NFL power rankings: Who is biggest threat to Patriots?
By Brad Weiss
Detroit Lions
, NFC North
The Detroit Lions surprised the football landscape twice during the 2016 regular season. First, they got out to a big lead in the NFC North, and it looked like they would cruise to the division crown. Then, they lost the division in their season-finale against the Green Bay Packers, and had to settle for a Wildcard instead. Still, just being a playoff team was a surprise, and they will look to stay a playoff team in 2017.
In Matthew Stafford, the Lions do have one of the more productive quarterbacks in the NFL. The combination of Marvin Jones and Golden Tate are explosive on the outside, and the team is still waiting for tight end Eric Ebron to reach his potential. Running backs Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick will share the load in the backfield, giving the Lions some solid weapons on offense.
On defense, two rookies may emerge as leaders on the unit. Middle linebacker Jarrad Davis is a freak at the position, and many believe he was the best middle linebacker in college football last season. Cornerback Teez Tabor had a controversial career at the University of Florida, but he has the size and speed to be an elite corner at the next level. Joining Tabor in the secondary is D.J. Hayden, who many Raiders fans know as being a liability at the position.
To help in protection, the Lions plucked T.J. Lang from Green Bay to man one of their guard positions this season. The Lions snuck up on people last season, and they will not happen again in 2017. Look for them to challenge for a playoff spot again this season, but in a tough NFC, they may find it tough to get back to even a Wildcard.