Sep 5, 20233 min read

Tone Setter

Tis the football season, the season that slithers chills down our spine the moment the gates open. You can smell it in the air. The tellys are plastered with teases and the colors in the trees turn the corner. As Americans and as football fans, we are custom to this time of the year. Labor Day passes and it's officially the season. However, in Detroit, this season feels much different than those in the past 30. It feels special. It feels like a deep breathe of joy.

Going into week one of an NFL season, the Detroit Lions, are never spoken about outside of their circle. When they do get attention, it's usually negative. "The laughing stock of the NFL"; "Same old Lions"; "who cares it's the Lions" is the normal drag. 20 years of normal. Not this season. For Detroit, this season isn't their normal. Their normal was the past. The landscape has changed, the air is fresh, and the losing vibes are now a dust. This season the Detroit Lions don't enter the season a forgotten laugh- they enter it with everyone's attention and a golden tone setter to cash in.

The Lions kick off the 2023 NFL season in the opening game special against the defending Super Bowl champion, Kansas City Chiefs. Primetime. One of the most watched games of the season and the Lions are on center stage. Not on center stage as a massive underdog and a team expected to be blown out, but as a young team with a confident roster to steal the night with no shock.

Last year, Detroit finished off the regular season on a 8-2 run that helped propel them to a winning record for the first time since 2017. Lions now have a MASSIVE opportunity to continue their momentum into the new campaign and create a stepping stone to help them claim their first playoff berth in seven years.

The Chiefs are never an easy task, especially in their Kingdom. They do have two massive Xs on the opening day to play card with star DL Chris Jones more than likely OUT (hold out) and star TE Travis Kelce likely OUT with a leg injury sustained in practice today. Two blows to the Chiefs that they may not be able to overcome with how rock solid that Lions' offensive line is. Detroit is looking to take advantage on the Chiefs' misfortune.

Lions' fans have a right to feel excited, they have a right to enjoy this fresh air to open the season. For being one of the most depressed franchises in all of the Big 4, their fans don't know how to quit. They refuse to. To be forced to deal with the Ford regime; Millen + Quinn; decades of losing; and still be diehard fans is unreal passion. Times are a up, at last.

For living in Michigan post Barry years as a non-Lions fan, I had to watch that travesty of a franchise and watch their fans suffer. Even non-Lions fans should be excited about the Lions having this moment and opportunity. It's good for football to have them out of the basement. It will be good for football to have that kind of fan base make their own mark in playoff atmosphere once again. Hey Lions, don't spoil this opportunity.

Detroit can't overthink the meaning of this opportunity. This could be a special season for those in Honolulu Blue colors, a season that can change the landscape of the franchise. It all starts Thursday. Will they take advantage and create a tone setter? Two more sleeps and we find out. Two more sleeps and its officially football season. Rejoice!

Tone Setter

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