do the detriot lions have a chance in the NFC ?

Answer 1

No way! Panthers are going all the way!

Answer 2

They will do well this year. The NFC is so bad any team could come out and be the NFC Champions. They are my sleeper pick this year. I think that most people over look the Lions. They are very solid running at the running back position. They have Kevin Jones who I think is very underrated running back. Even though he was hurt last year he got 8 touchdowns. Not only is Kevin a good running back is good receiving back too. Last year he had over 600 yards receiving. Also they added some very good backup running backs, Tatum Bell and TJ Duckett. They have a very good wide receiving core. Their wide receiver Roy Williams is outstanding. Last year he had over 1300 yards and 7 touchdowns. He was fourth in league in receptions. Mike Furrey is a very reliable receiver. Last year he had over 1000 yards and do not forget about their rookie Calvin Johnson. They could also get Dante Culpepper. Culpeper could help the Lions team a lot. The Lions are missing a quarterback who can get the job done. I believe if they sign Culpepeper that is what kind of quarterback they will get. As long as their defense can hang in there they will do alright. They have also got some people in the in the off-season who can really help their defense out. Travis Fisher is a very good corner back. They have also gotten a few more player like Corey Smith and Dewayne White. Also they are playing in the NFC the worse conference in the league. They are playing in the NFC North which is the worst division in football. I could see them go 4-2 or 5-1 in the division. If they do that then they are half way to making the playoffs. I think they will go 9-7 with a wildcard spot. If they can make the playoffs than they maybe they can get on a wining streak and win the Super Bowl like the Steelers in 2005.

Answer 3

No.... they still have a porous defense with studs (pun intended) like Paris Lenon (yes the special teams guy CUT from G.B. because he wasnt even a good enough special teamer) being your middle linebacker? The 2 D tackles are beasts but the D ends are barely second team material and now the backfield has to make do without Bly who was the only solid performer there. They have a couple kids that look like they have a chance but honestly this defense is still very bad. Now for the offensive line (perfect description of them...offensive!). Notice how many times the right side of the line got dominated in both preseason games when both teams starters were in? Notice how not a single guy on the line could execute a drive block on a standard running set? The only way they will run the ball is after they establish the pass, the line simply isnt a good run blocking unit. Now the passing game sure looks like a huge bright spot and it will be fun to watch the air shows every game, the line is capable of pass blocking. That all will be great in the middle of the game but here are a couple brutal facts for you: #1 think Rex Grossman is bad? Only one other QB in the league had more turnovers last year....John Kitna (sad but easy enough to check...thats just a fact). #2 and even more sad....the Lions had 11- 2 minute drill opportunities during games at either half time or the end of the game...only 1 time (Yes, ONE time) did they manufacture ANY points (yes that was by far worst in the league)! Kitna has been around a long time....he has reached his full potential and these are historical numbers for him even from his starts in Cinn. so can we reasonably expect better now? Dont get me wrong I like the guy and he has at least given Lion fans a glimmer of hope but he is what he is...an average QB that is a nice compliment if they had a young QB he could help (now that Stanton is down even that seems unlikely).For a change at least they will be fun to watch...are they ready to contend for even a .500 record...doesnt seeem like it yet.

Answer 4

Yes.

First, everyone has a chance in the NFC, it is just not as tough as the AFC.

Second, the upgrades across the board on the O is just what Martz needs to play mad scientist. (Calvin in awesome, but Mc Donald was downright impressive himself.)

Third, the North really has no power offenses besides Detroits, and even the Bears Defense took some hits during free agency. Watching the way your corners hawked balls right and left against Frye and Anderson, Bad Rex could be in trouble, and Urlacher can't stop an interception.

Green Bay is in shambles, and aside from Peterson who do the Vikings have. Both teams are good against the run, but neither one could stop a passing attack last season, and what do you think Martz is gonna do with those 4 receivers of his?
Use Bell to keep the D honest, then dump the ball all over the field.

