Detroit Lions End Winless Streak, Dedicate Win To Oxford Community

Joe MorganDecember 6, 2021

Nearly a year to the day of their last win, the Detroit Lions gave their fans some Christmas cheer.

Entering Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit was 0-10-1 on the season, their last win coming in week 13 of the 2020 regular season. First-year head coach Dan Campbell had yet to taste victory, and the Lions were headed for the second winless season in franchise history.

They are now off the schneid.

Detroit walked off the Vikings with a touchdown pass from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown as time expired, sending Ford Field into a frenzy as the Lions beat the Vikings 29-27.

As called on Detroit Lions radio: pic.twitter.com/sRqYdyXxnm

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) December 5, 2021

“You want this so bad for the players because they’re the ones who put in all the hard work, the sweat, the tears,” Campbell said. “When you lose, it hurts, but it’s also why winning is so great, because it isn’t easy to do.”

Following the win, Campbell dedicated the game ball to the victims of the school shooting that took place in Oxford, Michigan, on Tuesday.

“This game ball goes to the whole Oxford community and all those who were affected,” Campbell said. “And that being said, man, I just … I want us to not forget these names: Madisyn Baldwin, Hana St. Juliana, Justin Shilling, Tate Myre, Phoebe Arthur, Jon Asciutto, Riley Franz, Elijah Mueller, Kylie Ossege, Aiden Watson and Molly Darnell, who’s a teacher.”

“Those names for all those who will never be forgotten and they’re in our hearts and in our prayers,” he added.

After the Lions’ first win of the season, Dan Campbell dedicated the game ball to the Oxford community 🙏

(via @Lions)pic.twitter.com/PPyQ48Mol0

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 5, 2021

Detroit almost found a way to blow their best chance at a win, heading into halftime with a 20-6 lead.

With 4:08 left in the fourth quarter and the Lions clinging to a 23-21 lead, Campbell chose to go for it on a fourth-and-one from their own 28-yard line. Goff was sacked and fumbled on the play, giving the ball to Minnesota on the Detroit 19-yard line.

Vikings get the strip sack! #SKOL

📺: #MINvsDET on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/Y6J7s3uUH7

— NFL (@NFL) December 5, 2021

Minnesota quickly took back the lead on a three-yard touchdown from Kirk Cousins to Justin Jefferson — the Vikings two-point attempt failed — giving Goff and the Lions 1:50 to win the game.

14-plays later, Detroit found the endzone, finally giving Lions fans a reason to celebrate.

“You never hope for a tragedy like this, but you hope to be a light for those people and a positive thing that they can have fun watching today,” Goff said, fighting back tears while wearing an Oxford hat. “I hope that they were all watching today and were able to enjoy that win, and we can take their minds off it for whatever it may be, three hours. I think anytime we can do that, it’s a lot bigger than our sport, it’s a lot bigger than us. I think that today is one of those special circumstances that we were able to rise to the occasion and make something special happen.”

Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].

The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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