NFL Predictions 2010: Detroit Lions

TheSportsWatchers want to get you in shape for the upcoming 2010 NFL football season. So in the spirit of NFL training camp, we are doing two-a-days to get you in gear for each and every NFL team.

The Detroit Lions were in a rebuilding year last year…again! However, they were a lot more successful in their rebuilding this time around, as they seemed to have found their quarterback of their future, which puts them in a position they haven’t been in for a long time.

2009 NFL Recap for the Detroit Lions

The Lions finished the year with a lowly 2-14 record that included a loss to the NFL’s worst football team, the St. Louis Rams. Still, the Lions showed some signs of growth, most notably the abilities of Matthew Stafford as a quarterback. Sure, Stafford had just 13 touchdowns and 20 interceptions, but his 2,267 yards in 10 games averaged out to 267 passing yards per game. Quite impressive for a rookie. In fact, Peyton Manning himself only averaged 233 passing yards per game in his rookie season, and that was with Marshall Faulk in the backfield. As for the rest of the Lions, they were abysmal. Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith didn’t perform up to their expectations, and the defense finished 32nd against the pass in 2009. At the end of the day, that added up to 14 losses and the second pick of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Detroit Lions 2010 Offseason Transactions

The Lions offseason went under the radar, but they did make some solid moves. Early on, the Lions signed DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, giving them a veteran defensive lineman that can lead this team’s turnaround on the defensive side of the ball. To add to that defensive line, the Lions drafted Ndamukong Suh, the stand out defensive tackle from Nebraska. They also drafted running back Jahvid Best, who could be the Lions feature back by the start of the season. To back up Stafford, the Lions acquired QB Shaun Hill, who will apparently take the place of Daunte Culpepper. And to help WR Calvin Johnson out, the Lions acquired Nate Burleson.

2010 NFL Predictions for the Detroit Lions

The additions to the Lions defensive line gives them one of the best front fours in football. Suh and Vanden Bosch are two linemen with never-ending motors, and will have offensive lines on their toes all day. However, the Lions defensive secondary wasn’t improved much over the offseason, which means this team will still have trouble defending the pass. On the offensive side of the ball, the Lions line has a lot of problems. If LG Rob Sims can step up, the combination of him, Jeff Backus and Dominic Raiola could give them a left side of the line that is above average. The addition of Jahvid Best gives the Lions a homerun threat not named Calvin Johnson, which should put Johnson in more one-on-one situations. Most importantly however, one would expect Stafford to be much improved in 2010. A significant jump his level of play should double the Lions win total this season, especially against a schedule that is far from backbreaking. We expect the Lions to win 4 games in 2010, but to be a lot more competitive this year.

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