Summer’s over — it’s Lions season!
Why it matters: Sunday’s opener at Green Bay is the fresh start fans have needed to wash away the remaining bitterness over last season’s sad playoff exit.
- Kickoff is at 4:25pm on CBS.
Between the lines: Experts predict a regression from last season’s 15-2 record.
- The loss of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, now the Chicago Bears head coach, and changes on the offensive line are among the most pressing concerns.
What they’re saying: Detroit is No. 7 among teams facing the most pressure this season, per NFL.com.
- “Longtime fans who have suffered along with this team over the years surely do not want to think about the alternative possibilities that could unfold should serious cracks begin to form in the facade this season,” editor Tom Blair writes.
State of play: SOL (“Same Old Lions”) syndrome is hard to overcome, especially after decades upon decades of losing.
Reality check: Detroit is bidding for its third straight playoff berth, which the Lions haven’t done since the mid-1990s.
Yes, but: Here are three reasons to believe the Lions will continue their winning ways:
😈 Hutch is back: Detroit’s defense wasn’t the same after edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson went down last season with a broken leg.
- “He’s healthy now, looking menacing again and the biggest reason to believe the Lions defense could elevate to a top-10 unit this fall,” the Freep’s Dave Birkett writes.
🚀 Rookie class: Early returns are electric. Receiver Isaac TeSlaa looked like a stud in the preseason. Offensive lineman Tate Ratledge could become the franchise’s center of the future after Frank Ragnow’s offseason retirement, general manager Brad Holmes says.
👋 Hi, haters: Maybe it’s not a coincidence that Detroit fell flat last season after so much media hype. Reduced expectations could be the motivational tool the Lions need for another Super Bowl push.
