While it is frustrating to try and watch the Detroit Lions win football games, I tune in each week they are available on my television set for a couple of reasons.

The first, of course is to see how they are going to pull out a victory despite playing terrible for at least a part of the game, if not most of the game.

As a long-time suffering Lions fan, I still am amazed how undisciplined this team is. They commit stupid penalties on defense, quarterback Matthew Stafford turns the ball over by throwing ill advised passes and the special teams do things that defy logic.

But despite themselves, the Lions win again and again. It has been a long time since Detroit has won 11 games in a season. But following Sunday’s come-from-behind win over the hapless Chicago Bears, that is where we stand.

I have no faith that the Lions can go to Green Bay where they have lost 23 straight games and come away with an NFC North Division title.

But if I have learned nothing else this NFL season, it is that anything is possible.

And if Detroit does pull off this post-Christmas miracle, they deserve to be the division champion, earn a first round bye and perhaps the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

But the biggest reason I watch the Lions every chance I get is to see former Benton Harbor standout Joique Bell play for Detroit.

I have been following Bell’s career since his days as a Tiger. I got the pleasure of covering a couple of his games when Dowagiac was a member of the Big 16 Conference.

His final season, the Tigers, who were never very good, came to Chris Taylor-Alumni Field in 2004 and Bell put on quite a performance.

Benton Harbor blew out the Chieftains 47-0 as Bell overwhelmed Dowagiac with 364 yards in total offense.

He ran for four touchdowns, one of which was highlighted by him hurdling a Dowagiac defender, threw for a touchdown and returned a kickoff for a score.

Bell continued his career at Wayne State where he was voted the top offensive player in the country his senior year.

I never understood why he bounced around the NFL his first couple of years in the league.

He spent time with Buffalo, the Philadelphia Eagles twice and the New Orleans Saints before being signed by the Lions in 2011.

I remember being excited about his coming to Detroit because I thought he had enough talent to make an impact.

Boy was I right.

After splitting time with Reggie Bush two years ago, he resigned with the Lions in 2013 and has become the Lions’ top running back choice most games.

While I have never had a chance to interview Bell, I am looking forward to doing so in the near future.

Until then, I will continue to watch the Lions as they try to win the NFC North title next Sunday and then in the post season.

While I have no expectations for them in the playoffs, I would certainly enjoy a nice lengthy run.

 

Scott Novak is sports editor for Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott.novak@leaderpub.com.