Detroit Lions Fever, Catch It!!!!
Interest in your gridiron heroes, the Detroit Lions, have swept the majority of the state of Michigan this fall and winter.
Unless you're in the western Upper Peninsula (which is Green Bay Packers country), you are ecstatic that the Lions have reached the National Football Conference (NFC) Championship Game for the first time since the 1991 season. You have caught "Lions Fever".
That's 32 years, folks!! Many of you reading this weren't even alive or were just little kids when the Lions beat the Dallas Cowboys 38-6 to clinch a spot in the NFC title tilt against the then-Washington Redskins (the Lions lost to Washington, 41-10).
That was a dominant Washington team that eventually won Super Bowl XXVI (26) over the Buffalo Bills, 37-24. Detroit didn't have a realistic chance of winning that year.
1991 was the last time that Lions fever gripped the state of Michigan. And it's happening again now. As the Lions will face the San Francisco 49ers this coming Sunday in California for the right to play in the Super Bowl. And unlike 1991, the Lions have a realistic chance of winning that game, despite the Lions being a touchdown underdog.
Never before have there been so much Lions apparel out and about around these parts. Hats, jerseys, sweatshirts, sweatpants, socks, helmets (yes, some people have worn helmets), and footballs with the Lions logo on it are everywhere.
And you're obviously watching the playoff games on TV. The audience peaked at just below 50 million nationwide during the 2nd half of the NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
My only advice to you, the Lions fan, about all of this is this: EMBRACE IT!!!!
Because this may the only time, or the last time, you ever seen anything like this again. Remember, before the 2023 playoffs, the Lions had won only ONE playoff game since they won the NFL title in 1957.
And just because they're having a great year this season, doesn't mean they'll be this good going forward.
So jump right on and catch Lions fever. It's certainly contagious right now!!!