On this date 49 years ago Tobin Rote threw for four touchdowns and ran for another as the Detroit Lions defeated the Cleveland Browns, 59-14, in the NFL championship game. It was the Lions’ third title of the Fifties, all over the Browns.
Since then the Lions have missed 40 out of 49 post seasons (counting this year) and are 1-9 in games when they did make it. Only the Cardinals have done worse.
For nearly all of that time the Lions have been owned by William Clay Ford, grandson of Henry and son of Edsel Ford. The Lions aren’t exactly built Ford tough.