GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — It has never been better to be a Lions fan. The Detroit Lions are 8-1 and not just a Super Bowl contender in some eyes even a Super Bowl favorite.
Thanks to Jake Bates’ Sunday night heroics, the Lions continue to prove they are one of the best teams in the league and one of the best in the franchise’s history. That is illustrated by several key numbers.
After stumbling in Week 2 against Tampa Bay, the Lions have ripped off seven consecutive wins. Their active single-season streak is the team’s longest since 1995.
They have a chance to break the franchise’s all-time record of 10, set when the 1934 team started the season a perfect 10-0 before dropping their final three games and ceding the NFL title to the Chicago Bears.
The Lions also had a 7-game win streak in 1962 and an 8-game streak in 1931.
Their 8-1 start is Detroit’s best since 1954 when Bobby Layne’s Lions dominated the NFL West. That team finished the regular season 9-2-1 but got blown out 56-10 by Cleveland in the league championship game.
Even quarterback Jared Goff, who has made history of his own with his elite play this season, managed to update the franchise’s record books. According to the NFL, Goff is the first Lion since Frankie Sinkwich to throw at least five interceptions in a game and still win.
It has only happened two other times in the last 30 years. Matt Ryan and the Falcons rallied past the Cardinals for a 23-19 in 2012. Tony Romo and the Cowboys eked past Buffalo 25-24 in 2007.
Detroit does have a reasonable chance to match or even break that 10-game record. Their next three opponents are all under .500 — Jacksonville (2-8), Indianapolis (4-6), Chicago (4-5) — and two of the three games are at home. If they can make it through that stretch clean, they would host the Green Bay Packers (6-3) for that hypothetical record-breaking win.
The Lions’ strong season continues Sunday with a home game against the Jaguars. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
