By Moses Joshua 
The franchise icon says “almost” doesn’t count — and Detroit’s next evolution must be about finishing, not hoping.
When Herman Moore talks about winning, it isn’t from a highlight reel or a studio chair. It’s from scars. The former Lions great lived through the playoff pushes of the 1990s — six trips in one decade — and yet his voice still carries the weight of what never came next.
“Fans may not remember that our teams in the 1990s made the playoffs six times in that decade… It’s because we never won a Super Bowl,” Moore said. “That was always the goal. Not getting in. Not being close. Winning it all.”
For a fan base wrestling with the sting of another unfinished season, Moore’s words don’t sound nostalgic. They sound like a warning.
Playoff Appearances Don’t Pay the Bills
Moore isn’t impressed by proximity to success, and he doesn’t pretend that near-misses deserve flowers.
“The NFL doesn’t reward proximity to success. Once you’ve been there enough, you learn quickly that appearances don’t mean much if you’re not ready when you arrive.”
It’s a hard truth for a city that has spent years celebrating progress. Culture, toughness, belief — all of that matters. But Moore’s experience says the league only remembers one thing.
Results.
Why “Just Get In” Is a Losing Mindset
Perhaps Moore’s sharpest critique lands on a phrase fans love to cling to when the season gets shaky.
“I’ve never believed in the idea of ‘just get in.’ If you’re limping in, relying on help from other teams, or explaining why instead of owning what, you’re already behind. All it takes is one bad game and the season is over.”
In other words, sneaking through the door doesn’t make you dangerous. It makes you vulnerable.
Effort Isn’t the Issue — Precision Is
Moore doesn’t accuse the current Lions of lacking heart. He sees something else slipping through their fingers.
“The issue isn’t effort or belief. It’s consistency. It’s eliminating the mistakes that erase good work, turnovers, missed assignments, penalties, and situational breakdowns when the margin is thin.”
The teams that last deepest in January don’t just play hard — they play clean. They respond to adversity instead of amplifying it.
“What separates teams is whether they adjust, whether all phases support each other, and whether they stop doing the things that make winning harder than it needs to be.”
Progress Raises the Standard
Detroit has changed. Moore sees that. But growth isn’t permission to relax — it’s a demand to evolve.
“This team has taken real steps forward over the last few years. But with progress comes a higher standard. At some point, the conversation has to move from why it didn’t happen to what has to change.”
And he draws the line clearly:
“That’s not criticism, that’s accountability, and it’s the difference between being close and being ready.”
The Lions don’t need another lesson in believing. They need a lesson in finishing. Herman Moore’s message isn’t soft, but it’s honest:
Detroit doesn’t just need to arrive anymore.
It needs to arrive prepared to end the story the right way.