Despite mounting injuries, the Lions boast a 12-2 record, sit atop the NFC North, and hold the No. 1 seed heading into Week 16.
While some fans have adopted a pessimistic outlook, it’s not entirely unexpected given the team’s rough history. Years of disappointment have conditioned many to expect the worst, especially with key players sidelined.
However, the Lions aren’t entertaining the negativity. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn addressed the situation earlier in the week.
“We’re 12-2, we’re in the playoffs. Why the hell is the sky falling?” Glenn said, via Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News. “Why should we sit back and wallow… it’s dumb.”
Right tackle Penei Sewell echoed Glenn’s sentiments, dismissing fans who have given in to despair.
“The real fans, they gonna stick down with whatever, man. That’s why I don’t really concern myself with the talk,” Sewell told Kory Woods of MLive. “Because the real ones know we’re gonna find a way at the end of the day. And if you want to keep questioning, then go ahead and just hop off. You’ll see what happens.”
The negativity stems largely from Detroit’s injury woes, but it wasn’t helped by their recent loss to the Buffalo Bills, which ended a months-long winning streak. In the 48-27 defeat, Buffalo’s MVP candidate Josh Allen delivered a dominant performance, exacerbating concerns.
The loss also tightened the NFC race, with the Minnesota Vikings gaining ground in the division and the Philadelphia Eagles and Vikings closing in on the conference’s top seed.
Detroit will have a chance to silence the doubters in Week 16 when they face the Chicago Bears at Ford Field.
