There really is nothing like being a Detroit Lions fan.

Before Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell came to turn things around the past few years, this franchise put their fans through decades of misery. They didn’t just lose games; they lost them spectacularly. They were the first 0-16 team in the history of the NFL. They had a head coach “take the wind” in overtime. They had another win just 13 games in three years. Before last year, they went 65 years — 65! — with just one playoff win. What other NFL franchise can say all that?

Most fans don’t choose Lions fandom; they’re born into it. Maybe you grew up in Michigan. Maybe your mom or dad passed the fandom down to you. Maybe you just love the team’s colors or mascot. No matter what, through all the ups and downs — mostly downs — you stuck by your team, hoping one day you could see it join the NFL’s elite and become a perennial Super Bowl contender.

That day has come. And what a journey it’s been to get here.

FROM JEFF SEIDEL: A death brought 2 Detroit Lions fans together. And then the team went above and beyond

Tell us your Lions story!

We want to hear the journey of your Detroit Lions fandom. How, and when, did you become a Lions fan? What is your favorite, or least favorite, memory watching games? Who’s your all-time favorite player? What’s the best game you ever attended? How did you cope during the tough times, and what does this current run of success mean to you? What would you do if the team went to the Super Bowl — and won it?

You can submit your story one of two ways:

• Call 313-222-2242 and leave a voicemail. After the greeting and beep, tell us your story, including your name, age and where you’re from. When you’ve finished your recording, you can hang up or press pound (#) for additional options, including reviewing your message (1), re-recording your message (2), or canceling your message (3).
• Record an audio or video clip of your story and submit it using this form. You’ll be prompted with a few questions, but it shouldn’t take more than a couple minutes to complete.

We plan to feature our favorite submissions on freep.com, our social media and podcast platforms, and in the newspaper. If you’d like to share a photo of yourself in your Lions gear as well, send us an email.

Thank you for telling us your Lions fan story!

Follow the Detroit Free Press on Instagram (@detroitfreepress), TikTok (@detroitfreepress), YouTube (@DetroitFreePress), Twitter/X (@freep), and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook (@detroitfreepress).

As the Detroit Red Wings seek to stake a claim in the wild-card race, taking care of the teams directly in front of them is crucial.

Patrick Kane scored in overtime to lift the Wings past the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, kicking off a four-game stand at Little Caesars Arena with a 3-2 victory.

The Wings (18-18-4) won their fifth straight game and reached 40 points, but the Senators remained a point ahead at 41.

Dylan Larkin extended his goal-scoring streak to four games when he converted on a power play in the first period.

Alex Lyon started the game but left after the first period because of an upper-body injury, ceding the net to Cam Talbot. Simon Edvinsson missed the second half of the second period after a collision on open ice, but returned for the start of the third period.

The Wings needed him: In addition to being a top-four defenseman, Edvinsson set up Joe Veleno’s goal five minutes into the third period. Veleno got his stick on Edvinsson’s rebound and managed to send the puck bar down despite being off balance to make it 2-2.

More: Red Wings-Todd McLellan honeymoon phase is over, now in ‘work’ mode

Taking advantage of handsy penalty

Leave it to Senators captain and top-line winger Brady Tkachuk, as skilled with the puck as he is at agitating, to take an unusual penalty. During a scrum around the seven-minute mark of the first period, Tkachuk’s attempt to aggravate Simon Edvinsson included ripping off Edvinsson’s helmet.

Officials called Tkachuk for roughing – removing opponent’s helmet, putting the Wings on a power play. The top unit moved the puck well and were rewarded with a goal at 8:30, when Larkin snapped Alex DeBrincat’s pass behind Anton Forsberg.

Spirited start

Tkachuk committed another infraction at 11:08 when he high-sticked Albert Johansson in the face, sending the Wings on another power play. J.T. Compher and Vladimir Tarasenko both had chances, and at least the Wings kept momentum on their side.

Compher’s best move of the period came a bit later, during five-on-five play, when he used his stick to steal the puck away from Claude Giroux just as he neared Detroit’s net. Patrick Kane had back-to-back chances in the final minute, and Edvinsson tried a slap shot as the Wings racked up a 14-10 edge in shots in the first 20 minutes.

Tough seconds

The Wings have had some tough second periods of late – their game got away from them Jan. 2 at the Columbus Blue Jackets, and they were outshot, 10-3, in the second period Jan. 4 at the Winnipeg Jets. The Senators likewise pushed back in the second period. Thomas Chabot scored seconds after the Wings killed off a penalty, at 12:25.

The Wings were on another penalty kill when Tkachuk picked up a drop pass from Jake Sanderson and fired a shot through traffic from the top of the left circle that put the Senators ahead by a goal.

Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.

Next up: Blackhawks

Matchup: Red Wings (17-18-4) vs Chicago (13-25-2).

Faceoff: 7 p.m. Friday; Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.

TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit/NHL Network; WXYT-FM (97.1).

Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. Her latest book, “The Franchise: Detroit Red Wings, A Curated History of the Red Wings,” was released October 2024. Her books, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” and “The Big 50: The Men and Moments that made the Detroit Red Wings” are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.

With the Detroit Lions on a bye week, fans are reveling in the warm glow of a dominating Lions victory against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in which they clinched the NFC North championship and the 1-seed.

And when all the game highlights have been watched, some fans appear to be interested in a trip back in time to the 2022 season, when the team was featured on “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Detroit Lions.”

According to Google Trends, search for the Lions’ season on the sports documentary series is up 600%.

But fans are likely walking away disappointed from their search efforts. It appears there is no official channel or streaming service to watch the 2022 season, when the Lions were featured for a 5-episode run from inside their Allen Park practice facility.

How to get Lions King of the North poster

How to watch ‘Hard Knocks’

For more recent seasons of “Hard Knocks,” including training camp with the New York Jets and Chicago Bears, you can watch episodes on Max with a subscription. However, the Detroit Lions’ 2022 season is not available. However, clips of the Lions’ season can be found on the NFL’s official YouTube channel.

What happened on ‘Hard Knocks’ with Detroit Lions?

The show offers an unfiltered look at the Detroit Lions’ training camp, roster cuts, and tough decisions.

Some highlights of the 2022 documentary series include when Eminem showed up to practice in the season finale, admiring Jared’s Goff’s passing skills. “That’s almost as good as me,” he joked while watching the quarterback throw.

Then, after a brutal loss in the preseason opener, head coach Dan Campbell encouraged the team to shake it off. Literally. Standing in front of the team with a pair of practice pants covered in chalk dust, Campbell delivered a metaphor for the ages.

“All the stuff that’s been here, that’s kept us from winning, if we really want to go where we want to go, we gotta get all the rest of this f—— s— out of our stuff, man,” Campbell said as he shook out the dust. “This last bit of losing has gotta get out of here.”

And not to be forgotten, defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson had a moment of pure gold on “Hard Knocks” when he sang Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” in a meeting room for the rookie talent show.

Where can I watch more Detroit Lions video?

If you’re looking for more insider content, check out “Receiver” on Netflix, which follows the 2023 season of NFL receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown, Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel.

The Lions finished the 2022 season 9-8, marking their first winning record since 2017.