Detroit Lions: Predicting Their 2019 Final Record

The long-awaited, highly anticipated NFL regular season is set to start tomorrow evening with a pair of NFC North teams squaring off. The Green Bay Packers will take on the Chicago Bears in Chicago. The Detroit Lions brass will surely be tuning in like the rest of the country, but the Lions staff will have an opportunity to see what they are up against.

The NFC North is expected to be one of the most highly competitive divisions in all of football this season. Unfortunately, for the Detroit Lions, they don’t seem to get any love from national media. For Detroit, it’s nothing out of the ordinary.

We’ve all seen the season predictions. The Lions seem to fall right into that 5-11 regular-season record. Well, that’s where plenty of ‘media’ members across the country have regularly placed them.

Many experts are torn on the other three teams in the division. Green Bay, Chicago, and Minnesota have all been predicted to win the NFC North depending on who you ask. Detroit is the team that’s regularly left out of the conversation. While the other three seem to continually rotate in the division rankings again, depending on who you ask, one thing is constant; the Detroit Lions finishing dead last.

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While I don’t think the Detroit Lions will finish first, I believe they will be much more competitive than many others think. It’s impossible to imagine the Lions didn’t get better this offseason after adding defensive end Trey Flowers, DT Mike Daniels, corner Justin Coleman, tight end Jesse James, and rookie T.J. Hockenson with the ninth overall pick in the draft amongst others.

The Lions will have the services of Damon Harrison for the entire season right from the get-go. Harrison is phenomenal against the run. He commands a double-team which in turn allows Flowers, Daniels, Okwara, Hand, Robinson to all be singled up. The group just mentioned all can destroy one on one blocking; that bodes well for the Detroit Lions.

The Lions have finally rid themselves of the terrible play calling of Jim Bob Cooter. Cooter oddly enough is the running backs coach of the New York Jets. Yes, the running backs coach. Since he did such a fantastic job in Detroit just churning out lead backs. I can’t imagine Cooter aiding Le’Veon Bell with many tips to help round out his game. Darrell Bevell is a breath of fresh air for the Detroit Lions.

Bevell is expected to call a much more balanced offensive attack this year in Detroit. The Lions under the direction of Jim Bob became so predictable. Bevell is expected to run an offense that can control the ball, bleed the clock and elevate the Lions time of possession. He may not have beast mode Marshawn Lynch in Detroit, but he has a stable of backs that can do many different things.

Kerryon Johnson is the ‘do it all’ lead back. C.J. Anderson is the thumper inside. Rookie Ty Johnson will have a significant role right from the get-go as a change of pace back who will see plenty of time on the field during third downs. The fourth back was recently claimed off of waivers by the Lions from the Seattle Seahawks. JD McKissic is a primary pass-catching back that should also help on third down. I expect to see an abundance of offensive formations with a combination of two pass-catching backs in the gun flanking Matthew Stafford.

Speaking of Stafford; he is coming off of a down year. I fully expect Matt to rebound this year with all the new weapons on offense. Kenny Golladay is a breakout candidate. When I say breakout candidate, I mean a legit number one NFL receiver. A healthy Marvin Jones returns to being the acrobatic big-play threat down the field. The upgrade at tight end along with Danny Amendola will help the intermediate passing game. All this, along with Bevell’s steady play calling, will also work in Matt’s favor. But in a tough division, what does this all amount too?

I don’t believe the Lions will win the NFC North THIS season. That being said, the Detroit Lions are better than a 5-11 team. With games against Arizona, the Giants, Washington, Raiders, Bucs, Broncos in addition to the division rivals the I see the Lions cruising to an 8-8 season. I know that won’t make many fans happy, but it’s an improvement from last season. The rest of the schedule is grueling.

I don’t see the Lions beating Kansas City, Philadelphia, Dallas or the Chargers. I’d expect a three-win divisional split this year in the North at best. It’s just so competitive. If everything falls into place the Lions could finish 9-7, but I think that’s the absolute best-case scenario, so I settle at 8-8.

Next. Luck’s early exit bears resemblance to other retirements. dark

Maybe I’m setting myself up for disappointment, but I certainly hope not. Where do you see the Detroit Lions finishing this season? Be sure to let us know on social media.

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