Article by Grant Walters
Regular Season & Postseason Success
Bittersweet: The perfect word to describe the Detroit Lions’ historic 2023 season. The season began with high expectations, but it is safe to say that this team exceeded all expectations by winning their first playoff game since 1991 against the Los Angeles Rams and Matthew Stafford, a rather ironic feat. The Lions were urged on by the fans of the city, who truly bound together to support the team that they had been loyal to for so long. The heartbreaking collapse in the NFC Championship game will live in the minds of the Lions faithful for years, particularly the 4th down coaching decisions, the two Josh Reynolds drops, and the missed Kindle Vildor interception that fell into the hands of 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk; however, the Lions achievements this season must be acknowledged. First off, the Lions won the most games in franchise history, bolstering a regular season record of 13-4. The team finished 1st in the NFC North for the first time since 1991 and finished 3rd in the entire NFC only behind the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. In the playoffs, Ford Field hosted its first playoff game ever, they reached their first NFC Championship game since 1991, and they won two playoff games against the Los Angeles Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers respectively. With dynasty talks on the rise, everything seems to be pointing in the direction that the Detroit Lions are the new kings of the NFC North.
Coach & Player Success
Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell have cemented themselves as the core of the Detroit Lions for years to come. Brad Holmes, with his passion and his draft savvy, has accelerated the Lions rebuild by drafting the core of the roster. Elite players at their respective positions, such as Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Aidan Hutchinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam Laporta, Brian Branch, Jameson Williams, Alim McNeill, and Kerby Joseph have all been drafted by Brad Holmes. Most notably, St. Brown, who was a 4th round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has solidified himself as a top 5 receiver in the NFL. The swiss army knife of the offense, he can pick up a key 3rd down gain of 10 yards or he can burn a secondary for 40-50 yards with his incredible run after the catch ability. Coupled with Jared Goff, who has revitalized his career, the Lions offense relies on their chemistry, which has been the cornerstone to the team’s success. Goff in the past two seasons has established himself as a top 10 quarterback in the NFL, and he threw for the second most passing yards during the 2023 NFL Regular Season, throwing for 30 touchdowns as well. Goff has a plethora of weapons that he can utilize, which has undoubtedly aided his development. Jameson Williams started to break out in 2023 as a deep threat specialist with his incredible speed. Sam Laporta became a top 5 tight end in the league overnight, cashing in an impressive rookie season for the Lions. Jahmyr Gibbs started to achieve his full potential halfway through the regular season in his impressive game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Not only a shifty threat on the ground, Goff frequently utilized Gibbs in the short-yardage passing game. With these phenomenal athletes along reliable and efficient weapons like David Montgomery, Kalif Raymond, Josh Reynolds, etc., the Lions offense became one of the most formidable in the entire league. As for the defense, they played with the grit and toughness exemplified by Dan Campbell but were never able to develop into an elite unit. On a positive note, Aidan Hutchinson developed into an elite pass rusher and Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, and Ifeatu Melifonwu showcased flashes of what the secondary could eventually become. Alex Anzalone was the leader of the defense at the interior linebacker position, and he played the best season of his career. However, pass rushers other than Aidan Hutchinson and the Lions cornerback group struggled throughout the season, and it was the secondary that inevitably failed the team. An unfair amount of pressure was placed on Cameron Sutton to guard the league’s top receivers, and he repeatedly got beat. Although it is easy to scapegoat him for the team’s defensive struggles, he wasn’t signed in free agency to line up opposite the best receivers in the league, and he was forced to handle way more than he could manage because of injuries. In general, most of what the Lions accomplished this season can be attributed to the job that Dan Campbell and his coaching staff have done. The culture that Campbell has instilled while embracing the hard-nosed attitude of the city of Detroit has the fans hoping for an eventual Super Bowl ring. Along with the offensive mastermind Ben Johnson and the gritty defensive guru Aaron Glenn, one can assert that the Lions coaching staff is gearing up for an even better 2024 season.
Looking to 2024 Season
The Detroit Lions have already addressed their biggest need of the 2024 offseason by trading for lockdown cornerback Carlton Davis III from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This fills the void of a true No. 1 cornerback that the Detroit Lions were lacking during the 2023 NFL season. To supplement this, the Detroit Lions have also brought in Amik Robinson to add depth to the cornerback position, and he possesses the tenacity and aggressiveness that the Detroit Lions are losing with the departure of CJ Gardner-Johnson. Furthermore, Marcus Davenport will provide the Lions with a competent pass rusher to line up opposite of Aidan Hutchinson. The Lions also added DJ Reader to bolster the interior of the defensive line. Alongside breakout nose tackle Alim McNeill, this is sure to be a formidable duo. Now, the Detroit Lions look to the 2024 NFL Draft to affirm their status as a 2024 Super Bowl contender. It is likely that the Lions will look to add another outside cornerback or outside pass rusher to develop behind the starting veterans. In terms of their NFC North rivals, there is concern with the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers, who will likely challenge the defending NFC North Champions. The Bears have added multiple pieces, such as star safety Kevin Byard, star receiver Keenan Allen, and, in all likelihood, generational quarterback prospect Caleb Williams. As for the Packers, they have added star safety Xavier McKinney and star running back Josh Jacobs to pair with emerging superstar quarterback Jordan Love. Only time will tell if the Detroit Lions will be able to improve upon their historic 2023 season, but one can assert that they have put themselves into a perfect position to win their first Super Bowl next season.
