Detroit Lions Season Preview
Ready for some NFL football? Use this Detroit Lions season preview to help you with your Lions betting. Do the Lions running game have what it takes?
The Detroit Lions finished last season with a 9-7 record. They missed out on the playoffs. This led to the team firing head coach Jim Caldwell. Caldwell was replaced with former New England Patriots defensive coordinator. This was Matt Patricia. With a new coach in charge, the Lions’ odds of winning the Super Bowl is +6000.
Since Patricia is a defensive minded coach, the Lions are expected to be improved defensively this season, which is very important this season with the Minnesota Vikings signing Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers returning from an injury-shortened 2017 campaign.
Patricia didn’t waste any time putting the right pieces in place. The Lions signed linebackers Devon Kennard and Christian Jones, and brought back cornerback Nevin Lawson. They also brought back safety Tavon Wilson and added former Seattle cornerback DeShawn Shead.
As you may have read in our Buffalo Bills season preview, the Lions need help with their running game.
Lions Running Game
With the moves the Lions made, their defense is expected to be much better than it was last season, which should help them deal with the Packers and Vikings, who are expected to have potent offenses next season.
Detroit’s offense played well last year, but as the case has been for the past few years, they were one dimensional because they didn’t have a consistent running game. The team addressed their running game issues by signing former Philadelphia Eagles running back LeGarrette Blount, who led the league in rushing touchdowns two seasons ago.
If Blount plays as well as he did two years ago, he will take a lot of pressure off quarterback Matthew Stafford, who threw for over 4,000 yards last season.
With the Vikings expected to win the division, the Lions will likely be fighting for second place with the Packers. But if their defense plays well under Patricia and their running game is consistent, they should be able to make the playoffs next season.