Year in and year out the Detroit Lions are projected to improve, some years enough to make the playoffs. Most years the Lions season ends in disappointment. Heading into today’s season opener against the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions hype is at fever pitch. Should fans trust the hype?
Football Outsiders, have listed the 2020 Detroit Lions not just a team that will move out of the NFC North’s basement, but a team that will go from worst to first. In this seasons Detroit Lions hype train the bold predictions started last January when multiple analysts said the Lions would take a massive step forward this coming season.
Sure the Detroit Lions offense lead by quarterback Matthew Stafford is a dangerous group. Stafford, WR, Kenny Golladay, TE, T.J. Hockenson and others give the Lions the best offense in the NFC North division. So that is reason for hope and hype.
On the flip slide, the Detroit Lions defense last season was abysmal and that is being kind. Lions general manager Bob Quinn has rebuilt the defensive unit for 2020. Signing LB, Jamie Collins, Danny Shelton and Reggie Rangland and some others give the defense at least signs of hope.
The question is did Bob Quinn improve the defense enough? Also the offensive line looks like a hot mess at this time. There has been no preseason games this year due to the pandemic. So it is hard to get a pulse on what the Lions have on the defense as a whole and offensive line.
With two games right out of the gate against NFC North teams the Bears week 1 and Green Bay Packers week 2, the Detroit Lions of 2020 can not afford a slow start.
Both general manager Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia were told by then Lions owner Martha Ford they needed to win or else at the conclusion of last season. Martha Ford turned the team over to her daughter, Sheila Ford Hamp who now serves as Principal Owner and Chairman.
It remains to be seen if Hamp will make changes if needed at the end of the season after the win or else mandate came from the previous owner.
So here we are on the verge of another Detroit Lions season and the hype train, all aboard with caution.
