2012 Detroit Lions Preview

2012 Detroit Lions

Wee-woo! Wee-woo! Wee-woo! If you couldn’t tell what sound that is, it’s a police car siren, which is the sound plenty of Lions players heard this offseason when they were busy being arrested. This Detroit Lions team is probably the most low-character team in the league; if the players aren’t being arrested, they’re probably stomping on someone from the other team (looking at you, Suh). However, this team has plenty of talent, and has lots of momentum from its playoff berth last year. In the playoffs, they got blown out by the Saints in New Orleans, which is nothing to be ashamed of, but the fact that Detroit was finally playing in January again is definitely a sign of things to come. Now the question is whether or not this Lions team led by Matthew Stafford can build on their newfound progress, or if they will go back to their years of incompetence.

Offense

The answer to that question depends on whether their quarterback Matthew Stafford can stay healthy, which is no easy feat. Last season was Stafford’s first full year starting and the results were clear: over 5,000 yards passing and over 40 touchdowns. On offense, the Lions launch a complete aerial assault on the defense, which shows by how many passes they attempted last year. With a Pro Bowl quarterback with a cannon for an arm and a great group of wide receivers, Detroit spreads the defense out and lets Stafford go to work. It helps that he is throwing to a great group of pass catchers. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew is underrated but also very underused. They basically use him in place of the running game, throwing him short dump off passes and letting him run. A lot of people think that Titus Young is in for a big year in which he becomes a standout number two receiver. Expect 60-70 catches for 800-900 yards and 6-7 touchdowns. Then, of course, is the aptly-named Megatron. Calvin Johnson is the most terrorizing receiver in the league, with the size and speed that warrant the use of his Transformer nickname. He is a machine with incredible leaping ability, strong hands, and the strength to take on triple teams. Johnson had one of the best seasons of any WR in NFL history, a feat that will be unlikely for him to repeat. However, that doesn’t mean he can’t repeat as the top receiver in the league. He should still have 90 catches, 1,300 yards, and 12 touchdowns. Those are still incredible numbers. Now for the Detroit running game...done. There’s nothing to say about it, except that it is the most cursed position in all of football. Jahvid Best is Mr. Concussion, and he might have to retire already. Kevin Smith has bones that are taped together, and it will only be a matter of time before he gets hurt too. Mikel Leshoure was hurt last year and suspended for the start of this year,and he’ll probably get hurt when he comes back. The starting RB will probably be Keiland Williams...hopefully he has good health insurance. This offense will be successful only if Matthew Stafford can carry them. He was great last year but won’t be as good this year, and I think that will cost them a game or two.

Defense

Detroit has a ferocious defensive line, which includes Cliff Avril, Kyle Vanden Bosch, and, of course, Ndamukong Suh anchoring the middle. They can really get after the quarterback, and they’ll need to, because that’s the only thing they can do well. The secondary sucks, and teams will torch them through the air this year, if they have a good enough offensive line to keep their quarterback upright. The Lions are going to have to outscore teams, because this unit will give up a lot of points.

Schedule

Detroit had a solid 10-6 season last year, but a lot of things went right for them. They had multiple comebacks of 13 points or more, which is virtually unsustainable. The Lions could very well navigate this schedule and make the playoffs again, but it’s going to be a long, tough road. We’ll see how they handle success.

Week 1: W vs STL

Week 2: L at SF
Week 3: L at TEN

Week 4: W vs MIN

Week 5: Bye

Week 6: L at PHI

Week 7: L at CHI

Week 8: W vs SEA
Week 9: W at JAC

Week 10: L at MIN

Week 11: W vs GB
Week 12: L vs HOU

Week 13: W vs IND
Week 14: L at GB

Week 15: W at ARI

Week 16: W vs ATL

Week 17: L vs CHI

I think that the 2012 Detroit Lions will finish this year at 8-8. It’s just hard to maintain success when all of your offensive production depends on the passing game, when so much can go wrong. They can’t stop anybody either, so their defensive success rides on getting after the quarterback. It’s a lot to ask. That Week 17 game against the Chicago Bears is enormous, because if the Lions were to win, I’d have them at 9-7, same as the Eagles for a possible wild card. Which makes that Week 6 matchup against Philadelphia huge as well. No playoffs this year for the Lions, but I don’t think they are going to completely collapse, either. The Green Bay Packers will be my next preview.

Bold Prediction: The Detroit Lions will start at least five different running backs this year. I wanted to go seven, but that’s just mean. And no playoffs this season.