Week 1 is just days away now, and here are five bold predictions for the Detroit Lions in 2022.
The Detroit Lions are heading into the 2022 season with high hopes, even if it’s ultimately just a step toward a playoff spot with the full payoff to come in 2023.
With an easier schedule than last year, in terms of opponents and travel distance (the second-fewest miles in the league, with no games west of Dallas/Arlington), the Lions could double their win total from last year or even a little better. The widely adopted Vegas win total over/under of 6.5 seems perfect.
The buzz coming their way from “Hard Knocks” will eventually fade, and the proof will be in the pudding for the 2022 Lions. For once, and the first time in awhile, they should be a fun team to follow and cover.
With the kickoff to the new season now almost able to counted in hours, here are five bold predictions for the Detroit Lions this season.
5 bold predictions for the Detroit Lions in 2022
Credit: Detroit Free Press-USA TODAY Sports
5. A Winning Record
Ok, so this isn’t really all that bold, right? But the Lions have not had a winning record since going 9-7 in Jim Caldwell’s final season as head coach in 2017. We can call that “B.P.”, as in “Before Patricia”, which feels like longer than four full seasons ago.
Remove Caldwell’s four seasons as head coach (2014-2017), and three winning records in those four seasons, and the Lions have had two other winning records this century (9-7 in 2000, 10-6 in 2011). So it’s a good goal for the team, and a pretty bold prediction?
Simply not having double-digit losses for the first time since that 2017 campaign would be a heck of a step for the Lions this season. Nine wins would probably fall short of a Wild Card spot. But with a lot of predictions of an 8-9 record, including ours, flipping one of those losses to a win isn’t out of the question if they can make getting a winning record a conversation.