Really they have a decent shot at the playoffs(never thought I'd be saying that about the Detroit Kittens, but hhey kitties got some sharp claws), even if they have to do it as a wild card. I would not chalk them up for a SB berth until they shore up the defense some more though, as a team like the Saints has what it takes to stop them ( Might also have trouble with Dallas, Philly or St. Louis, but I don't know if you play any of them)

Actually looking at the schedule you will likely lose these 4 games,Eagles, Cowboys, Broncos, Chargers.

Then you have a 50/50 with these: Bears (twice), Cardinals ( if they live up to their potential. In a lot of ways they llok like a mirror image of Detroit).

Looking at the rest, you might have a hiccup or two, but 8 to 9 wins should be doable, unless Kitna just completely goes Grossman on you. Remember also, that a lot of the games lost last year were by one score or less. With the receivers and RBs you got now, 1 extra score is very doable.

*Blitzburgh? Um hate ta give ya a news flash, but Culpepper signed with the Raiders, like a coupla weeks ago. Aint no way he'll be leading Detroit anywhere, unless it is by chocking at the beginning of the season when they play. And Kitna has a better O-line and more weapons this year. Plus if Martz could win a SuperBowl with Kurt Warner?!?!?!, do you any of you think he can't get production outta Kitna, especially with the backfield and receiving corp he got for his birthday?

The Millen comment is right, though. When will they deep six the guy?

Answer 5

Everyone has a shot in the NFC(less so the AFC). That said, I doubt Chicago's hegemony of the North will change any time soon, but the Lions have the enfeebled Packers and Vikings with which to fight it out for 2nd place, and a possible wild card. Looking at their schedule, it seems doable. Key games to watch: all games against divisional rivals, Week 3 at Phili, Week 9 at Arizona(possibly) week 10 hosting the Giants, and week 14 hosting the Cowboys. These figure to be their chances to secure vital head-to-head tie-breakers any wild card will need to get in...

Answer 6

Everyone has a chance in the NFC, even though there are already favorites to pick the NFC, dont read anything into predictions that these sports people say, it doesnt matter. Wait till the season to start to see whose going to the big dance and whose not.

Answer 7

Its interesting that fans of perrenially awful teams ALWAYS think one good player os going to turn their program around. A team must be built from the ground up, and that happens in the front office. It begins with good scouting to get the right guys for your style of play, not necessarlity the biggest hyped guys. It continues by obtaining the right draft picks and offseason acquisitions. And is brought to fruition by providing the best coaching, so that optimum performance is gained by the right guys in the right system.

Detroit is one of the teams that has never been able to do this (Browns, Cardinals as well). They've always gotten one or two guys and tried to build a team around them. The Ravens, Eagles, and Patriots are perfect examples of teams whose front office moves in connection with their coaches style of play. They have GMs that don't fight them on draft picks and are committed to getting the best player for their respective systems and not the best athlete overall. Detroit seems to grab players and hope they pan out... most haven't.

But don't lose hope; teams have crawled out of the gutter before, but it takes years worth of committment from the front office. The Bengals erased the "Bungles" moniker they had in the 90's. Seattle used to be the laughing stock of the NFL, and they've been a contender for the past few seasons. The Buccanneers, at one point in the late 90's, needed to win every single game, including the playoffs and superbowls, for 16 straight seasons, just to get back to a .500 overall record. But they went out and put together a team that clicked for Tony Dunjy, and worked even better under John Gruden, and went on to take out the Raiders in the Superbowl.

Calvin Johnson will be a great player, but the Lions will need a complete overhaul, the team, and the front office, if they want to make it anywhere.

Answer 8

Yes but it will be hard for them to get to the playoffs because the Bears own the North, but they do have a shot at a wild card to go along with the 49ers.

Answer 9

yes, Cjohnson and roy williams will dominate the nfc

Answer 10

it looks like a completely new team in the preseason so far...

i think they have a chance

Answer 11

of course....just like Michael Vick has a chance of avoiding jail