What life was like the last time Detroit Lions won two playoff games in a season: A look at things in 1957

If you’re under 67 years old, you were not alive the last time the Detroit Lions won two playoff games in the same season, which happened in 1957. It’s been a while since Lions fans have seen this kind of success, and now they are one win away from the franchise’s first-ever Super Bowl appearance.

For starters, when it last happened Bill Belichick was only 5 years old and The Beatles were three years away from forming, with Paul McCartney just 15 years old. Super glue, diet soda and power steering had all just been invented a few years earlier, McDonald’s was still new and the Barbie doll would not come around for two more years. 

To break this very long streak, the Lions defeated the Los Angeles Rams 24-23 in the divisional round and then beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23 to advance to the NFC Championship Game, where they will face the NFC’s top-seeded San Francisco 49ers. The Niners are coming off a 24-21 win over the No. 7 Green Bay Packers in the divisional round.

Now flash back to 1957, when the Lions defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-27 in the Conference Playoff and beat the Cleveland Browns 59-14 in the NFL Championship. 

Life was a little different back then, so we are taking a time machine to see how things were the last time Lions fans got to witness such success. Here’s a look at what things were like in 1957.

Lions’ 1957 season

Detroit went 8-4 that season and were first in the NFL Western Conference. The 49ers also ended 8-4, meaning there would be a playoff tiebreaker.

In the Western Conference championship, the Lions were down 24-7 against the Niners at halftime. Detroit had to rely on backup quarterback Tobin Rote, since starter Bobby Layne was out. Rote helped lead the comeback, as the team scored 24 unanswered points in the second half. It marks the last time the Lions won a road playoff game.

In the championship, the Browns were favored by three points and…

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Author : Shanna McCarriston

Publish date : 2024-01-22 19:57:49

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