The Detroit Lions are aiming to break their 58-year streak of never reaching the Super Bowl.
With a tough, physical offensive line, an aggressive coaching style, and a roster filled with some of the league’s most promising players, the Lions have already secured a playoff spot by dominating opponents and employing creative strategies. However, less than a month before the playoffs start, their Super Bowl hopes are threatened due to a growing list of injuries, leaving them one of the most banged-up teams in the league.
As of Sunday, 13 Lions defenders were on injured reserve ahead of a potential Super Bowl preview against Buffalo. The situation only worsened during the game. In a 48-42 loss to the Bills, which dropped the Lions to 12-2 and ended their 11-game winning streak, starting defensive tackle Alim McNeill tore his ACL, cornerback Khalil Dorsey sustained a season-ending ankle injury, and starting cornerback Carlton Davis III fractured his jaw. NFL Network reported that Davis might return only for the NFC Championship game at the earliest.
The Lions’ high-powered offense also took a hit on Sunday. Running back David Montgomery, who had rushed for 12 touchdowns and accumulated 1,116 yards from scrimmage, sprained his MCL and may miss the rest of the season. Montgomery was half of the Lions’ dynamic backfield duo, along with Jahmyr Gibbs.
Currently, 22 Lions players are either on injured reserve or out, a series of injuries that began in the preseason when defensive tackle David Bada tore his Achilles. In mid-October, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson suffered a devastating leg break. A few weeks later, linebacker Alex Anzalone broke his left forearm in a collision with a teammate, and rookie defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo was lost to a knee injury. Of the 11 defensive starters from the season opener, six have since been sidelined with long-term injuries.
Despite the mounting setbacks, quarterback Jared Goff reassured reporters on Sunday, saying, “I’m sure there will be a ton of stuff written about the sky falling, but no, internally, we’re good.”
Two days later, Lions head coach Dan Campbell addressed the situation during a local radio interview in Detroit, fiercely rejecting the notion that their Super Bowl window had closed.
“We can’t let these injuries be in vain,” Campbell said on 97.1 The Ticket. “All of those players helped us get to the point we’re at. These last four (injured players) helped us get to 12 wins, and we owe it to them to finish this thing out. And that’s how I view it.
“So, it means there’s another opportunity for other guys. You know what happens is you win 11 in a row and you lose, and then the sky falls. I hate to say it, but we’re not going to be able to win 11 in a row again for the rest of this season. We’re just not going to be able to do it.
“What happens is you get used to eating filet — and I’m talking all of us — and everything’s good. Life’s good, but you forgot what it’s like when you had nothing and you ate your [expletive] molded bread, and it was just fine. And it gave you everything you needed. Sometimes you’ve got to get punched in the mouth and remember what it used to be like to really appreciate where you are, and we’ll do that.”
While injuries are a frequent part of the NFL — as evidenced by Kansas City’s own uncertainty over Patrick Mahomes’ ankle injury — the sheer volume of Lions’ injuries stands out. But Campbell remains unfazed.
“We’re going to friggin’ cut it loose,” he declared. “We’re going to play with our special teams. And I don’t give a crap if we gotta win by 1 point for the rest of the year, that’s what we’re going to do.”
