The Detroit Lions are heading into Week 11 of the NFL season with high hopes for a Super Bowl run, despite losing star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson to injury.
The Lions, standing at an impressive 8-1 record, are strong contenders for the No. 1 NFC playoff seed, but they’ll have to make their push without their top defensive playmaker.
While the Lions continue to roll through the league, playing without the face of the franchise has been a tough pill to swallow for many Detroit fans.
NFL Hall of Famer and Detroit legend Barry Sanders believes the Lions need to seize the golden opportunity that this season presents.
Sanders is urging the team to make the most of their dominant start and build on the ultra-impressive foundation they’ve constructed.
Sanders shared his thoughts on the Lions’ championship aspirations in a recent interview with Marshawn Lynch on the Get Got Pod podcast. (What a name, huh?)
“It has to be; it has to be absolutely,” Sanders said when asked if this is the year the Lions finally get the job done. “In this game, nothing is promised. You look at going back three years ago just how they’ve slowly just built and constructed this roster offensively and defensively.
“Every year, they’ve added a few more wins, and two years ago going into Green Bay, Green Bay had a chance to go to the playoffs. We were knocked out, but we were still fighting for respectability. Then last year come back, NFC Championship game, we don’t have to go through the details of that game and how we were in command at halftime.”
The Lions have a realistic shot at their first Super Bowl in franchise history this year, holding the second-best odds at +460 to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. (Only the Kansas City Chiefs have better odds at +430, according to FanDuel.)
Detroit made a proactive move at the trade deadline to bolster their defensive, acquiring veteran pass rusher Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns.
Smith, a seasoned player known for his tenacity and leadership, provides critical support in the wake of Hutchinson’s injury.
While he can’t fully replicate Hutchinson’s impact, Smith’s skillset could help the Lions maintain pressure on opposing offenses and sustain their defensive momentum going forward.
“Obviously we’re really crushed about what happened to Aidan Hutchinson,” Sanders continued. “You know he was the best player on the team, and we feel for him, and we know he’ll be back soon.
“We’re definitely going to miss him, but to answer your question, we’ve been building for this moment for this season. We’re off to a great start so yes, this is the year, absolutely yes because we don’t know what’s going to happen next year, so this is this year.”
It’s impossible to put into words just how devastating the injury to Hutchinson was. Even the biggest Lions hater in the world has to feel awful about it, at least privately.
Interestingly, there is a slight chance that Hutchinson is able to return for the Super Bowl if the Lions get that far. (Wouldn’t that be something?)
What are your thoughts on Sanders’ comments? … Is this indeed the year that the Lions finally get over the hump and win the Super Bowl???