Detroit was favored by many to win the NFC North title for the first time, which it did. However, the Lions winning a playoff game for the first time since 1991 and advancing to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since that same year provided a riveting ride for Lions fans and NFL rooters in general. They were a win away from reaching their first Super Bowl before squandering a 17-point halftime lead to the San Francisco 49ers in the conference title game.
Brimming with plenty of young talent, the Lions aren’t set up to be one-year wonders and Holmes made that clear.
“Look, that was a disappointment that we didn’t make it,” Holmes acknowledged. “And again, that wasn’t a, ‘Man, we got lucky.’ No, that’s what we expected and fell short, but still accomplished a lot.”
And, memorable as 2023 was, Holmes expects that more accomplishments are ahead.