Is the “Detroit Lions Hangover” real? If so, it just claimed another victim.
Earlier in the week, myself and Erik Schlitt debated the legitimacy of what we’re calling the “Detroit Lions Hangover.” The theory is that Lions opponents—win or lose—are so impacted by the game against Detroit that they follow up that game with a complete letdown.
The evidence after four weeks was interesting.
Rams: Lost to Cardinals 41-10 after Lions game
Buccaneers: Lost to Broncos, 26-7 after Lions game
Cardinals: Lost to Commanders, 42-14 after Lions game
Still, I wasn’t too convinced. The Rams and Cardinals have enough questions (and injuries) that could explain getting blown out after their Lions game.
However, in Week 5, the NFL delivered its most compelling evidence of the true existence of a “Detroit Lions hangover.” After losing to the Lions on “Monday Night Football,” the Seattle Seahawks were back at home as 7.5-point favorites over the 1-3 New York Giants. New York’s only win thus far had been a narrow victory over a hapless Browns team, and they were facing Seattle without their star rookie receiver Malik Nabers.
Yet the Giants walked away with a convincing 29-20 victory over the Seahawks. And that final score doesn’t really capture how lopsided the game felt. New York likely would have won by more had they not had a goal-line fumble that was returned for a 102-yard scoop-and-score.
Do the Lions emotionally exhaust teams to a point where they’re drained the next week? Are teams physically beaten by the Lions’ physical play and still feeling the after-effects seven days later? Is this the result of opponents giving it their all against Detroit, and having little left the next week? Or is this simply all a big coincidence?
We may never know, but this early trend is certainly fascinating.
