Detroit Lions 2023 Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Key Players Returning:

QB Jared Goff, WR/RS Kalif Raymond, WR Josh Reynolds, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, OC Frank Ragnow, OG Jonah Jackson, OG Halapoulivaati Vaitai, OT Taylor Decker, OT Penei Sewell, DE John Cominsky, DE Adam Hutchinson, DT Alim McNeill, NY Isaiah Buggs, LB Alex Anzalone, LB Derrick Barnes, LB James Houston, LB Julian Okwara, LB Malcolm Rodriguez, CB Will Harris, CB Jerry Jacobs, FS Tracy Walker III, SS Kerby Joseph, KR Justin Jackson, PK Michael Badgley and PT Jack Fox.

Key Players Departing:

RB D’Andre Swift (Eagles), RB Jamaal Williams (Saints), WR DJ Chark (Panthers), TE TJ Hockenson (Vikings), CB Mike Hughes (Falcons), CB Jeff Okudah (Falcons), CB Amani Oruwariye (Giants) and DS Deshon Elliott (Dolphins).

Key Players Added:

RB David Montgomery (Bears), WR Marvin Jones (Jaguars), CB Emmanuel Mosley (49ers), CB Cameron Sutton (Steelers), NB CJ Gardner-Johnson (Eagles) and PK Riley Patterson (Jaguars).

Draft Picks:

Round 1: 
Pick 012 – RB Jahymr Gibbs (Alabama)
Round 1:  Pick 018 – LB Jack Campbell (Iowa)
Round 2:  Pick 034 – TE Sam LaPorta (Iowa)
Round 2:  Pick 045 – NB Brian Branch (Alabama)
Round 3:  Pick 068 – QB Hendon Hooker (Tennessee)
Round 3:  Pick 096 – DT Brodric Martin (Western Kentucky
Round 5:  Pick 152 – OT Colby Sorsdal (William & Mary)
Round 7:  Pick 219 – WR Antoine Green (North Carolina)

2022 Results:

W01  EAGLES  L  35-38
W02  COMMANDERS  W  36-27
W03  @ Vikings  L  24-28
W04  SEAHAWKS  L  45-48
W05  @ Patriots  L  0-29
W07  @ Cowboys  L  6-24
W08  DOLPHINS  L  27-31
W09  PACKERS  W  15-9
W10  @ Bears  W  31-30
W11  @ Giants  W  31-18
W12  BILLS  L  25-28
W13  JAGUARS  W  40-14
W14  VIKINGS  W  34-23
W15  @ Jets  W  20-17
W16  @ Panthers  L  23-37
W17  BEARS  W  41-10
W18  @ Packers  W  20-16

Team Info:

2022:  9-8 (2nd in NFC North)

Home: 5-4
Road:  4-4
North:  5-1
NFC:  7-5
AFC:  2-3

Head Coach:  Dan Campbell

Detroit:  12-21-1
Career:  17-28-1
Playoffs:  0-0

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Jared Goff (382-587, 4438 yards, 65.1%, 7.6 avg., 29 TD, 7 Int.)
Rushing: 
Craig Reynolds (23 car., 617 yards, 4.1 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving: 
Amon-Ra St. Brown (90 rec., 102 yards, 4.4 avg., 0 TD)
Yards After Catch: 
Amon-Ra St. Brown (528)
TD’s Scored:  Amon-Ra St. Brown (5)
Sacks: 
Adam Hutchinson (9.5)
Tackles: 
Alex Anzalone (125)
Interceptions: 
Kirby Joseph (4)
Pass Deflections: 
Kirby Joseph (8)
Tackles For Loss: 
Adam Hutchinson (9)
Forced Fumbles: 
Kirby Joseph (2)
Kick Returns: 
Maurice Alexander (6 ret., 146 yards, 24.3 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: 
Kalif Raymond (20 ret., 264 yards, 13.2 avg., 1 TD)
Kicking: 
Michael Badgley (20-24 fg/fga., 83%, 33-33 xp/xpa., 93 pts.)
Punting: 
Jack Fox (52 punts, 2525 yards, 48.6 avg., 14 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  16  Jared Goff
RB:  5  David Montgomery
WR:  8  Josh Reynolds
WR:  00  Marvin Jones Jr.
WR:  14  Amon-Ra St. Brown
TE:  87  Sam LaPorta |R|
LT:  68  Taylor Decker
LG:  73  Jonah Jackson
OC:  77  Frank Ragnow
RG:  72  Halapoulivaati Vaitai
RT:  58  Penei Sewell
KR:  11  Kalif Raymond
PK:  36  Riley Patterson

