DETROIT LIONS 2022 WIN PREDICTION

BY ADAM GREENE

We had a dream last season, a hope shared by all of civilization that in the NFL’s first 17-game season, we would see its first 0-17 team. The most obvious contender for the crown as the year started was the Houston Texans, but they screwed it up right out of the gate, winning their first game, 37-21 over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

With 16 contests, eight teams lost in that Week 1. What none of us knew is that one of those losers, the Detroit Lions, would have a chance to touch greatness. Where the Texans had stumbled at the starting line, the Lions picked up the loser baton and carried for half a season.

Then, they hurt us. All of us. On Nov 14 their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers ended in a 16-16 sister-kissing tie. The 0-17 dream was dead. We had to settle for a new goal. The 0-17 record was off the table, but there was still a chance the team could go winless in a 17-game season, which would still make history.

And for two more weeks we rode that promise. At 0-10-1 we all started to really believe, only for the Minnesota Vikings to blow it, losing 29-27 in Detroit. There would be no winless team in a 17-game season. That was taken from us and, unless the Texans, New York Jets or Carolina Panthers really step up to the plate this season, the chance is gone.

Detroit ended up winning two more games before the season ended. They shocked the playoff bound Arizona Cardinals 30-12 on Dec. 19 and then rode off into the sunset by knocking off the Green Bay Packers’ back ups 37-30 in Week 18.

Jared Goff started 14 games for Detroit in 2021, completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 3,245 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. D’Andre Swift rushed for 617 yards and five touchdowns and caught 62 passes for 452 yards and two scores. Rookie fourth round steal Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 90 passes for 912 yards and five touchdowns.

The defense was terrible, finishing No. 31 in points allowed and 29^th in yards allowed. Charles Harris led the team with 7.5 sacks and they recorded just 30 total as a unit.

DETROIT LIONS

Last season: 3-13-1

Odds: Over 6.5 wins (-135), Under 6.5 wins (+105)

2022 NFL Draft: Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan (Round 1), Jameson Williams, WR (Round 1), Joshua Paschal, DE, Kentucky (Round 2), Kerby Joseph, Safety, Illinois (Round 3), James Mitchell, TE, Virginia Tech (Round 5), Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Oklahoma State (Round 6), James Houston, Edge, Jackson State (Round 6), Chase Lucas, CB, Arizona State (Round 7)

2022 Additions: DJ Chark, WR (free agent), Mike Hughes, CB (free agent), Chris Board, LB (free agent), Deshon Elliott, Safety (free agent), Garrett Griffin, TE (free agent), Justin Jackson, RB (free agent)

Projected Starters

Offense

QB: Jared Goff

RB: D’Andre Swift

WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown

WR: DJ Chark

WR: Josh Reynolds

TE: TJ Hockenson

FB: Jason Cabinda

LT: Taylor Decker

LG: Jonah Jackson

C: Frank Ragnow

RG: Halapoulivaati Vaitai

RT: Penei Sewell

Defense

LDE: Romeo Okwara

LDT: Alim McNeill

RDT: Michael Brockers

RDE: Aidan Hutchinson

WLB: Julian Okwara

MLB: Alex Anzalone

SLB: Chris Board

CB: Amani Oruwariye

CB: Jeff Okudah

SS: DeShon Elliott

FS: Tracy Walker III

Special Teams

PK: Riley Patterson

P: Jack Fox

PR: Kalif Raymond

KR: Goodwin Igwebuike

PREVIEW

For a team with massive holes all over the roster, the Lions didn’t do a lot in free agency. The did add three new starters, four if you count Mike Hughes as the nickel. Detroit decided to focus on the draft and in doing so, absolutely slaughtered it. Not only did they get a day one starter in Aidan Hutchinson, but Jameson Williams will slide right into the line up once his knee is fully healed sometime in November. Don’t be surprised to see Joshua Paschal take over the other starting edge rusher slot before the season is over. This was a franchise defining draft for Detroit.

Detroit has a solid advantage now playing in a weakened NFC and, thanks to their last place schedule, they’ll get to avoid any match up with the conference’s best teams outside of the Green Bay Packers. They, of course, will have to play them twice including in the Week 18 season finale.

Their opener against the Philadelphia Eagles in Motor City is a tough one and they are definitely outmatched talent wise there. It still wouldn’t shock me if the Lions got the upset right out of the gate. I see a winnable game at home against the Washington Commanders before a sure loss at the Vikings. They host a severely depleted Seattle Seahawks team after that and then travel to a New England Patriots squad on Oct. 9 that I’m not too excited about.

I can see a 3-2 start there heading into their bye. After that, I see three “Ls” in a row at the Dallas Cowboys, the Miami Dolphins at home and then the Packers at home. I’m not feeling great about their first trip to what will surely be an improved Chicago Bears team on Nov. 13 either. That looks like four consecutive losses to me.

They get a subpar New York Giants team to grab a win before getting absolutely slaughtered by the Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving. The end of the season is where they can pick up some steam. The Packers game is a loss, but they have a shot against the Vikings and Bears at home and, if Dan Campbell deserves to keep his job, should be able to easily knock off the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, considering they’re three of worst teams in the league.

If they can steal a couple of games against Minnesota or Green Bay (or shock the Cowboys or Eagles), this is a team that could sneak into a Wild Card spot. But I don’t think it’s happening this year. And, frankly, I’m not a Dan Campbell guy. Regardless of how much the media seems to love him, he’s proved absolutely nothing to me.

Final record prediction: 8-9

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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