How do we know Lions are for real? That tough, violent, beautiful ... defense (?!?)

The Detroit Lions cheerleaders lined up and fire was blasting in the air in Ford Field.

Isaiah Buggs came out of the tunnel and walked through the smoke, putting both hands at his chest and ripped them apart.

Like a superhero opening up his cape. Or maybe, he was just showing everybody his heart.

Buggs took a couple of steps, like a ghost emerging from a misty afternoon, jogging and spinning around, each step his silhouette becoming clearer, and he ran through a tunnel of Lions cheerleaders, as the Lions defense was announced during pregame introductions. And that seemed so fitting and right. Especially before this 34-23 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

This game where that defense meant everything.

Maybe, you will focus on the wonderful, brilliant fake punt — risky as heck — but man, it paid off. The Lions went out to win this game, give them credit for that.

Or maybe, you will focus on Jameson Williams’ breathtaking, chill-inspiring touchdown catch — the one where he stood in the back of the end zone and put both arms in the air and celebrated by doing a victory lap around Ford Field.

Or maybe the first-down completion to tackle-eligible Penei Sewell on the Lions’ final drive of the game to ice things away.

And those were cool moments to be clear. Or maybe, you will focus on the big picture — how this team has come back from the dead, winning five of six, and now has a chance at the playoffs, a chance to keep this run going.

But allow me this moment to focus on that defense.

Because the Lions’ offense has been there all along.

Gamblin’ Dan Campbell has been there all along.

Shoot, Jared Goff has been doing his thing for most of this season.

It’s that defense that has set up this turnaround. That has given this team hope of the playoffs.

Think about all the fantastic plays made on Sunday afternoon.

First, let’s stay with Buggs.

Late in the second half, the Vikings had a fantastic opportunity to tie the game.

The Lions were holding a 14-7 lead and the Vikings had first-and-goal from the Lions’ 3. A Vikings touchdown seemed evitable.

But Buggs shed his block — a show of pure force and strength — broke free and hammered Vikings running back Dalvin Cool, forcing a fumble and Kerby Joseph scooped it up. The Lions have now gone 12 straight games with a takeaway, the longest streak in NFL.

If you ask me, it was a seven-point play. But there were so many other plays.

How about the Vikings’ two-point attempt in the third quarter?

Cousins hit Adam Thielen on the left side, and he had a convoy of blockers, but a swarm of Lions hammered him at the same time, including John Cominsky.

That’s a two-point play.

And all those plays added up in this earpopping victory. Man, it was loud in Ford Field.

They hold on through rough patch

Over and over, the Lions defense came up with huge plays.

Some were just great individual efforts. Like when the Vikings went for it on fourthand-1 from their own 46 in the first quarter.

Cook had the ball, heading off tackle, but the defensive line held strong, and here came Jeff Okudah, knifing in from the secondary, smothering Cook.

The Lions took over on the Vikings 46, and two plays later, Goff hit Williams on a 41-yard touchdown.

That’s how you create a winning formula, the defense and offense working together.

But there were so many other plays — seemingly small moments that were huge.

Like Chris Board coming up and hammering Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson — our old friend — jarring the ball loose.

Now, that defense didn’t play a perfect game.

It seemed to melt down for a series in the first half.

Kerby Joseph was called for defensive holding, and Okudah had a bonehead unnecessary roughness. And then Okudah was called for pass interference — I thought a bad call.

But you know what? This team didn’t melt down. It didn’t freak out.

It kept playing, kept making plays, holding the Vikings to just 5 net yards rushing in the first half.

Here came Mike Hughes smothering Cook. Here came James Houston, sacking Kirk Cousins to end the first half — Houston, we got a problem.

And Alex Anzalone was quietly racking up tackles.

It was player after player.

Then, in the fourth quarter, after the Vikings showed some life, it turned into the Aidan Hutchison show, as he sacked Cousins, driving him to the turf. Pumping his fist. Yes, you can almost hear him right through your TV.

A moment later, Hutchinson did it again, getting pressure on Cousins, forcing him to throw the ball away.

As the game wore on, that defense seemed to get stronger, all these young players growing up before our eyes.

There’s nothing fluky about this.

Not when you have an explosive offense like this.

Not when you have a defense that can make plays like this.

There appeared to be few blown assignments, just 11-man ball, filling holes, making tackles, overcoming mistakes and it is turning into something impressive, something we didn’t see earlier this season, something that can carry this team.

“You know what?” defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said last week. “I think all the guys understand this, I know our understanding because it’s what I preach and what I would like to have our — we’re a tough and violent team. That’s who we are. That’s going to attack the football. I think it shows as far as the takeaways that we’ve gotten and just the way that we play defense overall. We might not be the most athletic, but man, it’s going to be a tough out against us every time you play against us. That’s how I want it.”

Getting turnovers. Constantly attacking. Tough and violent.

The fog has cleared on this defense.

And it was a thing of beauty.