NFL: 5 best bets to be new playoff teams in 2014
By Phil Watson
Detroit Lions (2013 record: 7-9)
The Lions blew out the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving to take a command of the NFC North. With a season sweep of the Chicago Bears already in the books and the Packers struggling to stay afloat without injured quarterback Aaron Rodgers, there was only one thing that could stop the Lions.
That would be the Lions, who did stop themselves by dropping their final four games and missed the playoffs for the 13th time in 14 years.
Gone is coach Jim Schwartz and his replacement couldn’t be much more of an opposite.
Jim Caldwell comes in with a mission to bring some discipline and order to a team that has often been the cause of its own demise over the last four years since emerging from the hell that was 0-16.
Detroit brought in wide receiver Golden Tate from the Super Bowl champion Seahawks and added uber-athletic tight end Eric Ebron in the draft. They still have the best wide receiver on the planet in Calvin Johnson and Caldwell, who is an offensive guy and a former quarterbacks coach, will set about getting Matthew Stafford put back together after a 19-interception campaign.
One of the surprising moves was the Lions declining the fifth-year option for defensive tackle Nick Fairley, apparently trying to light a fire under the talented but underachieving lineman.
The addition of linebacker Kyle Van Noy should help solidify the back seven of the defense, but they will be counting a lot on cornerback Darius Slay after cutting Chris Houston earlier this month.
However, there are still rumors the Lions are talking about adding Brandon Flowers at corner after he was released by the Chiefs last week.