It isn't exactly a secret with Week 1 of the 2021-22 NFL regular season now less than one week away, but the Detroit Lions are not a very good football team at the present moment.
Even with a new head coach in Dan Campbell and former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff now under center, the Lions certainly have not improved this offseason as a last place finish in the always dangerous NFC North division appears to be imminent.
With the Green Bay Packers ready to contend for a Super Bowl, the Chicago Bears potentially on the rise and the Minnesota Vikings sporting some insanely talented players at some key positions, the Lions just simply won't be able to keep up with the rest of the NFC North.
Not only that, but there is truly no spot on the team's depth chart in which the Lions excel, which may make matchups against opponents outside of the NFC North a bit difficult to overcome as well.
With an extra week of the regular season being added to the schedule, the 2021-22 campaign could ultimately be a very long — and forgettable — for both the Lions and the franchise's loyal fan base.
Lions QB Jared Goff will lead the NFL in interceptions
The Detroit Lions elected to turn the page on a significant chapter in the franchise's history this offseason upon trading longtime quarterback Matthew Stafford across the country to the Los Angeles Rams.
With Lions newcomer and former Rams quarterback Jared Goff making his way from the West Coast to the “Motor City” as a result of that same deal, the Detroit offense is going to look a bit different in the coming years.
However, this is definitely not a positive outcome for the Lions as Goff has struggled mightily in recent years while steadily regressing in what would become his last few seasons with the Rams.
With the cast around him only getting worse with the Lions, Goff will surely continue to struggle in Detroit, leading the league in interceptions this time around.
Lions won't have a 1,000-yard rusher or receiver
With former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff leading the way on offense, don't expect any gaudy numbers or statistics from the Detroit Lions in 2021-22. Goff has had a tough go of it lately while there are no real weapons around him in the “Motor City.” With veteran wide receiver Kenny Golladay heading to the New York Giants and another former Lions wide out in Marvin Jones making his way to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Goff and company are left with Tyrell Williams, Kalif Raymond, Quintez Cephus and Amon-Ra St. Brown split out wide — not exactly a murderer's row.
Running back D'Andre Swift is no doubt on the rise but his presence still isn't enough to put this lackluster offense over the top. Tight end T.J. Hockenson will receive a ton of attention from opposing defenses, which is yet another factor that won't aid Goff's performance in 2021-22. As a result, the Lions won't be able to produce a 1,000-yard rusher or receiver this season.
No Lions defender will surpass five sacks
Simply put, there is only one player on the Detroit Lions defense that has the ability to produce relatively impressive numbers along the defensive front — veteran defensive end Michael Brockers.
After spending the first nine years of his NFL playing career as a member of the St. Louis and Los Angeles Rams, the 30-year-old Brockers will now be branching out as a member of the Lions. However, thanks to the depth and well-roundedness of the Rams defenses over the years, Brockers has only produced at least five sacks twice in his career with his single-season career-high mark of 5.5 sacks coming back in 2013-14. He did post five sacks for the second time in 2020-21, but Brockers won't be able to put any real pressure on opposing quarterbacks with the focus almost solely on him in Detroit.
Lions will finish with the worst record in the NFC
There are some pretty dismal teams throughout the NFL heading into the 2021-22, but the Detroit Lions will finish the year as the worst team in the NFC.
With the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars and several other teams that aren't being associated with high expectations playing in the AFC, it will likely be the Lions up against the Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants for the title of worst record in the NFC in 2021-22. However, the Falcons still employ quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Calvin Ridley with the Giants still able to lean on running back Saquon Barkley, former Detroit wideout Kenny Golladay and a few other key cogs.
Therefore, it will still be hard for the Lions to surpass the tandem of Atlanta and New York in the standings after an 18-week campaign.
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