Detroit Lions Are Not NFL Doormats Anymore
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The Detroit Lions stunned the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the 2023 NFL season opener.The Detroit Lions are for real. And Lions fans aren't the only ones celebrating.
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A Bright New Day
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Dan Campbell has created a winning culture with the Lions since becoming the team's head coach in 2021.Forget about the Lions being NFL laughingstocks. Head coach Dan Campbell used the underdog moniker as a rallying cry to motivate his team, and their incredible turnaround was no fluke.
Detroit picked up where they left off with a season-opening win over the defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs.
They Have a Strong Offense
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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff led the team to a winning record in 2022 and looks to build on their success.Jared Goff's stellar 2022 campaign is repeatable. He finished 6th in EPA last season and started strong again with a clean performance against the Chiefs.
Expect him to get better as the season progresses and avoid a negative regression. He's a year sharper with more weapons for an electric offense.
They Have an Improved Defense
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Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (32) intercepted a Patrick Mahomes pass and returned it for a touchdown on opening night.The Lions bolstered their secondary in the offseason and look better all the way around on defense.
After finishing bottom-6 in EPA per play, pass EPA, rush EPA, and success rate last year, the Lions held Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs (minus Travis Kelce) to 20 points. Not too shabby.
Believe and Achieve
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The Lions have the players and the drive to succeed.The Lions have gone from one of the most difficult schedules to No. 18 this year.
After going 9-8 in 2022 for their first winning season since 2017, 10 or more wins are possible for this team.
North Stars
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Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and company are hungry.The Lions started the season as the favorites to win the NFC North (+100), and that’s where they should finish.
The last time they won the division was 1993, when it was the NFC Central.
NFC North 2023-24
Detroit Lions +100
Minnesota Vikings +370
Chicago Bears +425
Green Bay Packers +450
Ready for Some Home Cooking
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Detroit Lions fans are excited about the possibilities.The days of Lions fans wearing paper bags are long gone. They sold out their season tickets for the first time since moving into the 65,000-seat Ford Field in 2002.
After ranking 29th in average attendance with 63,429 fans per game in 2022 and 17th in average capacity percentage (98.3 percent), Detroit is moving up.
America's New Team
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Beware of Lions.The Lions have national interest now. Their Thursday night season opener against the Chiefs on NBC was one of four prime-time spotlights for the Lions this season.
Add in their annual Thanksgiving game, and the Lions have five exclusive national broadcast windows to showcase their team for the whole country during the regular season.
Getting all the way to Las Vegas for Super Bowl LVIII is not an impossible dream.
Super Bowl 2024
Lions Betting Insights
The Lions had a 12-5 record against the spread in 2022.
Last season, 10 Lions games went over the point total.
The Lions ranked 4th in the NFL in total offense with 380.0 yards per game in 2022 and 32nd in total defense with 392.4 yards allowed per contest.
The Lions scored 453 points (26.6 per game) last season (5th of 32) and allowed 427 points (25.1, 28th of 32).
The Lions went 5-4 at home and 4-4 on the road.
When underdogs, the Lions had nine victories (9-3) versus a 3-2 record when favored.
The Lions were 7-5 vs. the NFC, including 5-1 in the NFC North.
The Lions have a 12-27 record as underdogs at home since 2016.
This article originally appeared in the weekly Stadium Talk newsletter with Betting Predators, a sports betting media platform. Subscribe to our newsletter.
The Betting Predators 2023 NFL Premium Package is live. Use code "BETNFL" for $75 OFF any premium package order.
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