DETROIT LIONS
2020 RECORD - 5-11-0
Head Coach - Dan Campbell
Key Additions - Jared Goff (QB), Tyrell Williams (WR), Breshard Perriman (WR), Alex Anzalone (LB), Jamaal Williams (RB), Quinton Dunbar (CB), Michael Brockers (DL)
OFFENSE - The Lions will have former Rams quarterback Jared Goff taking over this season. Goff threw for 3,952 yards along with 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions last year. Backing up will be Tim Boyle. The running backs are D'Andre Swift (521 rushing yards, 4.6 ypc average and eight TD along with 46 receptions and two TD) and Jamaal Williams, who rushed for 505 yards (4.2 ypc) and two touchdowns with Green Bay last year. Breshard Perriman (30 receptions for 505 yards and three TD with the N.Y. Jets) and Tyrell Williams come over this season at wide receiver via free agency. Also in the mix are Damien Ratley, Kalif Raymond and Quintez Cephus (20, 349, two TD). The tight end is T.J. Hockenson, who had 67 receptions for 723 yards and six touchdowns.
DEFENSE - Romeo Okwara (ten QB sacks), Michael Brockers, Nick Williams and Trey Flowers will be up front for the Lions while Jamie Collins, Alex Anzalone and Jahlani Tavai are the linebackers. Adding depth to the front seven is Charles Harris, rookie Levi Onwuzurike (Washington), Julian Okwara, Jalen Reeves-Maybin and rookie Derrick Barnes (Purdue).
In the secondary are corners Jeff Okuda and Quinton Dunbar while Will Harris and Tracy Walker play the safety spots. C.J. Moore, Dean Marlowe, Corn Elder and Amani Oruwariye provide depth. Ifeatu Melifonwu (rookie from Syracuse) will also look to contribute this season. The Lions gave up a league high 517 points a year ago (32.4 PPG) and also finished last overall, allowing 420 yards per game (135 rushing and 285 passing). In addition, Detroit only picked off seven passes and managed 24 quarterback sacks in the 2020 season.
2021 SEASON OUTLOOK - A new Head Coach in Dan Campbell and new QB Jared Goff headline the Lions as the 2021 season approaches. After twelve seasons with Matthew Stafford (traded to the L.A. Rams for Goff), the Lions will see what Goff and company can do to improve the 20th ranked offense in the NFL last season. Detroit averaged 350 YPG while scoring 23.6 points per game, which was also 20th in the NFL. The running game was woeful, gaining only 94 YPG and this year Swift will look to stay healthy and make progress in his second season to help improve that area.
Defense will be the key though for the Lions this season because they cannot be any worse than they were a year ago, can they? The Lions gave up 30 or more points in their final six games last season and that must change if they want to be competitive in the NFC North. Making the playoffs this season looks to be a long shot as they haven't done so since 2016. Campbell has promised a commitment to detail and his enthusiasm has been unbridled to this point. If that can remain so, perhaps the Lions will be headed in the right direction. For now, a 7-10 record would be an improvement from last season, but that is about as good as it will probably be this year.
2021 SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. San Francisco
Week 2 - at Green Bay
Week 3 - vs. Baltimore
Week 4 - at Chicago
Week 5 - at Minnesota
Week 6 - vs. Cincinnati
Week 7 - at L.A. Rams
Week 8 - vs. Philadelphia
Week 9 - BYE
Week 10 - at Pittsburgh
Week 11- at Cleveland
Week 12 - vs. Chicago
Week 13 - vs. Minnesota
Week 14 - at Denver
Week 15 - vs. Arizona
Week 16 - at Atlanta
Week 17 - at Seattle
Week 18 - vs. Green Bay
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