Why the Detroit Lions Will Make the Playoffs This Upcoming Season

The Detroit Lions have always been a team that everyone poked fun at, they were always the butt of every joke. I myself am not a Detroit fan, but for some reason, every time I see them on TV I find myself rooting for them. I think that this is the season that they finally make it over the hill and get into the NFL playoffs. 

For starters, their defensive unit will be one of the best in the NFC. Their two big men in the middle, Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley could possibly be the best tandem of Defensive Tackles currently playing in the league, if Fairley lives up to his potential.

The rest of their defense is, in my opinion, extremely underrated. DeAndre Levy had a great season  at linebacker, and should look to repeat that success this coming season. They also boast a secondary that should perform solidly, as they ranked 15th against the pass and should improve this season.

The thing I will admit about the Lions is that they have a ton of potential to be a formidable defensive force, but if there is any team in the NFL that could squander such an opportunity for success, it's Detroit.

As a side note, Detroit's special teams squad was in the top five in the NFL in punt and kick return touchdowns, a fact that is extremely overlooked. If this success is repeated, it could help win the close games, something the Lions struggled with which I'll get to later. 

On the offensive side of the ball, the Lions are a team waiting to break out. Consider this: last season they were consistently without stud Quarterback Matthew Stafford and still finished in the top half of the league in passing, 12th to be exact. If he can remain healthy this year, the sky is the limit, as he has shown great promise when he hasn't been bothered by his seemingly constant shoulder problems.

Their rushing attack will be very good with the return of a dynamic Jahvid Best. Best is a legitimate double threat, as he put up good receiving numbers last year (58 receptions). If he can get better it will greatly help Stafford. Last but certainly not least, Calvin Johnson will once again be an elite receiver and Nate Burleson should be a good contributor. 

The most important fact that favors a playoff run is their record last season. Yes they went 6-10, but when you examine their record more closely, they lost seven out of 10 games by eight points or less. If they win just three of them, they're 9-7 and in the playoff mix. Many of those games were played without Matthew Stafford. If he can stay healthy, the Lions will win more close ones, and finally get into the playoffs come the season's conclusion.