Why the Detroit Lions Are the NFL's Most Dangerous Wild-Card Team

The Detroit Lions' playoff-clinching victory over the San Diego Chargers solidified one fact:

They are the NFL's most dangerous wild-card team.

The Lions offense is performing at a level that can compete with even the most elite units in the league.

Detroit averages 282 yards through the air per game, fifth-best in the NFL.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford has nine touchdowns and zero interceptions in his last three games, and has rekindled the flame with receiver Calvin Johnson in a big way.

The man they call Megatron has three touchdowns in the last two weeks, after finding the end zone only once in Detroit's previous five contests.

So the question must be asked, what other potential wild-card team looks as imposing as the Lions?

The answer seems to be nobody.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are trying to withstand the ankle injury of Ben Roethlisberger. If he is fully healthy in time for the playoffs, then perhaps the Black and Gold will resume championship form, but no one will be scared of the team that showed up against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 15.

The Atlanta Falcons have the talent to compete in the playoffs, and they even beat the Lions 23-16 in Week 7, but do they really seem as dangerous as Detroit?

The Falcons may have the NFL's ninth-ranked passing attack, but they have not even secured a playoff spot yet, and only two of their wins this season have come against teams with winning records.

So while Atlanta is talented, they are not going to scare potential opponents—but the Detroit Lions will.

This is a team riding the emotion of making their first playoff appearance since 1999, and they have done so by gaining momentum at the right time.

The Lions have won three consecutive games and are even showing flashes of an ever-elusive running attack.

Kevin Smith has proven a competent starter when healthy, scoring six touchdowns in the last five games.

The knock on the Lions offense all season has been its unbalance, but if Smith can find consistency on the ground, then this team has the ability to play with anyone in the postseason.

They have the ability to earn the franchise its first playoff win since 1991, and to show the rest of the NFL that the Detroit Lions are both a dangerous wild-card team and a serious Super Bowl contender.