The Detroit Lions took a small step in the right direction last season, but they were ultimately a dissappointment once again. The Lions are just 11-21 since ending their 11-year playoff drought back in 2011. Just when Detroit fans thought their team might be turning a corner, the Lions reverted to their old ways. Calvin Johnson feels the 2014 season will be different.
After practice on Tuesday, Megatron said he believes this season represents Detroit’s “best chance” to win a championship.
“I honestly believe that,” Johnson said, via Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press. “And you’ve got to buy in. You’ve got to buy into the coaches’ philosophy, and we have. I believe that everybody is doing exactly what the coaches want us to do, and if we’re not, if something is not like he wants it, he’s going to tell us and we’re going to get better at it and he only has to tell us one time.”
There’s no question the Lions have enough talent to be a serious contender. Their offense is loaded with big names like Megatron, Matthew Stafford, Reggie Bush and now Golden Tate. A front seven led by Ndamukong Suh should dominate, though it has not been that simple in past seasons.
While Lions coach Jim Caldwell said he also believes his team has the foundation needed to win a Lombardi Trophy, Stafford seemed a bit more reserved.
“I think we’re a talented football team, but there’s a long way to go,” Stafford said. “This is practice No. 2 for Week 1. Obviously, we’re a confident bunch. We’re confident in our abilities and our schemes, confident in each other. But at the same time we got to go out there and execute. We got to get better week to week, we got to get hot and go and see what happens. But on paper we’re as talented as anybody in the league, in my opinion.”
The NFC North, led by the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, should be a very difficult division this season. The key for the Lions will be getting off to a good start and proving they are not going to be the same disaster that they have been for the better part of two years.
