Walking the halls at Northview High School is a very different feeling on a Monday morning, coming fresh off the weekend trying to reset to begin the new week. However, Monday, January 29, was a different atmosphere. Northview students and staff were heartbroken over the loss the Detroit Lions faced during the National Football Conference (NFC) Championship game on Sunday, January 28.
The Detroit Lions were leading the game 24-7 at halftime and most fans felt pretty confident, including myself; however, the game is never over until it is over. The Lions gave up 27 unanswered points within the second half of the game and ended up losing 31-34 to the San Francisco 49ers.
The Lions lost this game because of bad coaching decisions and a lack of effort as a complete team. Dan Campbell, head coach of the Detroit Lions, decided to go for a first down on fourth down, not once, but twice inside the 30-yard-line instead of kicking the field goals. Campbell had ideally left six points on the scoreboard, which could have ultimately turned the game into a win for the Lions.
I was watching the game at my house and I was having a rollercoaster of emotions. At first, I liked the idea of going for the fourth down: there were seven minutes left in the third quarter and they were up by two touchdowns. Quarterback Jared Goff took the snap from under center and dropped back, he had to step up in the pocket and then threw the ball to Wide Receiver Josh Reynolds.
The pass bounced off Reynolds hands, failing to gain the first down. Then all went downhill from there, the Lions allowed a field goal, and then another touchdown from the 49ers without scoring. The Lions then fumbled the ball on their next drive which led to another San Francisco touchdown that ultimately tied the game.
I then realized that taking the points is extremely important in a big game: instead of only being up by 17, they would’ve been up by three touchdowns, and instead it was only two and a field goal. The Lions had lost this game because of the coach’s decision to attempt a fourth down play and because they also couldn’t catch a pass in the second half.
The game was heartbreaking to watch and even more heartbreaking knowing they could’ve gone to the Super Bowl and they missed their opportunity. On the other hand, I think it was a great season and the Lions are in a great spot to keep succeeding. Overall, this year was a very entertaining and historical season to witness.
Students and staff at Northview have been talking about the devastation they felt with their team’s loss so close to making the Super Bowl, Which would have been the first time in the franchise’s history.
Choir Teacher Jack Philipson has been a Lions fan his whole life and has even been to a few games this season, including the NFC divisional round where the Lions beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“I was at a friend’s house,” Philipson said. “We were being superstitious about where people were sitting. We made sure everybody had their Lion’s gear on. We air-fried some chicken wings. It was a good setup.”
This loss was frustrating to watch, but this season has Philipson hopeful for the future with the young Lions team.
“I truly believe this young core [of Defensive End] Aiden Hutchinson, [Running Back] Jamir Gibbs, [Wide Receiver] Amon Ra St. Brown, [Tight End] Sam Laporta and Campbell leading the charge will see a championship,” Philipson said.
The Lions gained a lot of media attention over the last three years when Dan Campbell took over. Now, more players are interested in coming to play for the culture of the Detroit Lions.
“I think we’re also getting the attention of some of these, you know, all time legendary guys that are entering free agency that they’re going, shoot, that’s an organization they might want to play for. Because of this culture, it’s clear Dan Campbell goes on fourth down.” Philipson said.
Junior Cadyn Pranger is an avid Lions fan and has been watching games closely all year.
“At halftime I thought the Lions were going to be going to the Super Bowl, and [then] the game ended.”Pranger said. “I was left in a sorrowful state.”
The game had left a lot of pain in Lions fans this year and ruined the mood of a lot of Lions fans “It was pretty frustrating to watch,” Pranger said. “I think everybody in the room just went quiet. It was a hard time.”
No matter what person or player you want to blame, the Lions had a record breaking season and I believe they are in a great spot to be great again next year. The Detroit Lions football team is on the rise and it’s only a matter of time until this team sees their first Super Bowl appearance. It sucks it wasn’t this year, but this season was a mood changer and made fans believe the team is taking the right steps to keep moving forward.
