The Detroit Lions had their best season in three decades this past year, winning their first division title in 30 years and capturing their first playoff win since January 1992.
As a matter of fact, the Lions were two quarters of decent football away from a Super Bowl appearance, as they took a 24-7 lead into halftime against the San Francisco 49ers last January.
Now, Detroit has major expectations heading into 2024, which certainly represents a stark change for a franchise that has been a laughing stock for most of recent memory.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes has established one very bold goal for his team this year.
“For this season? Win the Super Bowl,” Holmes said, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.
It’s far from a ridiculous statement.
Many feel that Detroit boasts the second-best roster in the NFC behind the 49ers, thanks much in part to a high-powered offense led by the lethal tandem of quarterback Jared Goff and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
The Lions went 12-5 last season and are the favorites to win the NFC North once again in 2024, although they will likely face stiff competition from the Green Bay Packers and maybe even the Chicago Bears.
What are the Detroit Lions’ weaknesses?
If Detroit has a weakness in any one particular area, it’s defensively.
The Lions ranked 19th in yards allowed and 23rd in scoring defense last season, which could certainly present a problem if they don’t show improvement there this year.
Detroit did make an effort to address its defensive woes this offseason, signing defensive lineman DJ Reader and Marcus Davenport while swinging a trade for cornerback Carlton Davis. The Lions also selected cornerback Terrion Arnold with their first-round draft pick.
But will that be enough to make Detroit significantly better on that side of the ball?
It very well may be.
Reader is a great run-stuffer, Davenport should bolster what was a fairly ordinary pass rush outside of Aidan Hutchinson and Arnold was viewed as one of the best defensive backs in the draft class.
The Lions have not made back-to-back playoff appearances since 1995, so they are looking to buck yet another brutal trend that has plagued the franchise for decades.
We’ll see if the Detroit Lions can seriously make a Super Bowl run this year.
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