NFL World Expecting Lions to Make Super Bowl Run in 2023
The Detroit Lions have quickly become one of the favorites among pundits to make noise in the playoffs this upcoming season.
After a solid free-agency period and another draft class that Detroit general manager Brad Holmes has to add more young talent, expectations have risen to levels unseen in Motown in at least a decade.
Pundits are expecting the Lions to host a playoff game and to make a deep playoff run, especially after winning eight of their past 10 games to close out the 2022 season, in Dan Campbell's second campaign at the helm.
“They’ve got draft picks, they’re going to get better," said NFL Media's Kyle Brandt. "They’ve got a coach. They’ve got an atmosphere. They’ve got everything. The Detroit Lions, ready for some team that’s going to be like holy bleep, this team’s in the Super Bowl? The Lions. That’s my answer and I’m sticking to it."
The addition of defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson surprised many, especially since he just recently appeared in the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles.
"I know that C.J. is worth a lot more than $8 million a year as a player. Dude’s a baller,” said Eagles offensive lineman Jason Kelce. “They got better this offseason. Detroit was really, really good at the end of the year. They finished on a pretty dang good note. I think there’s a very bright future up there in Detroit, and you guys just got an unbelievable player there for a steal if you look at his playing ability. No question about it."
The improvements the Lions made had Rich Eisen telling his national audience that Detroit will certainly host a home playoff game in 2023.
“They played the best football in that division to wrap things up," Eisen said. "And, they have made some moves, boy do I like them. C.J. Gardner-Johnson, you bring him in. David Montgomery is gonna have to come up with enough touchdowns to supplant Jamaal Williams’ 17, but a lot of those were on the two-yard line. David Montgomery can score from there, too.”
Eisen added, “I’m in. Because you know at six overall, they’re gonna get a tremendous football player. And then after that, they’re gonna sit back at 18 and get another really good football player who could be just as tremendous as the guy chose sixth overall, or they trade back.”
