20 years on: are the 1991 Lions the best ever?

This season will be the 20th year since arguably the greatest Lions team ever, and definitely the best of the superbowl era. When I mentioned to my wife that the Lions had only one playoff win in the last 20 years she thought I was joking, then took back the laughter as that fact sank in (I later told her that it was the Lions only playoff win...of the superbowl era! Now she knows what she married into!)
I wanted to pay tribute to and reflect on the sheer beauty of that team, the magic and tradgedy of that season, and just how special the Lions were back then. It stands as a sadness that the best the Lions were didn't match up to the power of the greatest Dallas and San Francisco teams of that decade. Later on the Packers would step up and the Lions were continually good, but not good enough. It is sad and tough. The Lions would slowly orchestrate their own destruction with letting good players go, then good coaches, then hiring Millen at the start of a new decade and post-Barry era...and the rest is history better forgotten...

The Lions finished the previous season 6-10 and 3rd in the division (sound familiar? I hope so...) They hadn't made the playoffs since 1983 and hadn't had a winning season since. The Lions had 2nd year pro and former Heisman winner Andre Ware who had huge expectations but did not fit as of yet (and wouldn't). Ware had run a lot of the 'run and shoot' offense and it seemed he would fit in Fontes offense whey ran a very exciting Run and Shoot themselves. The Lions had Rodney Pete and Eric Kramer at QB, with Ware not in the starting picture after being beaten out in training camp. They had exciting first round wide receiver Herman Moore added to the offense to go with superstar Barry Sanders in the backfield. In 1990 he was the only Lion in the pro bowl and no one envisaged the year that was to come.
With little to no expectations of what they would acheive the Lions headed off to Washington for the season opener at RFK Stadium, a place they had never won in. The Redskins were the dominant force of the 1991 season and no one came close to stopping the hogs and the Joe Gibbs machine. The Lions were embarassed 45-0. However, fight was there. Late in the 4th quarter with the Redskins in the redzone running out the clock Chris Spielman was screaming to Riggins and Rypien to bring it, rather than let the clock expire. Wayne Fontes is maybe the greatest Lions coach ever, he had a way with the team that would be sorely missed later in its absence.
If there were no expectation before week 1 then after the thumping by the Redskins no would be laughed off for expecting the poor start to continue. However, the Lions were then 5-1 by the bye week with Rodney Peete and Barry Sanders running a slick offense with dynamic receiving corps of Brett Perriman, Herman Moore, Willie Green and Mike Farr. Not to mention that Mel Gray was one heck of a kick returner. The Lions had 3 division wins including a demolition of Tampa. Inconsistency reigned though. Following their bye week San Francisco destroyed Detroit. Then the Lions ripped Dallas apart at home, but at great cost. Rodney Peete was lost for the season with a knee injury. Eric Kramer, journeyman QB took over instead of Ware but in his first 2 starts the Lions lost to Chicago and Tampa to fall to 6-4.

In week 12 at home to the LA Rams, Mike Utley suffered a horrendous spinal injury. Unknown to him, he gave a thumbs up sign to the crowd as he was stretchered off the field. His injury left him paralysed from the waist down. For the rest of the season the players wore number 60 apparel on their helmets and the thumbs up sign became a rallying cry. The Lions won out the remaining 6 games including a decisive win over Chicago and a win over the superbowl bound Buffalo Bills in week 17. They finished the season with a 12-4 record which is still their best ever, and the first (and only) division title of the superbowl era. Finishing 2nd in the NFC the Lions gained a first round bye and a rematch at home with Dallas in the divisional playoffs.

How would they fare without Rodney Peete tearing up Dallas? The Cowboys had just won their first playoff game since 1992 and were looking good. They set up their game to stop Barry Sanders who had over 1500 yards in 1991. Eric Kramer however, would have the game of his life. He threw for 341 yards and 3 touchdowns with Barry Sanders closing the game out with a 47 yard touchdown run. January 5th 1992 is a day Lions fans will never forget and is 'that game' that we keep talking about. In the second quarter Mel Jenkins picked off a Troy Aikman pass and returned it for a touchdown. The Lions scored 24 unanswered points and shut out Aikman, Emmit Smith and Michael Irvin in the second half in a rout in Pontiac. Everything went right in that game. Spielman intercepted a pass as the Lions forced 4 turnovers, and Barry Sanders broke free for a 47 yard touchdown run to round it off.

With this the Lions finished the season undefeated at home in the Thunderdome. They were unbeatable indoors. The Lions were in their first NFC Championship and anything seemed possible. The emotional rollercoaster of a season had led them this far and would even be able to carry them through RFK and an unstoppable Redskins team. If the divisional playoff game was one where everything went right, then the NFC Championship was the complete opposite.

Truth be told I have watched this game many times. It is hard to watch and the second half I have only bothered to watch once. It is tough watching a disconsolate Barry Sanders on the sidelines, watching a sad Ray Crockett marching off the field surrounded by joyous Redskins players, tough watching Andre Ware try and see out the game and make something of his opportunity (throwing a pick six to Darrell Green as he does it).
The Lions started badly, Kramer being sack fumbled in the first 2 minutes and intercepted on the second series. But then he found his groove and the Lions pulled back to 10-7 and were down 17-10 at halftime. But credit to the Redskins, it really was their year and they completely dominated the second half. Kramer was sacked 5 times and constantly had to change the line under the immense pressure being shown up front. Charles Mann was a beast and rookie right tackle Scott Conover was bullied. The Lions receivers along with Barry were finding their game in the first half and beginning to turn things round but once the contest had left them the Lions couldn't play catch up. It was a very sad way to end the season and that team would never quite return.

When you look at the team the Lions had that year, you can't help but think "Wow..." That was a truly underrated team and it never quite recovered after that magical ride. Dallas and San Francisco rose to prominence while Tampa and Green Bay would rise in the division.

Part of the issue is Ford would never let Fontes get comfortable in the coaches seat. The Lions could not add to the squad around Barry Sanders to build a championship team. At the quarterback position the Lions had good but not great players in Scotty Mitchell and Charlie Batch. This also held the team back but for me the main issue was far too many good players were allowed to leave. Willie Green and Ray Crockett both won superbowls with Denver later on and we all know how the story ended with Barry. Saving money by letting good players leave for greener pastures is not how you win the superbowl. Couple that with poor drafting and you can see why Barry left.
What can we learn for today from the best year the Lions ever had? Comparing this brilliant team to the 2008 Lions makes you sick. But in the Lions of 2010 we have a lot of the magic the 1991 team had. Imagining the Lions in the NFC Championship game is hard, but gosh can't you just see the future Herman Moore, Bennie Blades, Mel Jenkins, Brett Perriman, Chris Spielman, Willie Green, Mel Gray and Barry Sanders on the Lions team today..?

Believe 2011. Go Lions win!