Tom Brady once said, “The start of the season is always about setting the tone.” Four weeks in, it’s clear the tone in the NFC North has been set by the gritty team from Detroit.
Sure, the 17-game schedule makes it awkward to call anything a “quarter” of the season, but the math still feels right: four games down, three quarters to go. Let’s break it down.
Game 1: at Green Bay – Loss (0-1)
The Lions didn’t exactly start by setting the tone. Green Bay treated Week 1 like their Super Bowl, pulling out all the stops—trading two future first-rounders and Kenny Clark to Dallas for Micah Parsons. Add in Detroit breaking in two first-time coordinators, and the result was a sloppy, mistake-ridden opener.
Jordan Love had his way with the secondary, the red zone was a nightmare, and fans immediately began to wonder: Did we overhype this team? Did losing Ben Johnson break the offense? Would Hutchinson ever be the same after his injury?
Or maybe, just maybe, it was Week 1 overreactions.
Game 2: vs Chicago – Win (1-1)
Cue the get-right game. Back home against Chicago, Detroit unleashed a 50-burger on their old offensive coordinator. The offense exploded—touchdowns from Montgomery, Gibbs, Jamo, Wright, and a hat trick from St. Brown.
The defense got to Caleb Williams, Hutch notched his first sack, and the doubts from Week 1 melted away. Fans celebrated, but Campbell and company immediately set their sights on a prime-time test in Baltimore.
Game 3: at Baltimore – Win (2-1)
Nobody—and I mean nobody—in the media gave the Lions a chance in Baltimore. Outdoor stadium. Prime time. Lamar Jackson. Yet Detroit stood toe-to-toe and punched back harder.
Montgomery (151 yards, 2 TDs) and Gibbs (67 yards, 2 TDs) powered the offense while Goff managed the game behind a line finally clicking. St. Brown added another score, and suddenly Detroit wasn’t just rebounding—they were reestablishing themselves as contenders.
From “pretenders” after Week 1 to “juggernaut” by Week 3, the narrative flipped fast.
Game 4: vs Cleveland – Win (3-1)
On short rest, the Lions faced a hot Browns team fresh off a Packers win. Vegas set the line at Detroit -9.5, still doubting. The defense responded by allowing just three points after the opening drive.
The pass rush was relentless. Interceptions piled up. A once-questioned D-line became a strength. Gibbs added 91 yards and a score, St. Brown went for 70 yards and two touchdowns, and Kalif Raymond—“Gritty Leaf”—took a punt return to the house, reminding everyone why he’s still one of the league’s best return men.
1st Quarter Standings
- Detroit Lions: 3-1
- Green Bay Packers: 2-1-1
- Minnesota Vikings: 2-2
- Chicago Bears: 2-2
Detroit dropped an early divisional game, but redemption looms on Thanksgiving at Ford Field. The bigger picture? After stumbling out of the gate, the Lions rattled off three straight wins and reclaimed control of the division.
Lesson learned? This team thrives on adversity. They hear the noise, feed on it, and use it to fuel their climb.
So NFL media, don’t try to hop on the bandwagon now. The train left the station weeks ago. The true believers are already on board.
Next stop: Super Bowl.