Real Expectaions for the Detroit Lions in 2009

The easy thing to do when considering the 2009 season for the Detroit Lions is to just write them off.  Let’s face it giving the past results; it would be fair to do just that.  But, maybe we should delve in a bit deeper.

The 2009 schedule

The 2009 schedule does carry a few promising opportunities.  Now most would think of playing the NFC west as an unfortunate aspect of the schedule.  Considering most east coast teams do not fair so well. 

The NFC west however has been a relatively weak division, three of its four teams drafted in the top 10 of the 2008 draft (49ers, Seahawks, and Rams).  If you take this into thought the Lions winning two of these games are not unthinkable.  With that let’s put them at two wins and two losses.

Another benefit to this schedule is that they only travel to the west coast twice.  Each west cost visit is followed by either a home game or a game near home (Minnesota).  This will make the stress of traveling a lot less, and give time for the coaching staff to regroup and prepare. 

Additionally only twice do they play back to back road games.  This will ensure that they achieve a fair amount of personal time, again relieving their stress throughout the season.  The other positive is the Lions bye week falls on week seven. 

Having bye week in the middle of the season has always been the preferred time for most NFL players.  It allows them to recoup and re-energize, before it’s too late or before it is really necessary.  These schedule positives should offer at least one extra victory, now lets put them at three wins and two losses.

There is also a downside to the schedule.  For starters the play the brutal AFC north, where all four teams should be improved.  Pittsburgh and Baltimore played for the conference championship, with the Steelers going on to win the Super Bowl. 

Most will agree the Cleveland greatly underachieved last year, and the Bengal’s without Carson Palmer lacked the punch needed to be successful.  These teams all play tough defense, especially Pittsburgh and Baltimore.  Realistically Detroit will struggle to win any of these four games.  The Lions fall to three wins six losses.

The toughest aspect of the schedule is in the first six games, which has them on the road against New Orleans, Green Bay, and Chicago.  Those three games look a lot like losses.  Three wins nine losses.  They also play Minnesota, Washington, and Pittsburgh at home. 

For them to beat Pittsburgh has already been said to be unattainable.  But a surprise victory against Washington or Minnesota is not impossible.  Both of these teams lack a true presence at quarterback, and both have holes in other key positions.

For argument's sake we will give the Lions one victory in this trio of games.  Four wins eleven losses.

Most teams are capable of at least one surprise victory during a seventeen week season, for this article the Lions will be no exception.  For a final tally of five wins and eleven losses.

Fear not troubled Lions fans; the chance to exceed this total does exist.  If the current players accept and quickly digest what the new leadership is teaching, the opportunity to start a little quicker may happen.  The Lions will also need to improve their play in the trenches on both sides of the ball. 

Last year the lions lacked the ability to sustain drives, thus putting the defense on the filed far too much.  The defense on the other hand gave up far too many big plays.  I am sure all of us remember Michael Turner carving up this team for 220 yards and a pair of touchdowns on week one.  Those types of performances have to stop. 

In the end it comes down to a simple idea of execution, over the past years the Lions have failed to execute key facets of the game.  A sustained running attack and short yardage game have escaped Detroit for almost a decade.  If Detroit can find a way to overcome this they will have a chance to surprise many people.

There still remains the fact that if the Lions fail to get production out of positions with high expectations (running back, wide receiver, and linebacker) they may fall short again.  Last year team lacked the needed confidence in the coaching staff, which led to dissention in the locker room.  That type of thing has to be avoided at all costs.

In the end the Detroit Lions are going into this season smack dab in a rebuilding phase.  That rarely lends itself to success, but crazier things have happened.  No one imagined the Atlanta Falcons would be playing in the playoffs last year, so who knows.  If Detroit can just show improvement, fans should be modestly happy, for now.