Measuring the Best Eras of Detroit Sports
- Chad Marriott
- Oct 1
- 10 min read
The city of Detroit experienced a rough stretch in sports from 2014 to 2022. In that span, each of the city's four major teams made the playoffs at least once, but no team advanced past the first round. The Pistons made the playoffs in 2016 and 2019. The Red Wings made the playoffs from 2014 to 2016. The Lions made the playoffs in 2014 and 2016. The Tigers made the playoffs in 2014. They all lost in the first round. In fact, the Red Wings were the only team to win a playoff game in that span (five games across three series). For a city with four pro teams, that is an absurdly poor run.
Starting in 2023, three of the teams have broken playoff droughts. The Lions snapped a six-year playoff drought, and more importantly, a 32-year playoff win drought. The Lions made the playoffs again in 2024. Earlier that year, the Tigers ended a nine-year playoff drought, and they advanced in the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. The Pistons ended a five-year streak of playoff absences in 2025, winning their first playoff game since 2008.
All of this to point out that things are looking better, but fans remain as frustrated as ever. This is likely due to the most important drought of all: the title drought. The city last won a championship in 2008 (the Red Wings). The question then becomes, how can fans compare this stretch to others? If these three years are compared to any three years with a title, it will become quite apparent that it is lopsided.
Detroit Sports Greatest Eras: The System
Setting out to find some clarity on this question, Off the Field & Screen developed a system of scoring various eras. This project will be ongoing, so take everything with a grain of salt. Looking at the teams' past, we developed the following initial scoring system:
Championships=25 Points
Series Win=10 Points
Playoff Appearance=5 Points
We discovered some inherent flaws in the system while totaling the scores for the various teams (Shocker that analytics has flaws!). The biggest flaw is the disparity in the difficulty of making the playoffs for different sports and different eras. For example, in 1984, the Tigers won the World Series in an era that only four of the 26 teams advanced to the postseason (15%). In 2025, 12 of the 30 teams make the playoffs (40%). That's a significant disparity. However, it is notable that the MLB remains the most difficult sport to advance to the postseason in.
Each of the Pistons' three titles used a playoff structure with 16 teams advancing to the postseason. In 1989, the league had 25 teams (64%). The NBA now has 16 of 30 teams make the playoffs, as well as four additional teams that qualify for the play-in (53% and 67%, respectively). The Red Wings' 1997 title featured 16 playoff spots in a league of 26 teams (62%). They now have 32 teams (50% make the playoffs).
The NFL has expanded from a 10-team playoff format to a 12-team format and then to a 14-team format. At the same time, the league has increased from 28 teams (10/28 or 36%) to 32 teams (14/32 or 43%). This math isn't to take anything away from any of these teams. It is always difficult to make the playoffs and win a title. However, the difficulty varies over time and across different sports.
As you view the tables below, consider the relationship between the number of points a team scores and the difficulty of their sport and the era. In the future, we may develop a system that accounts for these disparities, but for now, let's proceed with those results.
Detroit Sports Eras: Comparing Three-Year Non-Title Spans
The initial thought was that this current three-year span would hold up to other non-title spans. Wrong. While the year is incomplete (Tigers and Lions numbers could change), barring some excellent runs from those teams, the number will stay in its current position. The list isn't exhaustive, but selective.
Top Three-Year Spans in Detroit Sports Since 1980
2002–2004 → 200
2006–2008 → 200
1989–1991 → 190
1996–1998 → 180
2005–2007 → 140
2009–2011 → 90
2012–2014 → 75
2023–2025 → 55
2014–2022 → 40
2014–2016 → 35
This current era is toward the bottom of the list. However, compare it to the period from 2014 to 2022. It has already exceeded that number. Furthermore, the 2017-2022 period has only five points attributed to it. So, the feeling of success in comparison to the 10 years prior has made the last three years feel more successful than other recent periods of Detroit Sports.
The other non-title eras on this list include 2005-2007, 2009-2011, and 2012-2014. Let's take a closer look at those periods.
