The Detroit Lions are getting no respect going into Sunday’s game with the Green Bay Packers and there’s good reason for that.
1. They’re the Detroit Lions.
2. They haven’t won a game at Lambeau Field since 1991.
It was December 15, 1991 to be exact. It was a forgettable 4-12 season for the Packers — one that got Lindy Infante fired as head coach. It was a glorious 12-4 season for the Lions, a team that would go on to maul the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round before losing to Washington in the NFC championship. And that’s the closest Detroit has ever been to a Super Bowl.
In the game, the Packers were led by Bears retread Mike Tomczak because Don Majkowski was, unsurprisingly, injured. Their running back was Vince Workman. Yes, Pookie. About the only good players the Packers had at the time were Sterling Sharpe and linebacker Tony Bennett, who had 13 sacks that season. The defense also had some future stars in second-year DB LeRoy Butler, who was still a cornerback then, and linebacker Bryce Paup, who would go on to win a defensive player of the year award with the Bills.
Some guy named Robert Clark caught two touchdowns for the Lions in the game. The immortal Erik Kramer tossed those TDs. Barry Sanders ran for 85 yards, but it took him 27 carries to get that yardage. Ultimately, the Packers were done in by a fourth quarter punt return for a touchdown by All Pro return man Mel Gray.
That gave the Lions a 21-10 lead in what was a defensive struggle. A late Tomczak touchdown pass to Workman made the final score 21-17.
That was a REAL long time ago though.
Here are some other things that were going on in December 1991.
- The top-rated TV show was 60 Minutes, followed by Cheers
- The top-selling album was Michael Jackson’s Dangerous
- The No. 1 single was All 4 Love by Color Me Badd
- The highest-grossing movie was Hook
- Richard Gere had just married Cindy Crawford
That either makes you feel old or wonder what the hell I’m talking about.
Since 1991, the Green Bay Packers have…
- Appeared in three Super Bowls, winning two
- Won 11 division titles
- Made 16 playoff appearances
- Won 17 playoff games
- Had four league MVPs
- Had two players win defensive player of the year
- Had one rookie of the year
Since 1991, the Detroit Lions have…
- Appeared in zero Super Bowls
- Won two division titles
- Made seven playoff appearances
- Won one playoff game
- Had one league MVP
- Had one rookie of the year
- Had one 0-16 season
And this, ladies and gentlemen, are why the Detroit Lions are the Detroit Lions.