One year ago, the National Football League’s Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers each held a 1-5 record and were not going anywhere with their seasons. The 49ers haven’t tasted the playoffs since 2002, back when Barry Bonds had just set the single season homerun record in San Francisco for the Giants. The Lions go even further back, to 1999, months before Detroit native Eminem released his first major studio album. But fast forward to present day, after a thrilling Week 6 victory by the 49ers over the Lions, both these teams are at 5-1 each and are serious playoff contenders. What a difference a year can make?
The only accomplishment the Lions have been known for is their catastrophic 0-16, 2008 season. With high-draft picks, they have been able to slowly build up their repertoire of young talent and now feature one of the most explosive offenses and defenses in the league. Wide receiver Calvin Johnson, for example, who leads the NFL this season with nine receiving touchdowns, was drafted second overall in the 2007 Draft. Matthew Stafford, one of the most exhilarating young quarterbacks in the league, was the first overall pick in 2009. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was drafted with the second overall pick of the 2010 Draft. In addition, starting running back Jahvid Best is in his second year and starting tight end Brandon Pettigrew is in his third. With the youngest average age of any team in the NFL, the Lions are certainly here to stay.
Detroit has established itself as a contender this year with impressive road victories over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys and a Week 5 win in a Monday Night game against the defending NFC Central champion, division rival Chicago Bears. If it weren’t for the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers (6-0), the Lions would be the team to beat in the NFC North.
The key to the Lions’ success this year has been their offense.
The duo of Stafford and Johnson should strike fear in the hearts of defensive coordinators for years to come – that is, as long as Stafford, who has missed 19 games in the past two seasons, can stay healthy. Stafford, though, has already rallied his team from 20- and 24-point deficits on the road this season. Johnson, nicknamed Megatron for his big-play ability, is known for his size, speed, and great hands. To prove it, he had a touchdown in triple coverage earlier this season and is on pace to break the single-season touchdown record. As a team, the Lions are third in the NFL is points scored and lead in turnover margin with +9.
Meanwhile, the 49ers dominate primarily with their defense. Head coach Jim Harbaugh, brought in this season from Stanford to replace Mike Singletary, has been able to take advantage of the few weapons he has on offense. He has been widely credited with using quarterback Alex Smith efficiently. Before the season began, not many people in San Francisco believed in Alex Smith’s ability to lead a football team. But unlike the pass-happy teams that we see so much this year, the 49ers committed themselves to a quarterback who does not stretch the field vertically. Most of their offense depends on the legs of running back Frank Gore, who is fourth in the league in rushing yards with 541. On the defensive end, San Francisco, led by All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis, has allowed the fourth fewest points in the league. They are especially effective in their run defense, as they are the only team that has not allowed a rushing touchdown this season and have allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game. They also have the best red zone defense in the NFL.
This strong defensive unit has the 49ers leading the NFC West six weeks in. Although nothing is ever guaranteed in the NFL, San Francisco is pretty much a lock to take the division this year considering the weakness of the NFC West year after year. They have five games remaining against division rivals, all of which are currently below .500. Thus far, San Francisco has proven it can be successful in different scenarios; they have defeated opponents through blowout wins, close wins, comeback wins, and road wins. This year, they’ve already overcome their largest deficit in 15 years against Philadelphia and beat Tampa Bay 48-3, their largest margin of victory since 1987. Twice this year, they haven’t allowed a touchdown. The 2011 49ers are primed for success.
As great as the success of the Lions and 49ers has been, they haven’t been the only two feel-good stories of the season. Other teams are also exceeding expectations and demonstrating the ability to win. The Washington Redskins, anemic offense and all, have posted a 3-2 record and are second in a very tight NFC East. The Buffalo Bills, led by quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and arguably the biggest surprise this season, have a 4-2 record and are in second place in the AFC East.
On the opposite side of the coin, there are teams that have not lived up to expectations. The last place Philadelphia Eagles (2-4), who were proclaimed the “Dream Team” by backup quarterback Vince Young after the Eagles signed several big-name free agents this past offseason, have disappointed and underachieved. The Colts find themselves at 0-6 after losing future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning to injury, possibly for the entire season. Another team still winless, the 0-5 St. Louis Rams, were picked by many to break out this year behind second year quarterback Sam Bradford, but have failed to do so thus far.
This season, unlike any other, shows us that parity does exist in the NFL. The Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers illustrate this well. The two teams have taken two distinct paths to their current success. The Lions spent years stocking up on young talent and drafting shrewdly. Now, they can compete with the best in the NFL and know that they have a solid team for several years. Their defense may not be quite there yet, but the pieces are there with a devastating front seven. The 49ers, meanwhile, are taking advantage of what they have. Their coaching staff realizes that they don’t have a quarterback who can throw for 300 yards a game, so they choose to run the ball often with an elite running back in Frank Gore. Their defense has stepped up as well, while their special teams unit has consistently given them advantageous field position.
These two teams can serve as a model for small-market teams, and give their fan bases hope. In the NFL, any team can do anything in any given year. While this is certainly good news for the league and team executives, more importantly it is good news for the long-suffering fans of dysfunctional teams. They can rest assured that their team is only a few strong drafts or one coaching change away from success, given that the pieces are in place. The entire NFL, from the draft to the scheduling to how the playoffs are set up, is designed to give every team an equal chance. Anything is possible from one year to the next. With only 16 games to prove themselves, if a team gets hot at the right time, who knows what they’ll accomplish.
But don’t take my word for it; just ask the defending Super Bowl champions.