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  79  John Cominsky
DT:  54  Alim McNeill
NT:  96  Isaiah Buggs
DE:  97  Aidan Hutchinson
LB:  34  Alex Anzalone
LB:  46  Jack Campbell |R|
LB:  41  James Houston
CB:  4  Emmanuel Moseley
CB:  1  Cameron Sutton
FS:  21  Tracy Walker III
SS:  21  Kerby Joseph
PR:  11  Kalif Raymond
PT:  3  Jack Fox

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  A
Running Backs:  B
Wide Receivers:  B
Offensive Line:  B

Defense

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  B

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  B
Punt Returners:  A
Kickers:  A
Punters:  A

Schedule:

09/07 
@ Chiefs  |  Detroit trails the series 5-9.  The Lions lost (30-34) the last meeting between schools in 2019.

09/17  SEAHAWKS  |  Detroit trails the series 5-12.  The Lions lost (45-48) last season’s meeting between teams and their last series win (28-24) dates back to 2012.

09/24  FALCONS  |  Detroit leads the series 25-14.  The Lions lost (16-20) the last meeting between teams in 2021.

09/28  @ Packers  |  Detroit trails the series 47-65-4.  The Lions are 10-10 since 2013 and their last series road loss (17-35) was in 2021.

10/08  PANTHERS  |  Detroit trails the series 3-8.  The Lions lost (23-37) last season’s meeting between teams and their last series win (20-19) was in 2018.

10/15  @ Buccaneers  |  Detroit leads the series 31-29.  The Lions lost (7-47) the last meeting between teams in 2020.

10/22  @ Ravens  |  Detroit trails the series 1-5.  The Lions lost (17-19) the last meeting between teams in 2021.

10/30  RAIDERS  |  Detroit trails the series 6-7.  The Lions lost (24-31) the last meeting between teams in 2019.

11/12  @ Chargers  |  Detroit trails the series 5-7.  The Lions won (13-10) the last meeting between teams in 2019.

11/19  BEARS  |  Detroit trails the series 55-57-1.  The Lions are 12-8 since 2013 and their last series home loss (14-16) was in 2021.

12/23  PACKERS  |  The Lions last series home loss (24-31) was in 2020.

12/03  @ Saints  |  Detroit trails the series 12-14-1.  The Lions lost (29-35) the last meeting between teams in 2020.

12/10  @ Bears  |  The Lions last series road loss (14-24) was in 2021.

12/16  BRONCOS  |  Detroit trails the series 5-9.  The Lions lost (10-38) the last meeting between teams in 2021.

12/24  @ Vikings  |  Detroit trails the series 34-78-1.  The Lions are 8-12 since 2013 and their last series road win (14-7) was in 2017.

12/30  @ Cowboys  |  Detroit trails the series 11-17.  The Lions are 1-5 since 2013 and their last series win (31-30) dates back to 2013.

01/07  VIKINGS  |  The Lions last series home loss (35-37) was in 2020.

Predictions:

Home:  6-2
Away:  5-4
DIV:  4-2
NFC:  6-6
AFC:  5-0

Overall:  11-6 (2nd in NFC North – Eliminated by Eagles in Divisional Round)

UFA:  Unrestricted Free Agent

Series Histories:  Histories are from the inception of the first Super Bowl season through present day.  Meetings prior to 1966 are not included.  Playoff wins are included in the year the season took place.  For example, if a team won a wildcard game in January of 2023, the game will be listed under the 2022 season.