NFL: Projecting final records for all 32 teams
By Brad Rowland
Detroit Lions
Would you believe that the Detroit Lions were arguably bad on offense last season? That seems like an incredible stretch for a team that includes the best receiver alive in Calvin Johnson, but the Lions finished 19th in DVOA after losing six of their last seven games, and while they were prolific, the efficiency level dipped considerably. In the off-season, the club added tight end Eric Ebron and wide receiver Golden Tate to the mix to take pressure off Johnson and quarterback Matthew Stafford, and with a quality duo at running back in Reggie Bush and Joique Bell, the recipe is there.
Defensively, the Lions are stout up front with Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley and company, but they need more pass rush (insert the newly-acquired Israel Idonije) and that will be key. After a 7-9 season, the club looks marginally better offensively, but the defense is an issue, the rest of the division improved and they don’t project as a real threat to barge their way into the elite class of the NFC.
The Pick: 7-9