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 8:41 AM ^
And kneecaps…..but no cigars until the Lions win a playoff game.
October 17th, 2023 at 8:17 AM ^
"I wish there was a way to know you're in the good ole days, before you've actually left them".
October 17th, 2023 at 8:40 AM ^
I refuse to believe good times don’t last.
Anyone that goes to a party with me will vouch.
October 17th, 2023 at 8:53 AM ^
Meanwhile a bit further south of Detroit the Browns are 3-2 with by FAR the #1 defense in the league having knocked off the previously undefeated 49ers on Sunday. Our schedule really softens up now with games against the Colts, Seahawks, Cardinals, Bears, Broncos, Rams, Jaguars, Texans & Jets along with our remaining three division games.
Not sure why it didnt work up in Detroit for him but I can tell you down here people are ready to build a statue of Jim Schwartz he's done such an amazing job at DC. Cleveland has literally gone from last to first in D and the gap between the Browns and the 2nd best D with the Cowboys is a large one. And he's doing it with largely the same personnel Joe Woods didnt know what do with (enjoy the Joe Woods experience Saints fans).
Michigan 7-0
Lions 5-1
Browns 3-2
Football Valhalla indeed.
October 17th, 2023 at 9:05 AM ^
and while we're at it, the wings are 2-1 and tied for first. i think most all of us think the wings are a year away from the playoffs, much less a serious cup run, but believe in the yzerplan and persevere.
happy for your browns, sharing a very similar legacy as your former team, the lions.
October 17th, 2023 at 9:23 AM ^
Lions went from the 30th in run defense last year to first this year and without 2 of primary additions in the secondary.
October 17th, 2023 at 9:26 AM ^
If the Browns somehow meet the Lions in the Super Bowl, this truly means that we are living in the end times. I'm convinced the Earth will collapse into itself like a dying star just after that game is over.
October 17th, 2023 at 2:03 PM ^
Facts
The 2 worst franchises not named the LA Clippers collide.
Browns have at least made multiple AFC Championship games while the Lions have a history book of epic disaster but the Browns have lost their franchise ... and once they moved... they won the SB and are a hallmark of consistency in Baltimore. It's hard to pick what is the most hilarious smoldering mess.
October 17th, 2023 at 2:01 PM ^
some guys are better as DCs
Also that defense is loaded with or without him. Browns Jets both powerhouses there.
October 17th, 2023 at 3:08 PM ^
I think Schwartz was a bad HC because he couldn't get his teams to play with any discipline whatsoever. I'm also guessing (without evidence, just guessing based on how he seemed in media appearances) he wasn't that well-liked by the players. Probably not to a Matt Patricia level of being unlikable, but not great either. He has always been a good DC though.
October 17th, 2023 at 9:00 AM ^
You know much more about sports and coaching sports than I do.
However, in my experience coaching Little League and pitching softball—small-time stuff but not nothing—I get pleased about games played well and innings finished well and plays done well.
But, whether due to superstition or psychology or the practical importance of staying focused, I cross no bridges till I get to them.
I do the same with my rooting. I'm happy Michigan and the Lions won last weekend and have been doing well. I'm looking forward to watching the next game for each.
October 17th, 2023 at 9:05 AM ^
I had this same conversation with a Lions/Michigan fan at the sports bar in Tennessee this weekend. Which I assure you are few and far between down here. It is a sweet window to be in right now.
October 17th, 2023 at 9:14 AM ^
+1 for providence and lean into.
This recent pleasant affliction is making me light headed. Just hoping all teams remain healthy so we can watch these younger men ply their trade at its best. Very pleased I finally got a big screen tv and emerged from the dark ages of cable.
Pulling for Adam Samaha since Seth won't acknowledge him. :)
October 17th, 2023 at 9:20 AM ^
Even my local high school football team (Northville) is undefeated and blowing teams out this year. What a crazy year. Makes up for the terrible Pistons, Wings and Tigers stretch.
October 17th, 2023 at 9:30 AM ^
Sad to say I have given up those three due to their management taking my time and devotion for granted so all I can do is withdraw from interest in protest.
I wish them well but for this life they are past tense. They had me for 50 years anyway.
October 17th, 2023 at 9:33 AM ^
Yup, savor this shit. I'm 44 and started really following Michigan when I was about ~10 years old, this looks like the best team in my 34 years of fandom, more dominant than even the 1997 national championship team. Enjoy the run and let's hope it ends with confetti in Houston.
