Detroit Lions: 4 Keys to Becoming Kings of NFC North Jungle

The Detroit Lions were one of the biggest surprises in the NFL last season. Two years after finishing 0-16, the worst record of all time, they racked up 10 wins and a playoff berth.

There is no doubt that this team showed tremendous resilience, something Detroit citizens know all about. This is a team from a city that no one believes in. Detroit is always put in a negative light, and so were the Lions for years.

The city seems to be on the rise, and that also stands true for the Lions. They have a tough task ahead of them, however, and they need to show the NFL that they were no fluke. Here are the keys to becoming the kings of the jungle that is the NFC North.

Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford was a gem in 2011 and was the main reason this team turned things around. He set career high marks in seemingly every category, as this was his first healthy season as a pro.

Stafford was one of three NFL quarterbacks to throw for over 5,000 yards last season, joining the likes of Tom Brady and Drew Brees. He was also third in the league in touchdown passes with 41. Not bad for a guy who has only been healthy for a full year once in his young career.

The key to the 2012 season will be Matthew Stafford repeating his performance from 2011. He doesn't need to necessarily surpass his numbers from last year, he just needs to be consistent with those numbers.

If Stafford can pass for over 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns, while cutting down on his interceptions, the Lions will be in good shape in the NFC North race.

Develop a Running Game

The Lions' biggest area of concern for the upcoming season should be the running game. They do have solid depth at the position with Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure anchoring the backfield, but they need to produce this season.

Last year was a disaster when it came to the Lions' rushing attack. Mikel Leshoure missed his entire rookie season due to injury, and Jahvid Best played just six games, also due to injury.

Best could be lethal in the open field. Give him room and he will jet right past you. Mikel Leshoure is a bruiser, the kind of guy the Lions need to complement Best. They could develop their own duo of "thunder and lightening."

The Lions had just two running backs who rushed for over 300 yards last year, and no one ran for over 400 yards. The team ranked 29th in rushing with less than 100 yards of rushing per game. For the Lions to have more success this season, they need to have a running back approach the 800-yard mark and maybe even exceed it.

Calvin Needs to Be Calvin

The Lions' Calvin Johnson had the best year of his career last season and the best year of any receiver in the NFL in 2011.

He is, hands down, the best and most complete receiver in the NFL today. He can run, he can catch, he has incredible size and he can overpower defensive backs. He is a big reason as to why Matthew Stafford had the year that he had last season.

Johnson, also known as "Megatron," played well enough last year to earn himself a spot on the cover of the popular Madden 2013 video game. Yes, all is good for Calvin and the Lions.

When you look at his numbers from last year, you can't help but notice that he averaged six catches, over 100 yards and a touchdown per game last season. Calvin Johnson is the kind of guy who can change an entire offense for the better.

This year should be just as productive for the 6'5", 235-pound receiver because he has other weapons to take double teams off of him.

Titus Young, Nate Burleson, Brandon Pettigrew and second-round draft pick Ryan Broyles should take the extra pressure off Johnson, and that will leave the big guy in one-on-one coverage. This can only work in his favor and will excel in 2012 with the Lions' offense.

Cut Down on Penalties

Possibly the most-talked about issue last season for this young Lions' squad was the lack of maturity.

Penalties were an issue for this Detroit team, so much so that Commissioner Roger Goodell had a private meeting with Lions' defensive star Ndamukong Suh. Suh was a major contributor to the team's immaturity, seemingly lacking a sense of place. There were times when he almost forgot he was on a football field in front of thousands of people.

The most famous incident was on Thanksgiving Day, Suh stomped Packer lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith's leg during a play. This caused the league to come down hard on the young defensive lineman, suspending him for multiple games.

This was not the only serious incident, Titus Young and Brandon Pettigrew were both also involved in serious plays that resulted in personal fouls.

The Lions had the third most penalties of any team in the league with 138, resulting in over 1,000 penalty yards. For this team to be successful and cut down on stupid penalties, they need to grow up and listen to their coaches. They are professional athletes and should be playing the game right and with class. I'm sure Jim Schwartz has hammered this into their brains all offseason.