GO LIONS!!! A Magical Run, A Healthy Culture, & A Doctor’s Predictions
Anyone who has lived in the Metro Detroit area for any extended time can appreciate what an exciting time this has been to be a Detroit Lions fan. Heck, anyone living in Michigan can appreciate what an exciting time this has been to be a football fan with Michigan winning the National Championship. But for a city that has been starving for success from their beloved and perennially struggling Lions for decades this newfound success has been something special and the whole country seems to be pulling for our Lions right now.
A Magical Run
How could you not? The turnaround has been remarkable. From 2018 through the first 7 games of last season (coach Dan Campbell’s second season here) the team had gone 18-52. That’s……really bad. But the foundation Campbell was laying along with general manager Brad Holmes solidified suddenly at that point in the season last year and they’ve gone 22-7 since including two straight home playoff wins and a city FILLED with excitement.
Why are we posting this here on the blog of a medical clinic?
Dr. Jeff S. Pierce has lived in Metro Detroit for many years and has worked with different Detroit sports teams and professional athletes along the way. He has been appearing on the Ermanni & Edwards with Maz show on Woodward Sports Network as the Injury Insider on Thursdays at 3PM to lend his expertise on the various injuries the Lions and other teams experience. He’s uniquely qualified to do this and his knowledge is useful for all of us whether as fans (or fantasy geeks) or for those of us who are are serious about our fitness and exercise, weekend warriors or simply and unfortunately get injured in an accident.
A Doctor’s Predictions
It’s gone beyond just talking about injuries though.
Dr. Pierce is on a roll. Sam LaPorta the all-everything rookie beast TE out of Tight End U (Iowa) injured his knee in the season finale vs. the Vikings and there was serious doubt about whether he would be able to play in the game vs. the L.A. Rams – a game with a ton of drama with the return of former Lions QB Matt Stafford to Ford Field. Dr. Pierce predicted that he would indeed be able to play and be effective, breaking down the nature of a bone contusion in the knee and why he believed he would be able to play with that type of injury.
Dr. Pierce nailed it.
Not only was LaPorta able to play with a brace on his knee, he caught a touchdown pass and was effective blocking which requires leverage and strength. Here’s LaPorta’s touchdown…
But the following week Dr. Pierce outdid himself… he predicted the exact final score of the Tampa Bay game! Check this out…
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Dr. Pierce snapped this photo himself of the scoreboard and that was indeed the final score!!! D Business – Detroit’s Premier Business Journal even picked up on it with an article about the prediction!
A Healthy Culture
So here’s the thing. There is something special going on with the culture of the Lions in that organization and in that locker room. Dr. Pierce spoke about it on the show – we pick it up below right at the 1:41:24 mark where Braylon Edwards tees up the topic…. take a look:
He is on to something here – if you watch the whole segment Dr. Pierce discusses how proper communication, respect, culture, leadership – all of these things inform how these professionals go about their recovery. They can be honest about an injury – how they’re feeling. It’s a business but with a coach that LEADS and cares about his guys? That’s why you see players properly recovering in the proper timeframes and working towards a common goal. They will play through pain when they can but don’t fear not playing when they can’t. It’s the perfect mix and not only did Dr. Pierce nail it but we saw the evidence of it when Jared Goff said Dan Campbell was the best leader he has ever been around and then Campbell’s reaction to that when he was told Goff said it. It’s a lesson we can all learn in business, in injuries and our health, and in LIFE.
GO LIONS!
So yes – GO LIONS and we hope you’ve enjoyed this summary of their magical run through the eyes, the knowledge and the predictions of our fearless leader and that you’re enjoying the success of the team as much as Dr. Pierce has!