Less than two weeks ago, the Lions were 8-2 and widely saluted for their best start in more than six decades.
Then the Green Bay game made everyone involuntarily spit up their turkey dinner.
Now if the Lions lose Sunday at New Orleans, it will only be their best start since 2016.
And “Gridiron Heroes” will be replaced by the late, great David Bowie’s “Panic in Detroit” as the Lions’ fight song.
Remember the ‘16 season? It was Bob Quinn’s first as general manager. The Lions actually won the following week, raising their record to 9-4. Quinn could have won a mayoral election at the time. Well, you do how it ended for him in Detroit…
The point isn’t to recreate bad memories. Or to suggest the current state of the Lions is similar.
It’s not. It’s much better for the present and the future.
It’s merely a reminder how fluid the situation is, and always has been and will be, in the NFL.
The Lions are just another 8-3 team, like the 49ers, Jaguars, Cowboys, Chiefs and Dolphins. The Ravens and Eagles have better records. It means the Lions are good, and perhaps many of us jumped the gun by suggesting they are elite.
What appeared to be a cake walk of a schedule might have been a trap. The Saints are just 5-6, but this is only their fifth home game. The Bears just beat the Vikings on the road, and nearly upset the Lions at Ford Field the week before. The Bears defense is vastly improved and the game is in Chicago.
The Broncos, who allowed 70 points to the Dolphins early in the season, have won five straight, including throttling the Chiefs, Browns and Bills.
The Vikings may have lost Kirk Cousins for the season, but Justin Jefferson is returning, and tethered with highly productive receivers T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison, makes them a threat, regardless of the quarterback, especially vs. the secondary-challenged Lions.
Oh, and there’s that road trip to Dallas. The Cowboys have won their last 13 home games. This season, their average margin of victory at home is 29 points.
At one stage, it seemed possible the Lions could gain the first seed in the NFC, a dream scenario in which it would take just two postseason home victories to reach the Super Bowl.
Now that is essentially mission impossible.
Still, the Lions appear to be a lock to win 10 games. They have a 2 1-2 game lead on the Vikings. It would take a monumental collapse by the Lions, along with an improbable flawless surge by the Vikings, to not have the Lions’ first-ever home playoff game at Ford Field.
The NFC is suspect. It’s beyond unpredictable who the Lions would be facing as its wildcard opponent, but it should present a very winnable home game.
Is that good enough, at least for now?
It would seem to be. The Lions haven’t won their division since 1993, nor a playoff game since 1991.
They have several budding stars. It wouldn’t just represent accomplishment, but a building block, and a big one.
It’s a realistic and probable expectation.
Anything else would be gravy.