Detroit Lions Make History with 10-1 Start, First Since 1934
INDIANAPOLIS — It’s been nearly a century since the Detroit Lions last roared this loudly. Ninety years ago, George A. Richards purchased the Portsmouth Spartans and moved the franchise to Detroit, where they became the Lions. That inaugural season in 1934 saw the team blaze to a 10-1 start. Fast forward to 2024, and history has repeated itself. On Sunday, the Lions, led by head coach Dan Campbell, hit that same milestone with a commanding 24-6 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
But if you think Campbell is caught up in the historical significance, think again. “We’re so locked in on the here and now that it’s hard,” Campbell said after the game. “It’s a little bit like last year—you get through it, and maybe you can take a breath to turn around and look behind you and see what you did. But right now, we’re just going. We’re rolling.”
Road Warriors: Lions Stay Perfect Away from Home
While the 10-1 record is a headline-grabber, Campbell seemed more impressed with his team’s unbeaten road streak. The Lions are the NFL’s last undefeated road team this season, boasting a 6-0 record away from Ford Field. That’s a remarkable turnaround for a franchise that, just three years ago, finished 3-13-1 in Campbell’s first season as head coach. Since then, the Lions have steadily climbed the ranks, going 9-8 in 2022 and 12-5 last season, which included an NFC Championship Game appearance.
Sunday’s win also made the Lions the first NFC team to reach 10 wins this season—a first in franchise history. Campbell reflected on the journey, saying, “It gave me a flashback to 2022, and at that point, we were 0-11-1 on the road. And just thinking about that, and now I think we’re 16-5 since then. Just that group of guys… I said something in the locker room about it. I’m looking at Frank [Ragnow] and [Jared] Goff and Deck [Taylor Decker] and [Penei] Sewell, Alim [McNeill] and Saint [Amon-Ra St. Brown], and it’s like, ‘Man, you remember that?’”
He added, “But all of those guys are responsible for the flip. It says a lot. If you can win on the road, you’re normally a pretty good damn team, and we can win on the road.”
Streaking into the Record Books
With the win over the Colts, the Lions also notched their ninth consecutive regular-season victory. The only other time the franchise has achieved such a streak was in 1934, when they rattled off 10 straight wins, according to ESPN Research. Quarterback Jared Goff, who completed 26 of 36 passes for 269 yards on Sunday, summed up the team’s mindset: “We are road warriors. We love it. We come together on the road, and we have an us-against-the-world mentality. It’s fun when we can get our own fans here. The way they show out, it’s really unbelievable. They do a helluva job.”
Defense Shines Bright
While the Lions’ offense has been grabbing most of the headlines, the defense has quietly been putting together an impressive season under defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Detroit hasn’t allowed a touchdown in 10 straight quarters, a testament to the unit’s discipline and accountability. For the third time this season, the Lions’ defense held an opponent to fewer than 10 points, the most in a single season for the team since 1983.
“We expect to win. It’s not a feeling where you walk in and you’re guessing whether it’s gonna happen,” said Lions nose tackle DJ Reader. “Guys expect excellence out of themselves and others on our team, so I think that’s the best part. Even though you see the score today, we’re still out there on each other.”
Thanksgiving Showdown Awaits
Next up for the Lions is their annual Thanksgiving game, a tradition that dates back to 1934. This year, they’ll host the Chicago Bears, a division rival. The Lions haven’t won on Thanksgiving since 2016, but with the way this team is playing, that streak could be in serious jeopardy.
Running back David Montgomery, who scored a second-quarter rushing touchdown against the Colts, spoke about the team’s unique chemistry. “We’ve got a group of selfless humans. I call this place ‘The Land of Misfit Toys,’” Montgomery said. “You go to a place where people say that you’re not good enough or this team is not supposed to be exactly who we are, and we’re not proving anybody wrong, but we’re in the mix to try to prove ourselves right. So, I think that’s big.”
With a 10-1 record, an undefeated road streak, and a defense that’s playing lights out, the Lions are proving they’re not just a feel-good story—they’re a legitimate contender. As Thanksgiving approaches, Detroit fans have plenty to be thankful for, and the rest of the NFL has plenty to fear.
Originally Written by: Eric Woodyard
