Lions roast Chargers on social media after big win

Jun 5, 2018; Allen Park, MI, USA; Detroit Lions logo on the front of a podium before practice at the Lions Headquarters and Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Lions’ social media team has apparently been waiting for six months to get revenge on the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Lions beat the Chargers 41-38 on a walk-off field goal Sunday, dropping Los Angeles to 4-5 on the season. The team commemorated the victory on social media with a special graphic and a caption that read “On behalf of ‘Questionable Draft Picks’ (MI).”

On behalf of "Questionable Draft Picks" (MI). pic.twitter.com/nDmnYb7g79

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 13, 2023

For this to make any sense, a lot of context is required. It goes back to May, when the Chargers released an anime-themed video to announce their regular season schedule. The announcement for the Week 10 game against the Lions featured a parody version of the various disclaimers that appear on gambling advertisements, with a nod to the aforementioned “Questionable Draft Picks (MI).” That was a reference to the Lions’ slew of offseason gambling suspensions, which included punishments for 2022 first-round pick Jameson Williams and 2020 fifth-round pick Quintez Cephus.

The Chargers social team buried the Lions 💀 pic.twitter.com/3UJjpdyJ8Y

— PFF (@PFF) May 12, 2023

The Lions let it slide at the time, but they obviously noticed the Chargers’ dig and had this response saved up. Their social media team clearly has a long memory, hence the lengthy receipt being carried by the airplane in the graphic.

The game was certainly in doubt right down to the end, however. It took a very gutsy call from coach Dan Campbell to permit the Lions to break out this graphic, but they did get the last laugh.