The Detroit Lions are prepared to play real NFL football this week, with the team opening its season at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
The Lions are once again in the thick of things when it comes to the league's Super Bowl contenders. Detroit has been one of the best teams in the league for two seasons now and has compiled 27 regular-season victories over the span.
Unfortunately, that hasn't translated to a Super Bowl victory just yet, but Detroit has as good a chance as any team in the league to accomplish that feat thanks to their roster, which is stacked with talent all over.
Despite their recent history, several analysts are down on the Lions, mostly because of the change at both coordinator spots. Some analysts believe the Chicago Bears will unseat the Lions in the NFC North, and the Packers are gaining momentum when it comes to season-long predictions after the Micah Parsons trade.
But until we actually see another NFC North team knock the Lions off, we won't believe it.
Now, what you came for: our Detroit Lions bold predictions.
Detroit Lions bold predictions
Two Lions players win major awards
It's tough for a team to have one player win a major award, let alone two. But if there's any team that can do it, it's the supremely talented Lions.
We predict that edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson will win the Defensive Player of the Year award, something he was on pace to do last season before his injury.
"Can’t wait to watch him go," head coach Dan Campbell said of Hutchinson. "He’s put in a lot of time, a lot of effort, a lot of hard work to get back to where he’s at right now. And when you have the game taken away from you for whatever reasons, it just gives you a little extra motivation to come back.
"So, I’m excited to watch him. He’s going to be ready to go.”
On offense, running back Jahmyr Gibbs will cement himself as the best running back in the NFL after he takes home the Offensive Player of the Year award following what will be a monster year for him.
Lions finish with No. 1 offense and defense
Only three teams have finished with the No. 1 scoring offense and defense in the same season in the Super Bowl era. We predict the Lions will be the fourth.
Half of this one is easy to see playing out, as the Lions have sported an elite offense for multiple years now. Detroit had the No. 1 scoring unit in 2024 and finished fifth in each of the two years prior.
Despite all the injuries to their defense, the Lions finished seventh in points allowed per game in 2024, so it's not like they need to take a gigantic leap. It's very possible the Lions make that leap now that Hutchinson is healthy.
Making this prediction even more bold is the fact that the Lions have two new coordinators in John Morton on offense and Kelvin Sheppard on defense.
Dan Campbell wins Coach of the Year
Dan Campbell successfully began pulling the Lions out of the gutter in 2022 and then went on to post 12- and 15-win seasons in 2023 and 2024. The fact that he hasn't won a Coach of the Year award is borderline criminal.
It seems almost impossible for Campbell to win the award at this point if he didn't earn it in the last two seasons. However, if the Lions can maintain their dominance despite changing both coordinators and revamping their offensive line, Campbell might finally win an award he should have won at least once.
Lions beat Bills in the Super Bowl
The boldest of the bold predictions.
The Lions are one of several teams to never win a Super Bowl, nor have they even gotten to one before. But that's all going to change this year.
Detroit's offense will be dominant and the defense will, at the very least, provide enough of a complement to finally get the Lions over the hump. Unfortunately, another Super Bowl-less team, the Buffalo Bills, will be their victim.
Give us the Lions over the Bills, 27-21.
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