by There are 32 franchises in the National Football League (NFL), and one stands out from the crowd for the wrong reasons. The Detroit Lions are the only NFL franchise to not feature in a Super Bowl and have the unwanted record of the longest streak without winning a playoff game; the Lions last won a post-season fixture in January 1992. However, after starting the 2023 campaign with a 4-1 record, loyal Lions fans have everything crossed that their beloved team’s playoff and Super Bowl hoodoo is about to end.
If you looked at the online NFL betting sites before the 2023 NFL season commenced, you would not have seen the Detroit Lions in the top 20 favorites for Super Bowl glory. Check them out today, and the Lions are sixth favorites, trailing only the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, and the resurgent Miami Dolphins. That is some excellent company to be keeping.
Having finished with a 3-12-1 record in 2019, 5-11 in 2020, and 3-13-1 in 2021, the Lions significantly improved last season. Indeed, their 9-8 record was the Lions’ first winning season since 2017, and they narrowly missed out on a playoff place to the Seattle Seahawks due to the Week 4 head-to-head result. The signs of the Detroit Lions being a good team were there for all to see last year, with the team emerging victoriously in eight of their final ten fixtures.
A Blistering Start to the 2023 Regular Season
The Detroit Lions kicked off the 2023 NFL regular season with a difficult game against the much fancied Kansas City Chiefs at the Arrowhead Stadium on September 7. Still, they came away with a 21-20 victory. A 31-37 overtime defeat at home to the Seattle Seahawks followed in Week 2 before the Lions got back to winning ways by beating the Atlanta Falcons 20-6.
Week 4 saw the Lions head to the famous Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers. The Lions surged into a 27-3 lead by halftime and ultimately ran out 34-20 victors.
The Lions hosted the winless Carolina Panthers in Week 5, doing so with several injuries to key personnel. Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs missed out due to a hamstring injury, while wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and tight end James Mitchell also watched the game from the sidelines. Despite those injuries, the Lions led 28-10 at the end of the first half and put another 14 points on the board for a 42-24 win. With that victory, the Lions are 4-1 and top the NFC North division. It is only the fourth time in 50 years that the Lions have been 4-1 or better through the opening five fixtures.
Why Are The Lions So Good in 2023?
The current Lions team is far removed from the one that went 0-16 in 2008. Following that disastrous campaign, the Lions’ management team was overhauled, and rebuilding began. Although 2019-21 was disappointing, the Lions showed glimpses of their capabilities in 2023. As mentioned, they finished the regular season strongly with eight wins from ten games. Five of the eight games they lost in 2023 were by four points or fewer, so opponents were not rolling the Lions over.
Quarterback Jared Goff ranks ninth in the league for passing yards with 1,265. Goff is averaging eight yards per attempt, has racked up nine passing touchdowns, and has a 104.4 rating. Goff was the first overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and joined the Lions in 2021 as part of the deal that took Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams. If Goff continues his current form, he should easily break through 4,000 passing yards.
Goff has plenty of top players to target with his laser-like accuracy. Amon-Ra St. Brown has 26 receptions, 331 yards, and two touchdowns, while rookie tight end Sam LaPorta has 25 receptions, 289 yards, and a trio of touchdowns. Josh Reynolds already has three touchdowns and 291 yards from 16 receptions. Goff now has another weapon in his arsenal with 2023 first-round pick Jameson Williams returning from his betting-related suspension.
The Lions’ ground game is strong, too. Workhorse David Montgomery is in fine form and looks set to produce career-best figures. Montgomery is already on 88 carries, 371 yards, and six touchdowns through four appearances this season. Through 16 games in 2022, Montgomery had 201 carries, 801 yards, and five rushing touchdowns.
Then there is the aforementioned Jahmyr Gibbs, the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Gibbs may not have entered the red zone this season, but he has 179 yards from 39 attempts, solid figures for a rookie. Lions fans will be hoping Gibbs’ hamstring injury does not keep him in the treatment room for too long.
Defensively, the Lions are exceptional against the opposition’s rushing game, ranking fourth in the league, thanks partly to the 24 tackles by Alex Anazole. Cornerback Jerry Jacobs leads the Lions regarding tackles with 27 so far, plus he has three interceptions, while rookie safety Brian Branch is playing a prominent role with 21 tackles.
Conclusion
It is easy to see why Detroit Lions fans are delighted with their team right now and are dreaming of navigating their way to the end-of-season playoffs and reaching their first-ever Super Bowl. The Lions are 4-1 after five games, and their performances on the field have been at such a high level that even the most hardened Lions critics are being made to eat their words.
The Lions’ next two games are on the road. They head to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 15 before taking on the Baltimore Ravens on October 22; both opponents currently have winning records. The Lions face the struggling Las Vegas Raiders in Week 8 before enjoying a bye.
On current form, it is challenging to make a case for the Detroit Lions not reaching the playoffs. Unless each of their players suffers a dramatic loss of form or injuries ravage the roster, the Lions should finish 10-7 at worse and perhaps even as good as 12-5, which would lock in a playoff berth. As for the Super Bowl, a Lions win is still unlikely, but stranger things have happened in football.
