Scouting Sundays #5: The Detroit Lions 🦁
The Lions roared to a 15–2 record last year (their best ever!), dominating the NFC North and looking like Super Bowl favorites.
But their playoff run ended early with a tough loss to Washington in the Divisional Round. (We told you Jayden Daniels had an epic rookie season!)
Now, Detroit is back. And they believe this is their year.
Last year: 15–2
Lost to the Commanders in Round 2
Division: NFC North
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⭐ Stars to Know
The Lions have players who are ready to make noise. Some are breakout stars. Others are making big comebacks.
Jared Goff – Quarterback
Goff has been steady, sharp, and seriously underrated. He came to Detroit in a trade with the Rams back in 2021… the same deal that sent Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles.
Since then, Goff has helped turn the Lions from a struggling team into a Super Bowl contender.
But a few years ago? Stafford actually won a Super Bowl in LA.
Goff’s decision-making and accuracy are a huge reason Detroit has become a great team, but can he take them all the way?
Sam LaPorta – Tight End
LaPorta isn’t just one of the best young tight ends in the league. He’s already one of the best, period.
Reminder: “Tight end” is the position that catches passes like a wide receiver… but also blocks like a lineman!
As a rookie in 2023, he caught 86 passes (the most ever by a rookie TE!) and scored 10 touchdowns. Last year, he added another 7 touchdowns.
He’s strong, smart, and slippery after the catch. If Goff needs a big play, LaPorta’s usually the first place he looks.
Aidan Hutchinson – Defensive End
Hutchinson is the face of the Lions’ defense… and maybe the future face of the entire franchise.
Last year, he came out on fire, leading the NFL with 7.5 sacks in just five games. But then? He suffered a season-ending leg injury.
Now fully recovered, Hutchinson is back. He’s ready to remind the league how great he is. If he stays healthy, offenses won’t be able to ignore him.
👀 Stories to Watch
But talent alone doesn’t win titles. Here’s what could push Detroit over the top… or hold them back.
So Many Skill Players
The Lions have one of the most exciting groups of skill players in the NFL.
👟 Who are the skill players?
Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends. These players use speed, hands, footwork, and quick thinking to make plays happen.
That’s why they’re called “skill players.” They use a lot of athletic skill on every play!
For the Lions, at running back it’s Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Gibbs is lightning-fast. Montgomery is a bulldozer near the goal line.
At receiver? Amon-Ra St. Brown makes big plays look routine. Jameson Williams is becoming a true deep threat for defenses.
With this much speed, strength, and swagger, defenses will have a tough time covering everyone.
New Coaches Calling the Plays
Two key coaches left the Lions this offseason. Ben Johnson called the plays on offense, but now he’s the head coach of the Bears. Aaron Glenn led the defense, and now he leads the Jets.
They helped build Detroit into one of the best teams in football.
Now it’s up to head coach Dan Campbell and a pair of new play-callers to keep that momentum rolling.
Same culture. Same talent. But with different voices guiding the way.
Detroit’s Fans Deserve This
It wasn’t that long ago (2008, to be exact) when the Lions became the first NFL team to ever go 0–16. Back then, Ford Field was quiet. Empty seats. Frustrated fans.
Now? It’s one of the loudest stadiums in the league. When the Lions are rolling, it feels like Detroit is shaking.
Home-field advantage is real. And if the Lions earn playoff games at home again this year, opposing teams better bring earplugs.
🎁 Did You Know?
The Detroit Lions play every year on Thanksgiving Day. And they’ve been doing it for over 90 years.
(It’s a tradition that’s older than your grandparents! Sorry, y’all.)
It all started way back in 1934, when the team’s owner came up with the idea to play on Thanksgiving to help sell more tickets.
It worked. The stadium filled up, the game was broadcast on the radio, and a tradition was born.
Now it’s one of the most famous parts of the holiday. Before the turkey gets carved or the mashed potatoes hit the plate, millions of football fans around the world watch the Lions play.
Their Thanksgiving opponent this year? The Packers, in an NFC North showdown. It’s one of three NFL games on Thanksgiving this year.
🎉 Football Is Back!
Hold on. Did we make it all this way without any video?
That’s definitely not Smallball style.
But there’s a good reason… because last night, football finally came back. 🏈
The very first NFL preseason game of the year kicked off yesterday, and it featured… yep, you guessed it: the Detroit Lions. They were taking on the Los Angeles Chargers, who we covered earlier as the #9 team.
Now, it wasn’t a playoff rematch or a battle between MVPs. In fact, most of the big-name players didn’t suit up at all.
💡 What’s preseason all about?
Think of it like the NFL’s version of NBA Summer League. The games are real, but the focus is on young players, backups, and rookies trying to earn a spot on the team.
It’s a time for practice, development, and second chances. The starters don’t play much, because the coaches want to keep them healthy for the real season.
But still… it’s football.
🎥 And last night? It looked like this:
Final score? Chargers 34, Lions 7.
Detroit fumbled the opening kickoff, threw three interceptions, and never really had a chance.
No Goff, no Gibbs, no St. Brown. But after five months without football, we’ll take it.
Football’s back. The Lions didn’t look great. But hey… better to save the wins for when it counts!
And we’ve got more teams to go. See you tomorrow, Smallballers!
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