2019. Bigger. Bolder. Uncut. Bold Predictions are here. 2018 was an injury riddled disaster for the Lions at 6-10 in Matt Patricia’s first season as head honcho. You would think that will stop me from being bold and beautiful. Think again!!! There were some big changes in the 2019 off-season for Detroit and it gave me a severe flare up of Lions fever!! Let’s stop this dance and get right to it. *takes the red pill*
Matt Stafford
John Matthew Stafford or should I say future 2019 season MVP and hall of famer Matt Stafford is about to have a huge year. Ooooh that sounds nice. This is the year folks. MVP for Stafford after a tough 2018. Stafford was hurt (back) and he lost so many weapons to injuries and Golden trades in 2018.
Stafford gets a new offensive coordinator (Darrell Bevell) who did great things with Russell Wilson. The future Hall of Famer has plenty of weapons including: Kerryon Johnson, CJ Anderson, rookie super stud TJ Hockensen, Jesse James, Marvin Jones, Kenny Big Play Golladay and Danny Amendola to work with during 2019 (please keep them all healthy moon Jesus).
The depth is lacking at WR (Kearsed broken leg) and offensive line in Detroit. If (and that’s a big IF) the Lions stay healthy, Stafford wins MVP. I mean Most Valuable Player by the way. Stafford notches 4,800 yards 50 TDS and 10 interceptions in his eleventh season at the helm. No those were not typos. Future facts. Deal with it.
Might/May Have a Run Game
Speaking of studs, Stafford will finally have the run support with a healthy Kerryon Johnson and CJ Anderson (over slow fat-boi Legarrette Blount). I know I was probably touting Blount at this time last year but nobody could see how slow the man was going to be. Fluke bad slow down.
CJ Anderson has been a consistent good back and should complement Kerryon very well like he did for Todd Gurley in 2018. Rookie Ty Johnson looks like he has really good speed too with good vision for the Lions. Future doctor Zach Zenner just flat out produces for the Lions when he gets the ball.
Detroit should have good full back situation in 2019 (Nick Bawden returning from injury) and an offensive coordinator that likes to feature the run (and the Bevelllllll runs….. more more more). 1,150 yards and 10 TDs for Kerryon Johnson if he plays 16 games (stupid injury history). CJ Anderson gets a nice 4.3 YPC on 150 carries in 2019. The Lions might/may have a very good run game.
Detroit Weapon City
The Lions need some health at WR but are pretty loaded in the top 3. *cue joke of LKP being loaded right now* They lost their depth with the Jermaine Kearse broken leg but Detroit’s top three WRS can ball out all day every day and twice on Sunday.
Marvelous Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay have both had 1,000-yard seasons. Danny Amendola is a good reliable slot man when he stays healthy too that can get separation in the slot. Rookie TJ Hockensen looks to be worth the 8th pick in this years’ draft. We will all be saying Ebron who? Jesse James was a nice add to be tight end dois and there is finally tight end depth with Logan Thomas and Isaac Nauta to complete the Lions weapon stable. Weakness to a strength in one offseason.
Here are the numbahs
1,200 yards and 12 TDs for Kenny Golladay
1,000 yards and 10 TDs for Marvin Jones
700 yards and 6 TDs for Amendola
650 yards and 8 TDS for Hockensen in his rookie year
400 yards and 5 TDs for the Road Dog Jesse James
Another 400 yards receiving for Kerryon my Wayward Johnson with 4 receiving TDs
400 yards and 5 TDS for the best of the rest in WR4/5, Logan Thomas, Anderson/Zenner/Ty Johnson
Lions will have a top 5 offense in 2019 baffling every expert. They are underrated big time after 2018.
The only way the Lions got worse is that they don’t have an OC named after a cooch.
Defense
Defensive Pressure and Sacks
After failing to generate pressure in 2018 due to the oft-injured Ziggy Ansah missing most of the year, the Lions made some big changes. Detroit was 31st in pressure percentage but had 43 sacks (11th in league). Detroit added some monsters this offseason.
Trey Flowers doesn’t get the double digit sacks but has very high pressure percentage rivaling Khalil Mack. Flowers finally gets double digits in 2019 with 10 sacks this season with a top 7 pressure rate. DShawn Hand graded really well at DT despite being a rookie. Hand and Mike Daniels can both bring pressure when healthy. Hand and Daniels are dealing with elbow and foot injuries but let’s just ignore that. They’ll be fine and do damage.
Damon Harrison is a run defense all pro but had 3 sacks in 10 games with Detroit in 2018. A’Shawn Robinson is a good DT (11th best in league) as well and should be in a great rotation. Devon Kennard (7 sacks) and Romeo Okwara (7.5 sacks) are very capable rushers. Kennard and Okwara will no longer be the focus in the pass rush which will allow their pressure to sky rocket.
Mike LB Jarrad Davis learned how to blitz well with 6 sacks and high-pressure percentage. He’s a heat seeking missile. Rookie Jahlani Tavai has blitzing capability from any LB spot and great hair. The Lions will generate pressure at a top 10 rate and be top 10 in sacks with 45 sack a roos. Detroit will get after the quarterback in 2019. Be afraid be very afraid. This defensive line is like 2014 only better.
Run Defense
This team was amazing in run defense once Damon Harrison joined. It was a train wreck before that. If Harrison stays healthy, the Lions will have a top 3 run defense in 2019. We all love snacks and he just got a nice extension to be a Lion through the 2021 season.
Pass Coverage
Detroit made some big changes in the secondary with Rashaan Melvin and Justin Coleman as upgrades over Nevin Lawson and many failed nickel backs in 2018. Free safety Tracy Walker looks poised to take over for the old Glover Quin after grading very well in 2018 in 200+ snaps.
Darius Slay is a all pro shut-down corner and Quandre Diggs is a solid hard-hitting strong safety. The safety depth is a little better as well with Tavon Wilson, Andrew Adams and rookie 3rd round pick Will Harris (Golden Tate trade) at safety. Rookie 5th round pick Amari Orunwairye, Teez Tabor and Jamal Agnew don’t provide much CB depth but have some potential.
Health at CB is key, especially Darius Slay for this prediction. The Lions have a top 10 lowest QB rating due to the pressure they generate. Blanket city in Big D.
Turnovers Forced and Points Allowed
Detroit will be top 10 in turnovers forced after lacking in that department in 2018. 28 turnovers forced is the number for 2019. How did I get that number? Well I made it up but it feels right. The increased pressure will lead to big time interceptions and forced fumbles.
Detroit will be top 10 in least points allowed in year 2 under Matt Patricia and Bill Belichick will rue the day he let Patricia walk (or ATV away). The defensive line is too good, the LBs and secondary are solid with potential to improve.
All Pros
Matt Stafford, Kerryon Johnson, Darius Slay, Damon Harrison and Trey Flowers. Holla at yo boi
NFC North
The Detroit Lions win the division. It’s a lock. Slam dunk. Call yo mommas. Book it and deal with it.
The Lions are way too talented and finally get the health they deserve. Sure, you may remember, I said similar things in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 but we all know the Lions got screwed out of division glory in those years. This is the year!!!! *extreme health, lack of flukes and proper fair refereeing required*. Deal with it.
Lions 12-4
Vikings 10-6
Packers 9-7
Bears 7-9
Annnnnnddddd the entire all-pro list I made for Detroit is about to get hurt.