The Detroit Lions are the only NFC team to never play in a Super Bowl and one of only four active franchises overall. That actually could change this season as Detroit is favored to win the NFC North for the first time in decades.

A Closer Look at the Detroit Lions 2023 NFL Season

start your engines pic.twitter.com/aHOUjl9VQ0

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) June 21, 2023

• NFL Week 1: at Kansas City Chiefs — 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
• NFL Week 2: vs. Seattle Seahawks — 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFL Week 3: vs. Atlanta Falcons — 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFL Week 4: at Green Bay Packers — 8:15 p.m. ET (Prime Video)
• NFL Week 5: vs. Carolina Panthers — 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFL Week 6: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFL Week 7: at Baltimore Ravens — 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFL Week 8: vs. Las Vegas Raiders — 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• NFL Week 9: BYE
• NFL Week 10: at Los Angeles Chargers — 4:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears — 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFL Week 12: vs. Green Bay Packers — 12:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFL Week 13: at New Orleans Saints — 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFL Week 14: at Chicago Bears — 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFL Week 15: vs. Denver Broncos — TBD (TBD)
• NFL Week 16: at Minnesota Vikings — 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFL Week 17: at Dallas Cowboys — 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC)
• NFL Week 18: vs. Minnesota Vikings — TBD (TBD)

The Lions can win the NFC North

That is not a typo you are reading above: The Detroit Lions are the betting favorites to win the NFC North even though they haven’t won the division since 1991 back when it was still called the Central. That’s the longest division title drought in the NFL.

No doubt that Detroit was one of the most improved teams in the NFL last year, although things didn’t start that way with the team at 1-6, but the Lions would lose just twice more to finish 9-8, their best record since 2017 – the club’s last playoff spot was in 2016. The Lions would have been a wild card team this past season thanks to an upset win in the final game on Sunday night in Green Bay but only if Seattle had lost earlier in the day. The Seahawks won in OT at home over the Rams so they got the NFC’s final wild card spot over the Lions. Green Bay would have gotten it had it beaten Detroit.

Jared Goff wasn’t supposed to be Detroit’s long-term future at QB but maybe he is as the former No. 1 overall pick had a terrific 2022 season and the Lions didn’t take a QB with either of their first-round picks in this year’s draft.

Goff finished the 2022 season ranked in the top 10 in nearly all major passing categories including sixth in yards (4,438), seventh in yards per attempt (7.56), fifth in touchdowns (29), seventh in passer rating (99.3) and second in interception percentage (1.2). He went his last 324 passes without throwing an interception last year, which is currently the fifth longest streak in NFL history. Goff was No. 1 in the NFL in touchdown-to-interception ratio at better than 4-to-1 with 29 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Detroit lost eight fumbles last year, which ranked in the top seven across the league.

Recent Roster Changes

The Lions did take Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker at No. 68 overall in this year’s draft, but he probably won’t play at all this year as he recovers from a torn ACL. Detroit could sign Goff to a long-term extension – he has two years left on his deal. He’ll count as a $31 million cap hit in 2023.

Detroit’s offense was spectacular overall last year. Jamaal Williams led the NFL in rushing TDs in a huge surprise but signed with New Orleans in free agency. The team also traded pass-catching RB D’Andre Swift to Philly. The new tandem in the backfield will be former Bear David Montgomery and first-round rookie Jahmyr Gibbs. In the 2022 season, Montgomery rushed 201 times for 801 yards (4.0 avg.) and five touchdowns, and added 34 receptions for 316 yards (9.3 avg.) and one score.

The Lions traded up to get Gibbs at No. 12 overall out of Alabama. Most everyone expected he’d be selected near the end of the first round, if not early in the second. Detroit ignored the apparent general opinion on the running back, spending the 12th pick on a player who should be able to open up its offense, especially as a pass catcher. Gibbs was one of two Football Bowl Subdivision players with 900-plus rushing yards and 400-plus receiving yards in 2022, leading Alabama in rushing yards (926), rushing touchdowns (seven) and receptions (44). His 457 receiving yards gained after the catch ranked third among FBS running backs, per Pro Football Focus.

Detroit will also get a full season from 2022 first-round WR Jameson Williams, whose rookie year was severely limited as he was recovering from a torn ACL he suffered while at Alabama. In his final season with the Tide, the speedy Williams set the SEC ablaze with 79 receptions for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns.

In addition, Detroit took a good receiving tight end in Iowa’s Sam LaPorta at No. 34 overall. LaPorta is Iowa’s all-time leader in receptions for a tight end (153) and ranks second in receiving yards (1,786). The Lions used a committee approach at tight end last season, with Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra and James Mitchell filling the role after Detroit traded away T.J. Hockenson to Minnesota.

After the Detroit defense finished near the bottom of the league for the second straight season, many projected the Lions to use both their first-round picks on defense. While they obviously didn’t with Gibbs, they did at No. 18 overall with Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell. The Lions’ run defense allowed 5.22 yards per carry last season, which was the third worst in the league. So, he’ll help address that issue. With Campbell, Detroit is bringing in a unanimous All-American and the 2022 Butkus Award winner (given to the nation’s top linebacker). The Lions like his size (6-foot-5, 249 pounds) and production, as he finished his career at Iowa with nearly 300 tackles, including 143 in 2021.

Who is Detroit’s 2023-24 NFL Season?

Detroit’s 2023 regular season schedule ranks as the 20th toughest in the NFL as its opponents combined to have a .495 winning percentage last year. The Lions open the year in the Kickoff Game in Kansas City on Sept. 7 at Super Bowl champion Kansas City. It’s Detroit’s first time ever in that game and it is a 7-point dog.

This marks the second time the Lions have opened their season against the defending Super Bowl champions, with their only other occurrence coming in 1967 against the Green Bay Packers, who were coming off a victory in Super Bowl I. Per usual, the Lions host a Thanksgiving game, this year against the Packers. Green Bay has been Detroit’s most faced opponent on the holiday. The Pack are expected to take a step back this year without Aaron Rodgers.

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READ MORE: Detroit Lions 2023 NFL Season Betting Guide