The Detroit Lions had some dominant defense last season, which they rode all the way to a wild card berth. But a big part of that defense is now gone after Ndamukong Suh took his talents to South Beach this offseason. Do the Lions have enough to cope with the loss of their star, or will his absence spell another season of decline in Detroit?
Read on below as we take an in-depth look at the Detroit Lions for the upcoming season. Meanwhile, check out our previews of the Houston Texans and the Kansas City Chiefs.
[sc:Football ]2015-2016 Detroit Lions Preview
Overview
Detroit’s first year under head coach Jim Caldwell was a big success. The Lions went 11-5 as they returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
[sc:NFL240banner ]They achieved that feat on the strength of one of the best defenses in the league (ranked No. 3 according to DVOA). Detroit easily had the NFL’s best run defense, allowing just 69.3 yards per game, and was second only to the Seattle Seahawks in total yards per game allowed (300.9) and points per game allowed (17.6).
That excellent defense helped make up for an underachieving offense that finished just 22nd in points per game (20.1). Detroit’s running game was a disappointing 28th, averaging just under 89 yards per game. Meanwhile, a banged up Calvin Johnson missed three games and finished with just 1,077 receiving yards, his lowest total since 2009.
Detroit’s over/under regular season wins for this season is set at 8.5 wins, but there are still major question marks surrounding the Lions’ ability to build from last year’s success due to loss of one major player during the offseason.
Offseason Review
That player, of course, is Ndamukong Suh, who left for the Miami Dolphins in a record deal. The All-Pro defensive tackle was a major reason why the Detroit run defense was so dominant last season. Fellow tackle Nick Fairley was also allowed to leave via free agency, which left the Lions with a gaping hole in their D-line.
The Lions moved quickly to plug that hole by trading for veteran Haloti Ngata, signing Tyrunn Walker and drafting Gabe Wright.
Meanwhile, the Lions made it a priority to strengthen an offensive line that struggled mightily last season, especially in the running game. They swung a trade with the Denver Broncos that landed them veteran Manny Ramirez as well as a late first-round pick, which they used on highly-touted guard Laken Tomlinson.
They also drafted versatile running back Ameer Abdullah in the second round to replace the departed Reggie Bush and share snaps with Joique Bell in the Lions backfield.
Key Player – Calvin Johnson
Despite his nickname, “Megatron” couldn’t quite transform into an All-Pro-caliber receiver last season as he battled persistent injuries. He eventually missed three games, the most amount of time he’s missed in a single season. The entire Lions offense, in turn, underperformed for much of the season without its best player.
But with the defense expected to take a significant step backwards following Suh’s exit, the Lions need their offense to start playing up to its potential again. That means Johnson will have to be the game-changing, defense-altering force of nature that he’s all too capable of being.
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Key Game – @ Minnesota (Sept. 20)
The Lions’ opening month or so will be rough to say the least. Three of their first four games will be on the road (at San Diego, at Minnesota and at Seattle), while four of their first five will be against teams that had a winning record last season (San Diego, Denver, Seattle and Arizona).
It wouldn’t be all too surprising to see them go 0-5 right out of the gate. That’s why their matchup with the Vikings in Week 2 will be so crucial. That’s their best shot of claiming a win and avoiding what would be a demoralizing winless streak to start their season.
Best/Worst Case Scenario for the Season
Best Case Scenario
Ngata is no Ndamukong, but he does a good job anchoring a Detroit defense which doesn’t experience that much of a dropoff sans Suh. Meanwhile, Megatron stays relatively healthy for the entire season, which, coupled with a much-improved offensive line, sends the Lions offense back to the top half of the league. While the Lions don’t quite have enough to top the Packers in the division, they win a wild card spot for the second year running.
Worst Case Scenario
An incredibly tough start to the season sends Detroit into a disastrous losing skid. Suh’s absence is felt immediately as the Lions defense fails to reach the heights of last season. Megatron misses even more time and the offenses underwhelms once again. After a brief taste of success last season, the Lions drop back down to the bottom of the division.
Complete Schedule
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Sept. 13 | @ San Diego | 4:05 PM ET |
| 2 | Sun, Sept. 20 | @ Minnesota | 1:00 PM ET |
| 3 | Sun, Sept. 27 | vs. Denver | 8:30 PM ET |
| 4 | Mon, Oct. 5 | @ Seattle | 8:30 PM ET |
| 5 | Sun, Oct. 11 | vs. Arizona | 4:05 PM ET |
| 6 | Sun, Oct. 18 | vs. Chicago | 1:00 PM ET |
| 7 | Sun, Oct. 25 | vs. Minnesota | 1:00 PM ET |
| 8 | Sun, Nov. 1 | @ Kansas City | 9:30 AM ET |
| 9 | BYE WEEK | ||
| 10 | Sun, Nov. 15 | @ Green Bay | 1:00 PM ET |
| 11 | Sun, Nov. 22 | vs. Oakland | 1:00 PM ET |
| 12 | Thu, Nov. 26 | vs. Philadelphia | 12:30 PM ET |
| 13 | Thu, Dec. 3 | vs. Green Bay | 8:25 PM ET |
| 14 | Sun, Dec. 13 | @ St. Louis | 1:00 PM ET |
| 15 | Mon, Dec. 21 | @ New Orleans | 8:30 PM ET |
| 16 | Sun, Dec. 27 | vs. San Francisco | 1:00 PM ET |
| 17 | Sun, Jan. 3 | @ Chicago | 1:00 PM ET |
Writer’s Prediction
The defense takes a significant step back without Suh. The offense improves, but not enough to lift the Lions to a winning record. Detroit finishes 8-8 on the season.
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