2011 NFL Predictions: 10 Reasons Why Detroit Lions Will Win Super Bowl (2nd Ed.)

Prior to the 2010 NFL season, I wrote an article outlining 10 reasons why I believed the Detroit Lions would win the Super Bowl.  I have decided to make this an annual tradition, so without further ado, here is the 2011 version of why the Lions will win the Super Bowl this year.

On a side note, at least this year, the headline of this article won't induce as many laughs as it did the year before.

1. The Obvious

I don’t think I need to talk too much about the defensive line.  Unless you have been hiding in a cave, you know that the Lions have one of the best defensive lines in football.  The addition of Nick Fairley, once he gets healthy, will allow Ndamukong Suh and Corey Williams to be fresher at the end of the year and allow them to make even more plays. 

Along with the defensive tackles, the Lions will have the hardest-working man in football, Kyle Vanden Bosch, and Cliff Avril will be playing for a new contract. 

I don’t know if Suh will be able to get double-digit sacks again, but even if he doesn’t, he will be even more effective overall than last year.

2. Jahvid Best Has 10 Healthy Toes

Six touchdowns total for the year, and five came in the first two games—that is all you need to know about how much Best’s toes hurt his game last year. 

Just imagine what could happen if Best is healthy all year.  Actually, you don’t have to imagine it because it is going to happen in 2011.

3. Their Offensive Weapons Can Compete with Anybody

I am not going to list all their names because you can find them on any Detroit roster, but the talent the Lions have at WR, TE, RB and FB rivals any other team in the league. 

Led by Calvin Johnson, who I believe this year will separate himself from the other pretenders to become the best wideout in the league, the Lions offense is going to put huge numbers.

The nice thing is that, with the improvements on defense, they are going to have some help.

4. The Coaching Staff

Not only who the coaches are (head coach Jim Schwartz, offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham), but the fact that they have been here for three years in a row is a big advantage. 

The continuity that has been created is obvious on the practice field.  In years past, the Lions used to have to run plays two to three times to get them right; this year they run them once and move on. 

Players are a lot better when they don’t have to think about what they need to do.  It allows them to play football at a faster pace.

5. Osama Bin Laden Is Dead

Quick! Name three good things about Osama Bin Laden:

1. He’s dead.

2. He died.

3. He ain't livin’ no more.

If we can finally kill Osama Bin Laden after 10 years, then surely the Lions can finally make the Super Bowl after 45 tries. 

6. The Continued Improvement of Amari Spievey

Spievey was drafted as a cornerback, and according to Jim Schwartz, he came into camp last year "with a potbelly."  The coaching staff decided near the end of 2010 training camp to move him to safety, and he struggled with the position last year.  This year appears to be a totally different story. 

Spievey came into camp in shape and mentally sharp.  He has been impressive so far, and appears to have gotten over the mental hurdle of playing safety.  Along with Louis Delmas, who is finally healthy, the Lions now have a good 1-2 punch at the position. The nice thing is both of these guys are young and can only get better.

7. Eric Wright

Last year, the Lions started the season with Jonathan Wade as one of their starting cornerbacks, and that was an absolute disaster.  Wade was cut midway through the season to make room for kicker Dave Rayner. 

This year Eric Wright has been tabbed as the cornerback who will start opposite Chris Houston, and I believe he will perform extremely well. 

Wright’s biggest strength is that he is extremely athletic, which will work great in Detroit’s zone scheme.  He is not the greatest run supporter, but he does have the strength to develop and improve that area of his game.

8. The Linebackers

For the first time in recent memory, the Lions have three starters at linebacker that actually belong in the NFL.  The trio of Stephen Tulloch, DeAndre Levy and Justin Durant are all proven starters and are going to be a tremendous upgrade over the 2010 linebackers.  The nice thing is that the Lions actually have some depth here with Ashley Palmer and the recently re-signed Bobby Carpenter. 

With what the Lions feature on the defensive line, the linebackers should be free to make plenty of plays.

9. Matthew Stafford Will Play 15.5 Games

That’s right, I said it.  Stafford will miss only two quarters of football this year.

I am even willing to tell you which two quarters.  Stafford will not play the fourth quarters against the Panthers (Week 11) and the Raiders (Week 15).  The reason he will not play is because the Lions will be destroying these two teams by three touchdowns and Stafford will be rested.

This is the year that Stafford not only stays healthy, but proves that any so-called experts that say either Mark Sanchez or Josh Freeman was a better pick from the 2009 draft are clueless.  I look for nothing less than 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns from the Georgia alum this year.

10. Reality

Last year when I wrote the 2010 version of why the lions will win the Super Bowl, this is where I made my prediction for the season.  I wrote that the main reason they will win the Super Bowl is because I am a delusional Lions fan.  I wrote that, in reality, the Lions will win 5-6 games at best. 

This year I am going to do my prediction a little differently.  I am going to separate it into three different articles.

Monday, August 15th, I will give you what I feel will be the worst-case scenario for the 2011 Lions.

Wednesday, August 17th, I will give you my best-case scenario.

Friday, August 19th, I will give my best guess as to how the 2011 season will unfold.