The Detroit Lions awaited the Jacksonville Jaguars for their week 13 matchup at Ford Field. Both of these teams were 4-7 and looking to remain in the hunt for the playoffs. In a spectacular performance on both the offense and defense, the Lions beat the Jags in a 40-14 rout.

The Lions record is now 5-7, matching the win total from the 2020 season when Matt Patricia was the head coach. While five wins isn’t too impressive by week 13, it is a massive improvement from what the Lions were as a team last year. All but one of those three wins was a one-score nail biter. While you still can’t feel comfortable with the Lions in a close game, it’s a great refresher knowing that the Lions can win these games.

One thing worth noticing is that head coach Dan Campbell is building a culture of success that makes the players work hard and play hard. The players would run through a brick wall for their coach, and it showed on the field this game. Alongside the improved record, Campbell has also shown that he is capable of coaching a winning team.

Wide Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown continues to prove that he’s 2nd best receiver in the NFC North, behind Justin Jefferson. Quarterback Jared Goff has rebounded to the point where he’s getting Pro Bowl votes. Many players on defense are making names for themselves, including Aidan Hutchinson, Kerby Joseph, and James Houston.

With all of these diamonds in the rough, the Detroit Lions, who have yet to win a playoff game since the great Barry Sanders stepped foot on the football field, are en route to finally doing it again. It’s difficult to be optimistic with a team like the Lions, but it isn’t hard to be optimistic when a coach and his team of unrecognized talent is going down the path of success, even in games when they lose, compared to other times where it seemed like the Lions laid down and died on the field. The Lions of today lose with dignity, use their losses to their advantage, and use them as a learning experience to fix their weaknesses and become better overall players.

The remainder of the Lions schedule is difficult, but it’s not out of reach. Good teams will find ways to win, and the Lions this season have proven that it is a good team despite the losing record.

The Lions will play a rematch against the Minnesota Vikings this upcoming Sunday in what will likely be a shootout at Ford Field.