BY MARK HALPERN
So, over the past few years, when you talked about the NFC North division, all you talked about was the Packers. Like a good cheese, the Packers have aged themselves out of being talked about as they had several pieces left over the past two seasons. This made Green Bay less desirable and the Likes of the Detroit Lions very attractive.
Over the past few seasons, the Lions have stockpiled a roster via free agency and trades (Jared Goff) or the draft (Aiden Hutchinson, Am Ra St Brown, Jameson Williams, and Jahmyr Gibbs); the Lions also have a lot of home-grown players that have ripened into a force.
Facing the Chiefs is a challenging task for any NFL team, considering Mahomes and company’s talent. The Detroit Lions’ Defense proved they belonged in the playoffs last year by stopping some good teams. The Detroit defense has to keep pressure on Mahomes (it is easier to catch a Randy Johnson Pitch from 56 feet away) because if given any time, Mahomes will pick you apart like a Thanksgiving turkey. The Defense also has to keep Kelce in check, as he is vital to the success of Mahomes.
What can we expect from the Detroit offense? Well, they now have a solid running game led by rookie Gibbs. Goff has solid receivers in Jones Jr., St. Brown, and Josh Reynolds (Williams suspended six games) to go along with Sam LaPorta handling TE duties. The Offensive line has also gotten more substantial, and we all know that, given time, Goff is one of the best in the NFL.
This game will be a battle from the first kickoff to the final gun. I expect a very high-scoring game, and in the end, the Lions pull off the upset 31-28 in the final seconds.
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