Dan Campbell takes over a team that has finished last in the NFC North three straight years. Are the Detroit Lions headed in the right direction?
Best-case scenario
Former Rams’ quarterback Jared Goff benefits from a change of scenery and a different offensive system. One-time Chargers’ head coach Anthony Lynn is now running the Lions’ attack and new general manager Brad Holmes did bring in some receiver help in the form of Tyrell Williams and rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown (USC).
But the five-year signal caller must avoid the ball security issues that have plagued him over the past three seasons. There have been 74 TD passes in his last 47 regular-season outings. But there have also been a combined 55 turnovers over that span. Lynn has his work cut out for himself.
Worst-case scenario
The defense is now under the command of former Saints’ assistant Aaron Glenn. He inherits quite the renovation project. This was a club that a year ago gave up 65 offensive touchdowns and the second-most points in a single season in league history. There’s nowhere really to go up from there but do the Lions have the pieces to make it happen?
The Lions did acquire interior presence Michael Brockers via trade from the Rams, signed free-agent linebacker Alex Anzalone (Saints) and added a combined three defensive players in the second and third rounds of April’s draft. Can this unit get quickly enough to avoid another disaster?
X-factor
Can new defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn bring out the beast in a player that has yet to live up to the organization’s commitment? One-time Patriots’ defensive end Trey Flowers spent four years in Foxborough. In his final three seasons with the club, he amassed a total of 21 sacks in 45 regular-season outings.
In 2019, he inked a five-year, $90 million deal with the Lions (via Spotrac). He finished with seven QB traps in his first season with the club but was around for only seven games in 2020 and totaled just two sacks. A career year from the six-year pro would be timely indeed.
Biggest game – Week 2 at Green Bay
In 2019, the Men from Motown failed to win a game within the division. This past season, the team was a combined 1-5 vs. their NFC North rivals. The club opens 2021 with a home tilt vs. the San Francisco 49ers. Then things get very interesting that over the course of four weeks, the Lions face the Packers, Bears (Week 4) and Vikings (Week 5), respectively, and all on the road.
If Dan Campbell’s club looks to make an early statement, snapping a four-game losing streak to Aaron Rodgers and company would be a great start.
More fansided.com: Every NFL team’s most underrated player
Bold prediction
Fiery head coach Dan Campbell has made a lot of noise and brings a lot of passion to the job in hopes of lighting a fire under a franchise that owns a combined 14-33-1 record the past three seasons. The previous four years under Jim Caldwell, the Lions were 36-28 and made a pair of playoff appearances.
The postseason doesn’t seem likely for this rebuilding club but you have to crawl before you walk. And the club does have some talent. So don’t be shocked if these Lions prove to be a little pesky, especially late in the season. Here’s to the club splitting their six divisional games in 2021.