October 17th, 2023 at 9:38 AM ^
You can't get there any other way, but the path to Valhalla is littered with systemic Tom effery.
Sincerely,
Spartan Bob
October 17th, 2023 at 10:08 AM ^
These kind of musings are tad bit premature. Both for Michigan and the Lions.
October 17th, 2023 at 10:29 AM ^
what's premature about enjoying being in a great football place right now. made no claims to 'we're gonna win it all', merely that we have two teams playing really good football and their records reflect it.
October 17th, 2023 at 12:03 PM ^
It's the middle of the race. It's how you feel at the end of the race that matters. Everything that happens now will be contextualized by what happens in the next 2-3 months. If Michigan loses to Penn St and OSU, do you think you'll consider that week in October after Michigan just beat Indiana at home 'the golden era' of Michigan football?
Sure, we can say the Lions are much improved, good even. But really if they win 10-11 games and then lose their playoff game, would it really be notably different than some of the decent Matthew Stafford teams in the last decade?
Would Michigan going 10-3 and the Lions losing in the 1st round of the playoffs represent 'football valhalla'? Or wouldn't it simply be 2016 redux?
I think people are getting high on the moment here, but it's the wrong moment.
October 17th, 2023 at 10:53 AM ^
My friends and I have talked about this since the Tigers won the World Series in 1984 - For what it means to the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan, a Lions' Super Bowl win would surpass any other Detroit/Ann Arbor team winning it's ultimate trophy. Just look at the sea of Honolulu Blue in the stands of the away games. Who travels for away NFL games? I've seen video of the Tampa win with Lions fans still milling around on the concourse of the stadium 30 minutes after the end of the game, celebrating, hugging, high-fiving. The Lions' fan base is one of the most loyal, hungriest in all of sports.
While I would cherish a Michigan national championship (I almost cried last Christmas when my 1989 Michigan National Championship ornament fell off the tree and broke), I can't even begin to describe or even understand what a Lions' Super Bowl would be like. Valhalla indeed.
October 17th, 2023 at 12:07 PM ^
You're surprised that there would be a decent number of fans of a Rust Belt team at a road game in Florida? It's the same thing when the Bears, Vikings etc. play down there.
Now what surprised me was how many Niners fans were in Cleveland. I don't think they traveled either. I knew about Cowboys fans being everywhere, but I think I significantly underestimated the national Niners fanbase originating in the Montana/Young years.
October 18th, 2023 at 8:50 AM ^
It ain't Florida. The same thing happened in GB and KC. The Honolulu Blue should certainly stand out against the purple and black in Baltimore on Sunday.
October 17th, 2023 at 11:10 AM ^
When I initially saw the OP, I thought it read "We are Approaching Football Vanilla" so I made a fresh pot of coffee.
October 17th, 2023 at 11:34 AM ^
Great weekend. Living in the Tampa area the Wings and the Lions put up 2 victories thus now a week of torches and pitchforks for all of us living here. Florida natives are an entitled breed of cat.
October 17th, 2023 at 11:38 AM ^
Just win the next game. If we are 15-0 come January then we can pay ourselves on the back.
October 17th, 2023 at 4:08 PM ^
As a Michigan fan who is also a Bears fan...well at least I have Michigan football.
Actually have really enjoyed watching the Lions this year. I've not cared much for past good Lions teams with the NFC North and Chicago/Detroit rivalries, but this year's team I think I can get behind.
October 17th, 2023 at 7:33 PM ^
it's pretty neat, I'm glad it's not just me and Rodney knowin it
October 17th, 2023 at 7:48 PM ^
Wow, throwback
October 17th, 2023 at 7:48 PM ^
No mention of 1000 wins????
October 17th, 2023 at 9:56 PM ^
I'll just say I agree whole heartedly. It is a great time to be a Wolverine and Lions fan!
Go Blue, Go Lions!
And as always, Fuck ohio.
October 17th, 2023 at 10:11 PM ^
It has certainly been a fun time to be a fan of our Wolverines. It will be fantastic if the lads make it to the top because they've had to overcome so much adversity along the way. Even more so for the Lions.
October 18th, 2023 at 7:02 AM ^
Lions, Knights of Knee.
October 18th, 2023 at 7:41 PM ^
If we beat both osu and psu, which. Put at about 30 percentage chance (using the out of my ass methodology), we should be ranked number 1 no matter what anyone else does.
watch out for Maryland. Scary game.