The Packers are no longer coping so well with the fact that they aren’t reigning favorites

For years – even decades – other NFL fans have complained about the favorable treatment the Green Bay Packers received from the referee. Ask any Lions fan, Seahawks fan, Cowboys fan (Dez got it!) or any fan of any other team who follows the rules and they will roll their eyes in disgust when they see how many hundreds of times the Referees smiled at the Packers.

Lions fans are very aware that they are the fire hydrant of the Packers and their officiating dogs. Trey Flowers was falsely accused twice of illegally throwing hands in the face. A badly missed late-game foul that led directly to the Packers’ win. Aaron Rodgers looked longingly at the referee as he was breathed on and was immediately flagged. The pass interference required a Lions defender who wasn’t even in coverage to clean up a Brett Favre incompletion. The list goes on and on and on. Bears and Vikings fans can certainly add several paragraphs here too.

In Detroit’s thrilling win Thursday night, Green Bay fans learned what it’s like to be on the business side – at least in their eyes. A few decisions – more specifically, decisions not made – by referee John Hussey and his team were in Detroit’s favor in their eyes. Maybe they’ll follow the example of head coach Matt LaFleur, who gave birth to a cow on the sidelines because he didn’t get an offensive pass interference call against the Lions, and can’t believe their eyes.

From those eyes flow some of the saltiest tears ever tasted. Here’s another great example that resonates throughout Cheesehead Nation:

It’s as if a large portion of the Packers fan base has suddenly and collectively come to the realization that the middle child learns when the new baby is coming, like watching Santa’s presents in your parents’ closet the week before Christmas discovers and learns that the stripper doesn’t learn anything new. I don’t really love you and your ex never thinks about you for a second. And it hit them all at once.

Welcome to the cold reality of being just another NFL team. To quote Tyler Durden:

“You’re nothing special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake.”

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: The Packers are no longer coping so well with not being reigning favorites