DETROIT — Hope is not a word that’s generally been associated with Detroit.
It’s a city that has struggled economically and one that also has had its struggles in sports, specifically with the Lions.
It wasn’t long ago that the Lions were considered the laughingstock of the NFL, perennial losers who, on the rare occasions when they did reach the playoffs, lost, lost and lost some more.
Before last season, the Lions hadn’t won a playoff game since they reached the 1991 NFC Championship game. They were 0-9 in the postseason since that ’91 title game before going on their run to the conference championship game last season.