The Detroit Lions’ Strengths and Weaknesses Going into Next Season
As time progresses, the phrase “same old Lions,” seems to be turning inaccurate. Since 2021, the Detroit Lions have gone from a record of 3-13-1 to a record of 12-5, where they lost in the NFC Championship Game. The team has shown tremendous growth. However, there are still areas that need improvement. Going into this season, the Detroit Lions offense and special teams are in fantastic shape. However, the defense could use some changes.
Offense
The Detroit Lions have had much more success offensively than they used to. Their star wide receiver, Amon-Ra St. Brown had 119 receptions last year with 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns. A wide receiver can not shine without their quarterback shining. Last season, Jared Goff had the ninth-most passing yards in the league and the fourth-most touchdowns. Goff has proven that he is not just a quarterback on the Detroit Lions, he is the quarterback on the Detroit Lions. It is clear from the way Goff and St. Brown play together that they have both grown as players tremendously. There is not much weakness on the offensive side of the ball.
Defense
Aidan Hutchinson has been a huge part of the Detroit Lions’ defense. Hutchinson had 11.5 sacks last season and has put the opposing team under pressure at any time that he can. As far as weaknesses, there is a reason that Detroit blew a 17-0 lead during the NFC Championship Game last season. The pass defense is below average. Last year, they gave up 4,562 passing yards, which was the fourth-most in the league. The pass defense must improve if the Lions want to win a Super Bowl. It appears that the Detroit Lions have acknowledged that their defensive backs struggle with defending the pass because they drafted Terrion Arnold. Arnold is a skilled defensive back from Alabama who will help the Detroit Lions defend the pass.
Special Teams
It is difficult to win a game without a good kicker. Jake Bates used to play for the Michigan Panthers in the UFL. However, the Detroit Lions wanted to give him a shot at the NFL. Bates made four out of four field goals on August 17th against the Kansas City Chiefs. He did, however, miss an extra point. He made up for it though when Bates made the game-winning field goal. It does not seem like kicking will be an issue on this team and it will be an important factor late in games in an NFC North division that includes excellent special team units, such as the Packers.
The Detroit Lions do not seem to be the “same old Lions,” but it is up to the team to keep it that way. They must make adjustments to their secondary if they truly want to be successful. With the signing of Terrion Arnold, the Detroit Lions have already started recognizing this weakness. As long as the offense can continue doing what they have been doing, there should be no problem this season. The Detroit Lions have slowly changed from the team that nobody fears to the team that others keep their eyes on. They can keep it that way if they continue to grow.
