Listen to NFL Vegas sharps RJ Bell and Steve Fezzik join Jonas Knox on ‘Straight Out of Vegas’ to preview the 23rd ranked team on their 2020 win/total prediction rankings, the Detroit Lions.
The Detroit Lions used to the 2020 offseason to hammer away at acquiring defensive players in a move that appears to acknowledge the mortality of franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford, as they try to take the burden off the aging gunslinger who missed half the season last year with a spine injury.
The injury was a big wake-up call for a player who had made 136 consecutive starts before the injury, as the 32-year-old could be on the backend of a career that has unfortunately yielded zero playoff victories despite the miles and miles of passing yards.
Stafford still has three years left on his current deal, and much like the Green Bay Packers have done reducing Aaron Rodgers’ role with the franchise, Detroit’s winter was spent bolstering the opposite side of the field, acquiring linebacker Jamie Collins from the Browns, nose tackle Danny Shelton from the Patriots, safety Duron Harmon from the Patriots as well, cornerback Desmond Trumant from the Falcons, safety Jayron Kearse from the Vikings, and defensive tackle Nick Williams from the Bears.
The Lions also drafted Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah with the number three overall pick, despite some believing they may draft Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The move instantly improved a Lions secondary who gave up the most passing yards of any team in the league, while making a statement about how they believe in Stafford’s short-term future with the team.
Detroit has not won a playoff game since 1992, which marks their only playoff win since 1957.
Detroit's OVER/UNDER for wins is 7, their odds to win the Super Bowl are 66-1, odds to win the NFC North are 6-1, and their odds to make the playoffs are 5-2.
Check out the segment above.