Will the Lions Finally Win the NFC North?
Will the Lions Finally Win the NFC North?
The Lions defense was one of the worst in the NFL in 2022, finishing 28th in points allowed and dead last in total yards. The pass rush, led by rookie Aidan Hutchinson, was the strongest area of the defense, finishing 9th in the league in pressure percentage. It says something about the rest of the defense that they struggled so badly to defend the pass despite a decent rush.
As a result, the priority of Detroit’s offseason was to improve the back end of the defense. They added cornerback Cameron Sutton from the Steelers, cornerback Emmanuel Moseley from the 49ers, and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson from the Eagles. Then they drafted linebacker Jack Campbell with the 18th overall pick.
That, along with their strong finish over the final 6 games of last season, has many optimistic about the Lions’ chances in 2023.
Still, it’s the other side of the ball that will take this team as far as it can go. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing for the Lions considering how spectacular the Ben-Johnson led offense was in 2022.
Their scheme is versatile, attacking defenses in a multitude of ways. They were among the most fun to watch on film. So much so that Ed and I wrote 4 separate breakdowns about their passing game this offseason:
How the Lions Offense Creates Coverage Indicators
How the Lions Offense Dictates Matchups
The Lions' Play-Action Passing Game Kept Defenses Off Balance in 2022
Their run game was fun to watch too. Just look at this Influence Wham breakdown.
So what do the Lions have in store for us in 2023? Well, that all depends. On paper, they’ve added two players who should bring pure speed and electricity to an offense that already had an easy time picking defenses apart a year ago.
In 2nd-year wide receiver Jameson Williams and rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs, the Lions have two dynamic playmakers who will add to this offense where scheme couldn’t. That’s assuming Williams can stay healthy once he returns from his 6-game suspension. And it’s assuming Gibbs will be on the field for enough snaps given his size and weakness in protection.
If the Lions can harness that talent, however, they’re the team to beat in the NFC North. That’s a big “if” though.
Before we officially move ahead into this season, here’s a look back at the Lions’ team stats and NFL rankings from 2022:
