Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerIncluded Columnist IVDecember 6, 2024
Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images
Detroit Lions fans can begin making their postseason strategies.
The NFC North leaders clinched a berth in the playoffs on Thursday with a win over the Green Bay Packers.
Here's a take a look at the conference photo:
1. Detroit Lions (12-1)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)
3. Seattle Seahawks (7-5)
7. Washington Commanders (8-5)
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6)
10. Los Angeles Rams (6-6)
11. San Francisco 49ers (5-7)
13. New Orleans Saints (4-8)
15. Carolina Panthers (3-9)
16. New York City Giants (2-10)
The expectations for the Lions entering the year were as high as they've remained in a very long time.
Detroit declared a department title and was one half far from reaching the Super Bowl in 2023-24. Much of the crucial gamers were returning, while head coach Dan Campbell maintained offending organizer Ben Johnson and protective organizer Aaron Glenn after both were related to head training functions. There was no factor to believe the Lions would fall off in 2024.
The fanbase understood much better than to make any presumptions. A 5-11 record followed the company's last look in the NFC title video game, and it took more than 30 years to see another playoff win of any kind.
Fortunately for those in the Motor City, the Lions' upward trajectory has actually continued.
Detroit has actually been a juggernaut on offense. Jared Goff tossed 3 goals versus the Packers, bringing him to 23 on the season, while the backfield tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery have actually each reviewed 1,000 backyards from skirmish to opt for 24 combined ratings.
Detroit Lions @Lions
Sonic & Knuckles went off in Week 11 > 30 combined touches> 144 hurrying lawns> 74 getting backyards> 3 goals> @MontgomerDavid> @Jahmyr_Gibbs1> pic.twitter.com/LIOtAzBe40
The defense hasn't got any even worse, either. The Lions went into Week 14 giving up the second-fewest points (16.9 per video game).
The Kansas City Chiefs should, probably, stay the Super Bowl favorites due to the fact that they're the two-time ruling champs and keep discovering methods to win even when they aren't that convincing.
Detroit has actually been the finest group pound-for-pound in the league. When it concerns the NFC particularly, the Lions are a level above the competitors.
The San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys have actually fallen off thanks to injuries to essential gamers. The Philadelphia Eagles are 9-2, yet their fans still can't appear to settle on whether Nick Sirianni is an excellent coach. The Minnesota Vikings are delegating their wish to Sam Darnold.
