2013 Detroit Lions Preview

2013 Detroit Lions

If any of the lower three teams in the NFC North were to make a run at a wild card (or maybe even the division title), I think the Detroit Lions have the best chance. Yes, they finished 4-12 last year, and lost their final eight games. However, ten of those twelve losses were by ten points or fewer. If you listen to anything Matthew Berry says, you know that Detroit wide receivers were tackled inside the opponent’s five yard line 23 times, and Calvin Johnson alone was brought down at the one a whopping FIVE TIMES. That is unheard of, and at least half of those will turn into touchdowns this year. They completely choked away their losses against Tennessee, Houston (on that controversial challenge call on Thanksgiving), and Indianapolis (gave up a TD on the last play). Enter Reggie Bush to start at RB on offense, and rookies Ezekiel Ansah and Darius Slay on defense, and you’ve got a pretty formidable team here. They have an incredible chance to rebound if Matthew Stafford stays healthy and does, in fact, get a few more of those lost touchdowns (I think he will, which means that Stafford is a great fantasy sleeper at QB and will provide great value given where he is drafted. Remember a couple of years ago when he had 5,000 yards and 41 touchdowns?) Reggie Bush should have 1,000 rushing yards and at least 75 receptions to go along with it, while Megatron will have plenty more end zone grabs than the measly five he hauled in last year. The defense knows how to get after the quarterback, so if Jim Schwartz can become a suitable head coach, then we could be still watching Detroit come January.

Schedule

Week 1: W vs MIN

Week 2: L at ARI (Calvin vs Patrick Peterson will be incredible)

Week 3: L at WAS

Week 4: W vs CHI

Week 5: L at GB

Week 6: W at CLE

Week 7: L vs CIN

Week 8: W vs DAL

Week 9: Bye

Week 10: L at CHI

Week 11: L at PIT

Week 12: W vs TB

Week 13: W vs GB

Week 14: L at PHI

Week 15: W vs BAL

Week 16: W vs NYG

Week 17: L at MIN

That is 4-4 before the bye week, and 4-4 after the bye week, resulting in our fourth straight 8-8 team. Those are really racking up, aren’t they? While, naturally, all of these teams should not finish at 8-8, my thinking behind that is: even the lower teams in the NFC are still pretty freaking good, and there will be plenty of teams that will be a game or two, or even a play or two, away from finishing 10-6 or 6-10. I’m just splitting the difference. Detroit will undoubtedly be better in 2013, but I still think that their defense is a couple of pieces away from rounding out into a true Super Bowl contender.

Bold Prediction: Matthew Stafford will rebound and finish as a top five...a top six quarterback. He will finish with 4,900 yards (not quite 5k), and also have 33 TDs. Calvin Johnson will NOT finish as the #1 fantasy WR. Reggie Bush (I covered his stats earlier) is a MUST-OWN in PPR leagues.