For the Detroit Lions, the 2023 NFL season is one of the most anticipated in a long time, perhaps decades. The Lions are coming off an impressive 9-8 season last year, their first winning record since 2017. Fans are now cautiously optimistic that Detroit can win its first division title since 1993. With sports betting legal in Michigan, some fans are putting money on the Lions having a successful season and reaching the playoffs. But will the hometown fans participating in Michigan sports betting be rewarded? Will the Lions make the playoffs this season? Let’s take a closer look at their chances.
Offense
Detroit’s playoff hopes could hinge on the arm of Jared Goff. After a disastrous 2021 campaign, Goff led an offense that scored the fifth-most points in the NFL last year. His 29 touchdown passes in 2022 were the second-most of his career while his seven interceptions tied a career low. Obviously, the Lions are hoping Goff will be able to replicate those numbers in 2023. Last year’s leading receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is back while the Lions have added Marvin Jones to add more depth at receiver and take some of the pressure off St. Brown and some of the team’s young receivers.
Meanwhile, the Lions have a completely revamped backfield, signing David Montgomery away from the Bears and using a first-round pick on Jahmyr Gibbs. Detroit ran the ball with good efficiency last year, and with three former first-round picks on the offensive line, there’s no reason why that should change. However, the Lions are hoping that Gibbs can give them another explosive playmaker while complementing Montgomery and helping Goff by keeping the Detroit offense balanced.
Defense
Obviously, Goff needs to keep the Detroit offense rolling. But it’s on the defensive side of the ball where the Lions need the most work. They were in the bottom five of the NFL last season, yielding 25.1 points per game. The Lions allowed at least 27 points in nine of their 17 games in 2022. The good news is they held five of their final eight opponents under 20 points, which contributed to an 8-2 record down the stretch.
To address those issues, the Lions added cornerbacks Cameron Sutton and C.J. Gardner-Johnson during the offseason. They also spent a first-round pick on linebacker Jack Campbell and a second-round pick on safety Brian Branch. Aidan Hutchinson, the no. 2 overall pick in the 2022 draft, had 9.5 sacks as a rookie last year and should show improvement in his second pro season. While the Detroit defense still has some holes, Dan Campbell has a lot more to work with than he did last season, creating some optimism for the 2023 season.
Schedule
Detroit’s schedule in 2023 appears to be a favorable one. For starters, they will play four games against the Bears and Packers, who are both considered among the worst teams in the NFL heading into the season. Home games against the Falcons, Panthers, Raiders, and Broncos are also games the Lions have a good chance of winning while the same is true of road games against the Buccaneers and Saints. Based on Detroit’s strength of schedule, there is every reason to think the Lions can improve upon last year’s 9-8 record.
Yes or No
In the end, there is an excellent chance that the Lions will make the playoffs in 2023. Detroit figures to be in a close battle with the Vikings for the NFC North title. In fact, many sportsbooks favor the Lions to win the division. However, even if the Lions fall short in the NFC North, a lack of depth in the NFC will give the Lions an excellent chance to reach the postseason via a Wild Card spot.