For the first time ever, Sports Illustrated has declared the Detroit Lions as the favorite to win Super Bowl LIX. Fans of the Detroit Lions have been waiting since 1957 for their next championship title, and their first Super Bowl win. The 2023 season brought a new winning culture to the Detroit Lions, and the team now faces something that the Lions have almost never had: the expectation of results. While the weight and pressure have been put on the team, the skill, talent and coaching provided should be more than enough to warrant a Super Bowl appearance.
The biggest stars of the Detroit Lions primarily play in their offense. Receivers like Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Sam LaPorta heavily contributed to the team gaining the second-most passing yards (4,515) in the entire league according to ESPN. After extending Amon-Ra’s and quarterback Jared Goff’s contracts, the team is set up for long-term success between these two players. The Lions also have an outstanding run game with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Last season the team scored the most rushing touchdowns (27) and had the fifth-most yards (2,311) in the league.
The Lions’ defense is also filled with star players like defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who recently put up 4.5 sacks against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second week. Linebacker Alex Anzalone has also put up a lot of tackles for the team, gaining 10 against the Los Angeles Rams. Along with how loud Ford Field can get during games, the home-field advantage for the defense has never been better.
The greatest part of the Lions, however, is their offensive line. Offensive tackle Penei Sewell and center Frank Ragnow have been rated as the greatest players at their positions by Pro Football Focus (PFF). When the playoffs came around during the 2023 season, Penei Sewell gave up zero pressures and zero sacks, which contributed to Detroit’s effective offense despite losing in the NFC conference title game.
The biggest problem the Lions faced last year was their pass defense, giving up the sixth-most yards out of every team in the league. The Lions traded with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Carlton Davis III and drafted rookie cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Amik Robertson. This new secondary has helped to reduce points scored against them, holding the Buccaneers and the Rams to only 20 points in both games. Other effective players like safety Kerby Joseph and cornerback Brian Branch are still under rookie contracts and have stayed for the 2024 season.
Along with their pass defense, the Lions need to improve on their red zone conversion rate. As of the second week of the season, the Lions have a 27% rate of scoring touchdowns when at the 20-yard line or closer according to ESPN. This hurt the team drastically and was a major reason why they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week Two and went into overtime against the Los Angeles Rams.
One of the best things about the Lions right now is their coaching staff. Head Dan Campbell has by far had the most impact on the team, being able to bring them back after tough losses and being an overall great leader. In every season since Dan Campbell was hired as head coach, the Lions have always gotten better and better each season. Campbell expects a lot from this team, and after tough losses last year at Baltimore and Dallas, the team has always been able to come back with another win, a sense of confidence and grit.
As a team, it’s expected that the Detroit Lions will attend Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans and overcome the pressure from expectations. The offense has been overloaded with outstanding players, and the defense heavily focused on the one issue that held them back in 2023. If the Lions can improve on their red zone conversion rate and if they keep the consistency they had last year, a Super Bowl title has left the realm of impossibility.
