2020 Detroit Lions Awards: Game of the Year

Today, the Pridies—our imaginary awards for the Detroit Lions’ 2020 season—moves to Game of the Year. The Lions and their fans likely wish there were more candidates for this category, but when you only win five games on the season, there aren’t that many memorable games to celebrate.

Still, Detroit managed to create some drama, especially early in the season when a successful season still seemed possible, even if improbable.

Here are your four nominees for Detroit Lions 2020 Game of the Year.

Week 3: Lions 26, Cardinals 23

The Detroit Lions’ 2020 season was potentially already off the rails after losses to the Bears and Packers to start the season. A loss to the 2-0 Cardinals would put the Lions in a hole that not even a decent team could have gotten out of.

Instead, the Lions put together a pretty impressive game against what looked to be a dangerous Cardinals team. Detroit picked off Kyler Murray three times, and held Larry Fitzgerald to zero yards receiving—the lowest total for Fitzgerald since 2004.

Meanwhile, Matthew Stafford had a solid game, including a game-winning drive that started on his own 9-yard line. Detroit burned 4:49 off the clock, drove 70 yards, and kicked a 39-yarder for the win as time expired.

Week 7: Lions 23, Falcons 22

One of the wildest games of the season, the Lions kept their season alive with an unlikely victory over the Falcons to move to 3-3 on the season.

Obviously, this game became infamous for the Falcons after running back Todd Gurley accidentally scored a touchdown when falling down at the 1-yard line would’ve almost certainly assured a Falcons win. Instead, the Lions had over a minute left to score the game-winning touchdown, and Detroit did exactly that as time expired.

What is lost in that recap is the amazing game Kenny Golladay had. So let’s take a moment to revisit his six-catch, 114-yard performance:

Week 12: Lions 25, Texans 41

I don’t usually put negative performances in our awards, but 2020 Thanksgiving turned out to be a pivotal moment in Lions history. The Houston Texans absolutely washed the Lions on national television, and it never even felt close, even when the Lions had a short-lived lead in the second quarter.

The blowout led to this photo of owner Sheila Ford Hamp going viral.

A couple days later, head coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn were relieved of their duties, leading Detroit into another regime change and a full rebuild that has caused the end of the Matthew Stafford era.

Week 13: Lions 34, Bears 30

In the first game under interim head coach Darrell Bevell, the Lions got a dramatic victory. Though Mitchell Trubisky, again, threw all over the Lions defense, Matthew Stafford rose to the occasion, throwing for 402 yards and three scores against a good Bears defense.

Detroit looked to be headed for their third-straight loss, but a late Romeo Okwara strip sack prevented the Bears from running out the clock, and gave the Lions a short field to re-take the lead.

Chicago had one more opportunity to win the ballgame, but Detroit’s defense had one more big play with this impressive fourth-down stop.

The win ended Detroit’s five-game losing streak to the Lions, and resulted in some emotional scenes from Bevell at Soldier Field.