other shoe to fall, that it won't last. Yes, and? Enjoy it right now. We are fans because we have found a dedication to and an identification with a team, and that is a most vital human thing. So the feeling of winning is really secondary to the feeling of connection to a larger community. Always a Wolverine. Always a Lion (albeit less deeply). OK, end of philosophizing at 8 in the morning.
October 17th, 2023 at 8:04 AM ^
I've been following the Lions since the Thanksgiving Day game against Green Bay in 1962 (-22 yards rushing for Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor), and I can't remember a more fun version of the team. Individuals stand out (Billy Sims, Chris Spielman, Barry, and Calvin), but what we have now feels like a brotherhood of players committed to each other and the most singular coach in my time of watching the Lions. Cherish it.
In a similar sense, it feels like we have a singular coach in Jim Harbaugh, and a team committed to each other this year. Also something to cherish.
Enjoy each game for what they are: a special moment in time.
October 17th, 2023 at 8:06 AM ^
I would up vote you, but I'm superstitious. Knock on wood 3 times.
October 17th, 2023 at 8:24 AM ^
kewaga, superstitions are not actually real. live in the liberty of knowing that and leave the wood to the woodpeckers. the Wolverines and the Lions are smoking hot right now.
October 17th, 2023 at 8:09 AM ^
Does anyone know which is Dan Campbell's favorite cigar? I'd like to buy one and send it to him, if they clinch a playoff berth.
October 17th, 2023 at 8:19 AM ^
Dan Campbell smokes cigars stuffed with sweat, blood, tears, and dirt.