An all-time great Lions season ended with a brutal gut punch. So... now what?

·11 min·1 clip

The Lions' plane ride home was dead silent after a devastating NFC title game collapse.

The episode opens with host Zach Clark describing the stark contrast between the Lions' team plane singing the fight song on the way to San Francisco and the complete silence on the flight home after a 34-31 loss. He recounts how the Lions blew a 17-point halftime lead in the NFC Championship game, ending their best season in decades. Former Detroit Lions sideline reporter Tony Ortiz analyzes key moments like the Jahmyr Gibbs fumble and a tipped pass that led to a 49ers touchdown, noting the Lions' unforced errors in the second half. Clark then explores his own emotional reaction, consulting clinical psychologist Dr. Jacqueline Isner about his irrational anger at celebrating 49ers fans. Dr. Isner explains the extreme highs and lows of sports fandom, comparing fans to a 'bouncy ball' experiencing emotional whiplash. She argues that fully embracing the joy of victories makes the painful losses worthwhile. Clark also speaks with Dr. David Schwartz, director of the Oakland University Counseling Center, about separating the feeling of a franchise curse from the reality of a completely new team with different management and players. Tony Ortiz returns to discuss the offseason, highlighting questions about offensive coordinator Ben Johnson's replacement and quarterback Jared Goff's contract. Ortiz cautions about the Lions' history of following good seasons with collapses, citing 1992 and 2012. The episode concludes with a segment featuring a 10-year-old fan named Sean, who offers a simple, hopeful message to the team: 'good job, guys, and try again next year.' Clark reflects that this season, which included 14 wins and two home playoff victories, has finally established expectations for the Lions moving forward.

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