Once upon a chilly December afternoon in 2021, the Detroit Lions—those perennial underdogs of the kingdom of Football—welcomed the mighty Arizona Cardinals, who arrived boasting feathers of glory and a record most splendid.
But lo! In Ford Field’s enchanted dome, something peculiar stirred. The Lions, long mocked as sleepy kittens, awoke with a roar so fierce it rattled the rafters. Jared Goff, once a prince in exile, threw three golden touchdowns; young Amon-Ra St. Brown danced through defenders like a mischievous sprite; and Craig Reynolds galloped for 112 yards as if chased by fairy dust.
Meanwhile, the proud Cardinals—soaring high all season—found their wings mysteriously soggy. Kyler Murray’s spells fizzled, his passes bewitched into the waiting arms of Detroit’s defenders.
When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard told a fairy tale few believed possible: Lions 30, Cardinals 12.
And somewhere in Detroit, a long-suffering fan whispered, “Perhaps the curse is lifting.”