Free McDonald’s fries with every Detroit Lions interception
After every Lions game in which the Lions intercept a ball, fans can get a free portion of McDonald’s famous French fries.
Detroit Lions, Super Bowl winners?
That’s Sports Illustrated’s prediction, as the publication features Lions players Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell in a 1957 Ford Fairlane on the cover of its annual “Football Preview” issue with the headline: “DRIVE TO REVIVE: The resurrected Lions: The right team, the right city, the right time.”
SI NFL writers Greg Bishop and Conor Orr have predicted the Lions to win the Super Bowl. The Lions last won the NFL championship in 1957.
“I think you just get a feel for some of these teams,” Orr told the Free Press on Wednesday. “You know how complete they look, how well coached they are, but the Lions just seem to have all the biomarkers of a successful team. I mean, they look like the most complete team in football right now.”
The Lions are coming off a 12-5 season and a trip to the NFC Championship Game, their best finish since 1991. The excitement in Detroit – and around the world – is higher than ever.
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“So Greg Bishop and I wanted to try to tell a story, a Detroit story, in addition to the Lions story,” Orr said. “We tried to focus on this one part of the rebuilding of this community church that was driven by the community members, in terms of all the money that was spent on it, and largely by volunteers and community contractors.”
Bishop and Orr focused on the battle between the team and the city.
“We thought that kind of embodied the grit and determination of the city,” Orr said. “We also almost told the story of the Lions, the story of the place that nobody really believed in and nobody thought would rise again. And, you know, we really got to know the DNA of the people who are helping to make that turnaround.”
Also playing a big role in SI’s selection for the Super Bowl were the Lions’ offensive and defensive lines, a focus of the rebuild led by general manager Brad Holmes.
“I think the confidence that you have, not only in their offensive line, but both of their practice lines,” Orr said. “I think their lines are superior to anybody else right now. I mean, you know, from tackle to tackle, their offensive line, defensive line, I think they’re totally underrated.”
Head coach Dan Campbell isn’t afraid to set high expectations for the team and not to rest on his laurels. SI writers believe the Lions are ready for the big stage and the road to the 59th Super Bowl in New Orleans in February.
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“I think with any of these teams, once you go from being a cool story to a perennial contender, every game is prime time,” Orr said. “You become a target. I think the regular season is going to be tough again. The NFC is not a cakewalk anymore, maybe not like it was a few years ago. I think there are going to be a lot of good, up-and-coming teams, even within their own division.”
While the Lions’ selection for the Super Bowl may have been a surprise, SI’s choice of cover athletes was not, according to Orr.
“I think the Lions have a city that really loves this team and that’s something that anyone can relate to nationally,” Orr said. “And you can pick up on that. You can feel the energy, you know, and plus I think guys like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell and Jared Goff really have star potential. I think they have what it takes to win both the press conference and the field.”
The Lions are the only NFC team to never appear in the Super Bowl. They have four NFL titles (1935, 1952, 1953 and 1957).
Lions fans: Get ready for this season by reliving the team’s epic 2023 season with a new book from the Free Press, “From Grit to Glory.” Order now!
