MORE PREVIEWS: ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAC | KC | LA | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | OAK | PHI | PIT | SD | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WAS
Detroit Lions
Last Season: 7-9
Third, NFC North
Preseason power ranking: 20
The Lions have a reasonable schedule if they can navigate the first month, which includes road games at Indianapolis, Green Bay and Chicago. Get through that stretch 2-2, and Detroit would have a chance to reach 10 wins. Plus, 13 of 16 games for Detroit this season are indoors. The defensive line has enough talent to be continually disruptive, and if it can consistently shut down opposing run games and pressure quarterbacks, that could lift Detroit to a potential playoff berth. Matthew Stafford has shown great comfort in the Lions offense under coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, and if that continues during the regular season, the Lions have a chance to be effective on offense and defense.
The offensive line has shown little progress from last year, when Stafford was sacked 44 times and the Lions couldn’t put forth a decent rushing attack. If the line can’t show improvement, it doesn’t matter how improved Stafford might be if he doesn’t have time to correctly read defenses. The back seven of the defense has some questions beyond Darius Slay and Glover Quin, ranging from health (DeAndre Levy) to how the players (Nevin Lawson, Tahir Whitehead, Kyle Van Noy) will hold up in bigger roles. If the back seven is shaky, it won’t matter how much pressure Detroit’s defensive front can put on opposing offenses. Then there’s schedule. Although favorable in certain sections, playing three of the first four games on the road could lead to a start similar to last season, when the Lions began the year 0-5.
Lions’ percentage chance to win each game
Sept. 11 @ Indianapolis: 27.9
Sept. 18 vs. Tennessee: 62.3
Sept. 25 @ Green Bay: 23.1
Oct. 2 @ Chicago: 39.4
Oct. 9 vs. Philadelphia: 53.9
Oct. 16 vs. Los Angeles: 56.0
Oct. 23 vs. Washington: 54.5
Oct. 30 @ Houston: 30.0
Nov. 6 @ Minnesota: 33.0
Nov. 20 vs. Jacksonville: 59.6
Nov. 24 vs. Minnesota: 50.2
Dec. 4 @ New Orleans: 38.0
Dec. 11 vs. Chicago: 56.8
Dec. 18 @ N.Y. Giants: 34.9
Dec. 26 @ Dallas: 33.4
Jan. 1 vs. Green Bay: 38.1
Michael Rothstein’s game-by-game predictions
Did you know Stafford’s completion percentage last year was a career-high 67.2? That was with Calvin Johnson, now gone. With veteran Dan Orlovsky backing up, it’s now a middling situation. -- Dan Graziano
Eric Ebron has the potential and the talent to be one of the top tight ends in the NFL. He has shown flashes during his first two seasons. If he can stay healthy and be consistent, he is Detroit’s best mismatch in the middle of the field. A consistent Ebron would open things up for Marvin Jones, Golden Tate and Theo Riddick, which could make Detroit incredibly difficult to defend.
Ebron is a definite possibility, but the guy to look at is Marvin Jones. The free-agent signing played in the shadow of A.J. Green, both in reality and in fantasy the first four seasons of his career. Now? He has a shot to be Detroit’s top receiver and a strong candidate for a 1,000-yard season. As Detroit’s most likely deep threat, he’s also the guy who can be a game-changer for the Lions and your fantasy roster.
The success or failure of the Lions will reside with the offensive line. If they can figure out the new blocking scheme being installed by Cooter and line coach Ron Prince, then Detroit has a chance to be a playoff team. If not? It’ll be a long season for the Lions and for Stafford – likely ending with a record well below .500 and leaving general manager Bob Quinn with a tough decision to make on the future of Jim Caldwell.