The 2016-2017 Detroit Lions season was a wild one that featured eight come from behind wins, a division title game, and a playoff game. The Lions were not the best or worst team in the league by any means, they were more of a middle of the pack type of team. They finished the regular season with a 9-7 record and a second-place finish in the NFC North, not bad for a team who had just lost their top receiver due to retirement. First year General Manager Bob Quinn didn't do too bad of a job in his debut season with Detroit, and he leaves fans with a lot of optimism going forward.
When you take a look at Detroit's season, two things stand out more than anything. The first thing that stands out is the eight come from behind wins led by gunslinging quarterback Matthew Stafford. The other thing that stands out is their four-game losing streak to end the season. The lions not only had a chance to win their division, but they had the opportunity to get a first-round bye in the playoffs. Back-to-back-back losses to the Giants, Cowboys, and Packers destroyed both of those possibilities from happening. On the final day of the regular season, the Lions, Redskins, and Packers were the only three teams left fighting for a playoff spot, and when Washington lost their game to the Giants, it allowed the Lions and Packers to both clinch playoff spots. The only thing left to decide was the NFC North.
Sunday Night Football: Packers versus Lions at Ford Field for the NFC North crown. What was supposed to be a nail-biting game to watch ended up being a horror show for Lions fans. The Packers took control early in the game and never gave it up. They won the division and were granted a date with the New York Giants the following Sunday at Lambeau Field while the Lions were now forced to make a trip to Seattle and play the Seahawks and Century Link Field, which is never a fun place to play if you are not a Seahawk.
The Lions went into the game as eight-point underdogs and came out of the game losing by twenty. Even though the officials made some questionable calls and non-calls on Detroit, it still did not change the fact that they were outplayed and beaten by a much better Team. Although they made the playoffs, this team still has a lot of work to do if they want to win a Super Bowl. With a strong free agent class approaching and a defense heavy draft, the Lions could make a bigger impact in the league next year if Quinn manages this upcoming offseason correctly.
