Here are my thoughts on why the Lions are not playing in Super Bowl 59. It's true. The injuries along the defense were piling up. What made it challenging for the front office to take a big swing at the deadline was the team was still competing and winning games.

The early numbers aren't all identical, but a few of the biggest sportsbooks look at the Detroit Lions in the same manner: They currently have the fifth-best odds to win Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., next year.

In the week leading up to Super Bowl LIX, MLive conducted a survey of Lions fans to get their opinions on the showdown between the Eagles and Chiefs, and what the Lions need to do to reach the big game.

No team with a returning coach and two new coordinators has won a Super Bowl since the 2009 New Orleans Saints

"The Lions are not there. The teams who are there, I couldn't care less if they win or lose. ... I'll be doing laundry," one fan said.

Four ex-Lions players are currently on the rosters of the teams that will appear in Super Bowl 59 from New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will compete in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, and each team has several players with ties to either the Detroit Lions or Michigan.

Aug 28, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubiski (10) is brought down by Detroit Lions defensive linemen Charles Harris (53) and Aidan Hutchinson (97) during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps no Lions fan is more committed to the team than Upper Peninsula resident Megan Stefanski, who was honored Thursday as the NFL Fan of the Year.