Where Do the Lions Stand in the NFC North?
The Lions currently stand in third place in the NFC North with one win and one loss. With a win on Monday, they have a chance to tie for the lead. They have played two division games already and won’t play another until Week Eight. At this point in the season, there is no clear frontrunner for the NFC North, but the Packers have been the only team to show that they are capable of a strong playoff run. Green Bay has shown that they have a very good defense, and Jordan Love has shown flashes that he could be great.
The offensive identity of the Lions has not changed much since last season. Jared Goff has remained efficient when staying in the pocket, Amon-Ra St. Brown has stayed consistent by finding open holes in the defense, and the run game has always been something to lean on in tight games. With the two-headed monster they have in the backfield, they dominate any other running back duo in that division. The offensive line has also helped in that success because without a line to protect those in the backfield, they wouldn’t be putting up the same numbers. It has also helped the entire organization that a lot of the staff and higher-ups have remained with Detroit for this long. We saw both coordinators leave this year, but besides that, with a few other changes, the organization has remained in the same hands, which allows players to get comfortable working with them.
The problem for this Lions team this year has been trying to recover from injuries on the defensive side of the ball. With Aidan Hutchinson and Alex Anzalone returning, they’re trying to regroup and focus on working with their new defensive coordinator. The pass defense has also been something they’ve been trying to work on for the past couple of seasons. Detroit has had trouble winning once it comes to the playoffs, too, so this year will be a test to show the world this is their year.
Everything lines up this year for the Lions to make a deep run in the playoffs. Minnesota is putting all of its trust in a young quarterback who is still recovering from injury. Chicago has a new head coach in Ben Johnson, and they’re still trying to work with Caleb Williams on the new offense. Green Bay is the only team that is set up for success right now with a young core and a quarterback who has been around for a few years now. The Lions can prove to this division that they are a force to be reckoned with in the regular season and the playoffs.
