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5 NFL teams under .500 that are better than their record

By John Buhler

December 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and free safety Charles Woodson (24) celebrate after the game against the San Diego Chargers at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and free safety Charles Woodson (24) celebrate after the game against the San Diego Chargers at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 13, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) hands the ball off to Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah (21) against the St. Louis Rams during the first half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) hands the ball off to Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah (21) against the St. Louis Rams during the first half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Detroit Lions (6-9)

The 2014 Detroit Lions were the six-seed in the NFC Playoffs, losing to the three-seeded Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card round. Detroit had the makings of getting back to the postseason again in 2015, but fell flat immediately out of the gate, starting the year at an abysmal 1-7.

However since firing former offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, along with a few other coaches on Jim Caldwell’s staff, the Lions have clawed their way back to respectability at 6-9, winning five of their last seven games.

A botched hail mary on defense to the Green Bay Packers and a seven-point loss to the St. Louis Rams are the only two defeats standing in the way of a potential seven-game winning streak for the Lions. An 8-7 record would have had the Lions in the NFC Wild Card race until this week.

The passing game is exponentially better under promoted offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is still very much a franchise quarterback for the Lions and could lead the club to a Super Bowl with the right pieces around him.

The Lions’ resurgent second half effort may end up saving Caldwell’s job after such an atrocious start to 2015. How the Lions responded since beating the Packers in Lambeau Field two months ago should give this team and its fans something to get excited for next year.

Detroit should finish 7-9 with a win over the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, but had this team been able to put it remotely together in the first half of the year, the Lions could be a 9-7, maybe a 10-6 team playing for playoff seeding in Week 17. A strong draft this spring and the Lions will be back contending for a playoff spot in 2016.

Next: 3. Jacksonville Jaguars

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