Detroit Lions Season Expectations for 2009

Let's be honest.

There will be no good memories from the Detroit Lions 2008 season. 2008 was a result of injuries, bad decisions, bad drafts, and just plain bad luck resulting in the NFL's first ever 0-16 season.

Fans would like to forget 2008 ever happened. The good news is that change has come, and lots of it.

Matt Millen, Detroit's General Manager since 2001, was fired three games into the 2008 season. Coach, Rod Marinelli was then fired at season's end.

New General Manager Martin Mayhew, and new Coach Jim Schwartz, have embarked on a complete overhaul of the Lions roster. Unwanted players and malcontents have been trimmed, and replaced with young depth players and solid veterans from other teams.

So what can we expect from the 2009 Detroit Lions? Let's take a look.

The first six weeks

The early season schedule is difficult and features away games at New Orleans, Chicago, and Green Bay. The early home slate includes Washington, Minnesota, and the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

That could be a daunting task for any team, but considering some of the improvements or possible improvements Detroit's division rivals are expected to make, the early season looks especially rough.

Chicago has added pro-bowl quarterback, Jay Cutler, while Minnesota is exploring the possibility of adding longtime Lions nemesis, Brett Favre to their roster. Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers will only be better with a season under his belt.

I would project a 2-4 record throughout the first six games. This is being optimistic.

It isn't too far-fetched to imagine Detroit coming out fired-up against New Orleans and notching a win in the first game of the season. Drew Brees and the Saint's passing attack will be a good test for the revamped secondary and they'll be wanting to prove themselves early.

Beyond that, you have to imagine Detroit can beat at least one of their three division rivals through those first six games.

For Detroit to make it to the bye-week 2-4, a lot will rest on expected starting quarterback, Daunte Culpepper's arm.

With the offensive line getting minimal improvement, Culpepper's mobility will be crucial to saving broken plays and making something out of nothing. Luckily, he'll have big target and matchup nightmare, Calvin Johnson to throw to downfield,

If Detroit were to exceed a 2-4 record at the bye week, that would depend on the defense.

A big question mark surrounds the defensive line and secondary. Both have been revamped. Anchor, Cory Redding was shipped off and replaced with Grady Jackson, a more consistent run-stopper.

The secondary now includes rookie, Louis Delmas and former Dallas Cowboy, Anthony Henry for starters. If they can all mesh, there could be dramatic improvement from the NFL's 30th ranked defense in 2008.

Finally, the revamped linebackers unit will be key. Regarded as likely being the strongest unit on the team, Ernie Sims, Larry Foote, and Julian Peterson could potentially be dominating, but they'll have to show their work on the field.

After the bye-week

The six games after the bye-week appear to be smooth sailing compared to the early season. The away games are against Seattle, Minnesota, and Cincinnati. The home games include St. Louis, Green Bay, and Cleveland.

Four of those six teams (Seattle, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Cleveland) won four games or less last season, which could give Detroit an excellent opportunity to bring an early 2-4 record to 6-6.

At this stage, a lot depends on how effective of a job Jim Schwartz has done with coaching this team. Injuries also start to play a factor at this point in the season.

Second-year running back, Kevin Smith believes the Lions are a playoff team. A 6-6 record after 12 games would keep them in the hunt, but the Lions will have to beat the teams they are capable of beating. The teams that were nearly as bad as they were last season. These are the teams Detroit will be measured against in terms of improvement. 

This is a critical stage of the season because after a 2-4 record to start the year, Detroit may be tempted to insert rookie quarterback, Matthew Stafford. If Stafford comes in under center, all bets are off and the season becomes a wild card.

The Lions may even be forced to start Stafford due to an injury to Daunte Culpepper. For that reason, it would be wise for Detroit to acquire another veteran quarterback before the season begins.

Down the stretch run

The final four games for the Lions 2009 season plays out with away games against Baltimore and San Francisco with home games against Arizona and Chicago.

A 2-2 record here wouldn't be out of the question. The Lions should be capable of earning a win against San Francisco, and a win against Chicago on the last game of the season also is within the realm of possibility.

That gives Detroit potential for an 8-8 season, looking at it optimistically.

Jim Schwartz will be especially scrutinized down the stretch with a wild-card berth on the line, however if the Lions can stay healthy, and if the new acquisitions perform to their expectations, 8-8 is possible.

This is hard to imagine after going 0-16 a year ago. This may even be hard to imagine given the last eight seasons of Detroit Lions history. Detroit's best season under Matt Millen, was 7-9 in 2007.

It is hard to criticize most of the moves Mayhew and Schwartz have made thus far though. Now it is on them to display their expertise in a game situation.

The Lions could potentially be turning some heads this fall when all is said and done.