Detroit Sports 2005-2007: The April in the D Era
Lions (2005–07) = 0
Tigers (2005–07) = 25
Pistons (2005–07) = 85
Red Wings (2005–07) = 30
Total = 140
This span features the tail end of two excellent runs from the Pistons (in the midst of six straight Eastern Conference Finals appearances) and the Red Wings (in the midst of 25 consecutive playoff appearances and four titles in 12 seasons). The Tigers advanced to the World Series in 2006, led in part by rookie sensation Justin Verlander. The Pistons and Red Wings' typical postseason presence, along with the Tigers' emergence as a respectable franchise during this time period, spawned the "April in the D" campaign on Fox Sports Detroit. No titles, but three of these teams had a shot for at least two of the three years. The Lions went 15-33 in this period, drafting Mike Williams, Ernie Sims, and future Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson with their first-round picks.
Detroit Sports 2009–2011: The End of the Red Wings Dominance
Lions = 5
Tigers = 15
Pistons = 5
Red Wings = 65
This span mostly holds the end of the Red Wings' dominance. In 2009, they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins, led by "Sid the Kid" (Sidney Crosby). They followed that up with two second-round exits. In 2011, the Tigers started a three-year run of ALCS appearances. The Texas Rangers beat them 4-2. That season included Justin Verlander winning the AL MVP and Cy Young, posting a 24-5 record, 2.40 ERA, and 8.6 WAR. Other Tigers included Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Max Scherzer, and Rick Porcello. The Lions end an 11-year playoff drought, as Matthew Stafford and the Lions lose to Drew Brees and the Saints in the Wild Card.
Detroit Sports 2012-2014: The Tigers Best Years
Lions = 5
Tigers = 45
Pistons = 0
Red Wings = 25
This stretch sees the Red Wings continue to make the playoffs, while the Lions advance to the Wild Card round. They lost to the Cowboys on a controversial call. The Tigers, however, win their division each season and make it to the World Series in 2012, losing 4-0 to the Giants. Miguel Cabrera won the Triple Crown and the first of his back-to-back MVP Awards. The Tigers also add Prince Fielder in an attempt to seal the deal. In 2013, Max Scherzer won his first Cy Young Award. In 2014, the Tigers' rotation included four future or current Cy Young winners (David Price, 2012, and Porcello, 2016).
Detroit Sports Eras: Comparing Three-Year Spans
The top three-year spans in Detroit sports since 1980 largely center around the Pistons and Red Wings. The top four periods all center around those two franchises. The Tiges contributed one World Series appearance in 2006.
Detroit Sports 2002–2004: Goin' to Work Pistons and Yzerman's last Stanley Cup
In 2002, the Pistons took on the mantra of the "Goin' to Work" Pistons. They advanced to six consecutive Eastern Conference Finals, including back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2004 and 2005. However, their best season came in 2004, as "The Best Five Alive" won the title, defeating the heavily-favored Los Angeles Lakers. Chauncey Billups became Mr. Big Shot. Richard "Rip" Hamilton started his path to becoming the franchise's all-time leading postseason scorer. Tayshaun Prince played solid defense. Rasheed Wallace joined the team at the trade deadline, giving the Pistons the post scoring they needed. Of course, they were led by Ben Wallace and his four Defensive Player of the Year Awards.
The Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in Scotty Bowman's final year with a lineup featuring 10 future Hall-of-Famers (Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom, Brendan Shanahan, Dominik Hasek, Brett Hull, Chris Chelios, Sergei Fedorov, Luc Robitaille, Igor Larionov, and Pavel Datsyuk). Shanahan led the team in scoring, and Lidstrom won the Norris Trophy.
Detroit Sports 2006–2008: The Pistons and Red Wings Windows Close
The Tigers go to the World Series, and the Pistons' "Goin to Work" team has its last hurrah, losing to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, their last playoff win until 2025. The Red Wings won the city's most recent title in 2008, defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2. They were led by leading scorers Pavel Datsyuk (won the Selke and Byng) and Henrik Zetterberg. Lidstrom won his sixth Norris.
Detroit Sports Eras: Comparing the Decades
The following query we stumbled upon was comparing the decades. The 2000s were the most successful decade in this format, thanks to the consistency of both the Red Wings and Pistons, as well as a surprise from the Tigers in 2006. Then the 1990s and 2000s follow, again with most titles from the Pistons and Red Wings. The Tigers won the World Series in 1984.
