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The Detroit Lions do not have a trophy case loaded with Lombardi Trophies. But Detroit still has a proud history in the NFL, including multiple NFL Championships before the Super Bowl era. The Lions also boast some of the best players in league history, most notably Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson.
Detroit has entered a new renaissance under head coach Dan Campbell. The Lions had arguably their best regular season in franchise history in 2024. Detroit won 15 games and secured the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, both of which had never been done before.
Does that make 2024 the best season in Lions history? And if not, where does it stack up among the other memorable seasons in franchise legend?
Below we will explore the top 10 best Detroit Lions teams of all time.
Regular Season Record: 11-5
Result: Lost against Cowboys 24-20 in Wild Card Round
Superlative: Peak 2010s Lions, controversial playoff loss
We’ll start with one of the few Lions teams from this century.
The 2014 season was the peak of Lions football during the Matthew Stafford years.
Detroit was loaded with talent on both sides of the football. Stafford had both Megatron and Golden Tate at wide receiver, along with rookie tight end Eric Ebron. Detroit also had a strong running game with the duo of Reggie Bush and Joique Bell.
Let’s no forget the defense. The Lions had plenty of stars on defense, including superstar Ndamukong Suh, edge rusher Ezekiel Ansah, linebacker DeAndre Levy, and a young Darius Slay.
The Lions did not win the NFC North, but made the playoffs as a wild card team for the second time in Stafford’s career.
Detroit lost in controversial fashion, thanks to a picked up flag that could have changed the game in their favor.
Regular Season Record: 11-3
Result: Missed the playoffs
Superlative: Third consecutive Playoff Bowl win
The sad truth is that it is still tough to create a bulletproof top 10 list for Lions seasons.
As a result, I am including the 1962 season where the Lions failed to make the playoffs. But there is some important context to consider.
The Lions had a great regular season, finishing with 11 wins. They only missed the playoffs because the 13-1 Packers made it to the NFL Championship. Remember, the playoff format at the time only sent the top team from each conference to the title game.
The NFL held a Playoff Bowl each season during the 1960s, which was essentially a game for third place in the league. Detroit won its third consecutive Playoff Bowl in 1962, showcasing just how close the team was to additional title game appearances.
By the way, the Lions handed the Packers their only loss of the regular season, 26-14, on Thanksgiving. That’s a great cherry on top.
Regular Season Record: 15-2
Result: Lost against Commanders 45-31 in Divisional Round
Superlative: Best regular season in franchise...
