Lions Playoff Contenders Next Season?

[IronMike]

NFL.com news: Lions headline list of non-playoff teams with hope for 2011

I think they will be. They've looked good all season but just couldn't finish. Had they been able to they could have easily secured the division title. They're a talented team who's biggest problem I think is keeping their QB's healthy.

I like to see the Lions win. I don't care too much about the Packers or Vikings but I've been in Pontiac watching the Bears play them a dozen times and I loved watching Barry Sanders.

In a perfect world every team in the NFC North would be playoff contenders. Remember the Black and Blue division?

 

[waldo7239117]

They need to draft another QB and DB, then they will be better. Playoff contender? IDK, but I still don't think so.

 

[ClydeLee]

Not sure they need another QB, no guarantee for Stafford either way at all but it's way to early to give up because their backup situation isn't bad. There's 2 good CBs for the first round and they could land the 2nd one.

It is not impossible but it is hard to imagine the Lions having success again.

 

[IronMike]

It's hard to imagine because it's the Lions but they've got some serious talent at some key positions. They could have one of the best RB's in the league with Best. I agree they have a good QB situation IF they can stay healthy.

Part of their problem might be the losing mentality.

Lions players might be good sleeper fantasy picks for next year.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

hahahahahahahahahahaha

 

[Saluki]

Playoffs next season? Not likely, they do have some pieces in place for future success. But their DBs arn't gunna be good enough in 1 season to do anything, and it's tough to break a tradition of losing, i don't care what team you are.

 

[ClydeLee]

Just a thing to remember how big that loosing idea may be. A lot of People have been calling the Houston Texans their sleeper pick to make the playoffs for 3 years now. Yet they never get their team in gear.

 

[IronMike]

The Lions could end up with as good a record as the Bears did last season so it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility.

 

[thedude33]

Naw, their QB is always hurt, Best seems soft, their top WR is a bit of a head case, the D is suspect, and they only won a couple at the end of the year when there's no pressure. They hardly make a case for playoff contenders.

 

[WearShades]

They need to draft another QB and DB, then they will be better. Playoff contender? IDK, but I still don't think so.

Why would they need to draft a QB? Stafford's been great this year when he's played, and Stanton has looked like he might be more than just a backup.

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

doubt it

 

[IronMike]

What truly talented WR isn't a head case?

 

[ClydeLee]

What truly talented WR isn't a head case?

There was very little issue coming out of the likes of Jerry Rice and Marvin Harrison.. Nowadays out of Larry Fitzgerald and Reggie Wayne there hasn't been any headcase issues. Andre Johnson has been quiet and clean until this past year, probably being on the edge and still no playoffs after so long will do that to you.

 

[IronMike]

Jerry Rice was an exceptional athlete and person. He's on a pedestal all his own as far as WR's go. Love him.

I guess running really fast and having all that wind go through their ears makes them loopy.

 

[Relapse]

How long has everyone kept saying next season is the Lions season to make the jump... and it never happens. Just like every season the Chargers are finally going to make the Superbowl... never happens. Is Detroit now harboring Cubs fans to root for the Lions?

 

[TopekaRoy]

I think a lot of it depends on what they can do in the draft and free agency this year. With a home game against the Vikings, they have a chance to finish 6-10. If you look at their 10 losses, 7 of them were by 8 points or less. To go from 2-14 to maybe 6-10 is quite an improvement.

The Chiefs were 4-12 last year and this year they are 10-5 with a 3 seed for the playoffs, so it's not out of the question.

If the Vikings improve next year, it will be difficult for the Lions to make the playoffs, but if they still suck, then I think the Lions have a good shot.

 

[Cover3]

if the Lions need to draft any position it's definitely not quarterback.. LOL

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

the vikings wont be that good next year imo..but then again the NFL is very hard to predict when it comes to teams..you may have a good idea on how a team is going to do...but then maybe a player underperforms or gets hurt or the opposite

 

[ClydeLee]

How long has everyone kept saying next season is the Lions season to make the jump... and it never happens. Just like every season the Chargers are finally going to make the Superbowl... never happens. Is Detroit now harboring Cubs fans to root for the Lions?

Who has ever said that in the past decade? Besides Lions fans who don't count in that debate. I've hardly heard that being talked about at all. Unlike Houston who literally every year it gets said by a bunch of objective fans or other team fans.

 

[payton 34ever]

Much improved? Sure. Playoffs? Let's not get ahead of ourselves yet.

There were two teams at 10-6 who didn't make the playoffs this year.