2000s → 600
1990s → 420
1980s → 295
2010s → 150
2020s → 55
This comparison raises the question of whether a World Series title should be worth more than an NBA championship or a Stanley Cup victory. The Tigers' contribution is limited to only 55 points, while the Red Wings add 75 points to that same decade for their playoff appearances, despite advancing to the Conference Finals only twice. It's a tough debate because advancing in the playoffs matters, but the MLB only had two rounds, as opposed to four in the NBA and NHL.
Then there is the splitting up of the Bad Boys Pistons into two separate decades, making the Pistons the only Detroit team to win a title in three consecutive decades. The 1990s also didn't benefit from the Lions' playoff appearances, either. The NFL had a more difficult road to the playoffs than the NBA and NHL. Should that be factored in? That could help the 1990s overtake the 2000s, a decade that saw no playoff appearances from the team.
Other Factors to Consider
Another factor to consider is whether this scoring system should include the team's greatest athletes. The Red Wings, Pistons, and Tigers would have the most. Barry Sanders is the best Lions player of all time. The 97 and 98 back-to-back Stanley Cup Red Wings were filled with legends. The Bad Boys Pistons had the greatest Pistons player of all time, Isiah Thomas. The Bad Boys also had Bill Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman, Joe Dumars, and Vinnie Johnson. Each of their numbers hangs in the rafters at Little Caesars Arena. Should it be factored in that the 1990s had a brief overlap of Sanders, Thomas, Yzerman, Alan Trammell, and Lou Whitaker?
Then how could coaches factor in? Does Sparky Anderson's legacy add anything to the Tigers? What about Scotty Bowman and Chuck Daly? Daly coached the Pistons to their first-ever NBA title. Bowman helped the Red Wings end a 40-year title drought. Sparky led the Tigers to their first World Series since 1968. He also has the most games managed and won for the team. Bowman has the third-most wins and the highest win percentage of any Red Wings coach. Daly has the most wins and games coached for the Pistons as well. Oddly enough, the outlier is for the Lions. Dan Campbell has the highest win percentage of any Lions coach in the Super Bowl Era. He trails Wayne Fontes for the most wins in franchise history by 24, with 61 fewer games.
Using this system, Sparky Anderson would trail Flip Saunders in points, suggesting some superiority, which is patently absurd (and would be an egregious hot take). So, yes, it isn't a perfect system. Perhaps the best way to use it for now is to judge each team's relative success by decade.
Decade | Lions | Tigers | Pistons | Red Wings | Combined Total |
1980s | 10 | 55 | 155 | 75 | 295 |
1990s | 40 | 0 | 135 | 245 | 420 |
2000s | 0 | 25 | 230 | 345 | 600 |
2010s | 15 | 60 | 10 | 65 | 150 |
2020s | 30 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 55 |
Anything considered is whether something subjective, like ending prolonged droughts, counts for more. There is plenty of room for improvement with this system, but it highlights some important realities and raises some interesting questions.
The ranking of the team's points out that the Red Wings and Pistons have been the city's most successful teams in the last 45 years. It points out that the Lions and Tigers have had some long stretches without postseason play. Anyone could quickly identify that the Tigers' best decades were the 80s and 2010s.
It points out that fans may not have appreciated a stretch of incredibly high-level sports in Detroit. It shows why Detroit earned the Hockeytown moniker. It exemplifies the frustrations of the 2010s. It shows that success is relative. Ultimately, this current period is better than what immediately preceded it, but when compared to many other times in the city's history, it doesn't hold up.
The 2020s are now more than halfway finished. The Lions are on pace to make the playoffs for the third straight year. The Tigers remain young, and yes, have plenty of room for improvement following back-to-back playoff appearances. The Pistons have a young core coming off a hard-fought playoff series. The Red Wings are going to see the fruits of the Yzerplan and time now. We should check back in after a few years. Perhaps the city will experience a surge like never before. Until then, we'll continue to refine this formula.
(All stats provided by Sports Reference and StatMuse)
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