Detroit Lions 2023-24 NFL Season Recap

Detroit Lions NFL Season Recap

At the 7:03 mark in the third quarter of the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers, Dan Campbell faced a critical decision. He had to choose between attempting a 45-yard field goal to potentially regain their 17-point halftime lead or taking a risk by going for it on fourth-and-two in hopes of quieting the home crowd and taking a step closer towards securing the NFL betting win. Unfortunately, his tendency to take risks backfired as the Lions' head coach opted to go for the glory and ended up with an incomplete pass. This opened the door for the 49ers to make a historic comeback, overcoming a 17-point deficit and ultimately winning the game 34-31. Although the Lions managed to prevent NFL bettors from suffering a loss by kicking the backdoor in late, the team and their devoted fans were disappointed with the outcome.

However, despite the tough loss, the Lions' strong roster gives hope for a bright future. This season in Motown saw several standout performances, such as Jared Goff's impressive 4,575 passing yards and 30 touchdowns, Jahmyr Gibbs' emergence as the team's RB1 with 1,261 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns, and Amon-Ra St. Brown's growth with career-highs in receptions (119), receiving yards (1,515), and touchdowns (10). The defense also showed significant improvement, led by Aidan Hutchinson and the league’s No. 2 ranked run defense, allowing only 88.8 yards per game and 3.8 yards per carry (No. 3).

Sam LaPorta deserves recognition for breaking Keith Jackson's record for rookie tight ends with 81 receptions in a single season. He finished the year with an impressive 86 catches, 889 yards, and 10 touchdowns. This puts him in the company of legends like Rob Gronkowski and Mike Ditka. It's safe to say that he will be a popular choice for NFL player prop bets and fantasy managers in the years to come.

While the defense may have some weaknesses to address in the offseason, the offense is undeniably one of the most dangerous in the league. With a balanced attack, they ranked fifth in DVOA and averaged just under 395 yards per game (third overall) and scored an average of 27+ points per game (fifth overall). The team had a strong home record of 6-2 straight up and 5-3 against the spread, but also proved their worth on the road with six wins out of nine games and a lucrative 7-2 ATS record to boot.

It's worth mentioning the controversial game that was handed over to the Cowboys in Dallas, but it's important to focus on the progress the Lions have made under the leadership of Campbell, his coaching staff, and GM Brad Holmes. After finishing last in the NFC North from 2018-2021, the team has now exceeded their team total for two consecutive years. Their 12 wins this season tied a franchise record and they won their first playoff game in 33 years.

Furthermore, they were a great bet for sports bettors, going 12-5 against the closing NFL betting lines and cashing over tickets in 11 times in the regular season and twice in the playoffs. This team is exciting, resilient, and poised for even more success in the future. Detroit fans, keep your heads up and let's hope these last two years are just the beginning of something great!

Detroit Lions 2024 Offseason

After declining offers from Seattle and Washington, OC Ben Johnson will return to the sidelines in 2024-25 with a strong dedication to bringing the Lombardi Trophy home to Motown. This highlights the stability of the team's offense, which has been the driving force behind their success. In order to further improve the offense, management should focus on adding depth, particularly on the offensive line which is currently one of the best in the league.

The next priority should be upgrading the secondary with better coverage players at both the cornerback and safety positions. The pass defense was a major weakness for the team, ranking 27th in yards allowed and touchdowns given up per game. It would also benefit the team to find a long-term solution at kicker, a position that has been lacking since the team's revival. With seven picks and $61 million in cap space, the Lions have the resources to strengthen their roster through the NFL Draft and free agency in the offseason. As previously mentioned, the team is in a great position to continue making progress and appealing to those who bet on the NFL's future and game outcomes.

Detroit Lions Schedule & Results

Founded in 1932, the Detroit Lions have a lot of history, though most of it is for their ineptitude. Once upon a time, the Lions were a power franchise in the NFL.

From 1952 through 1957, the Lions won three NFL championships. Unfortunately for Detroit, that last title in 1957 is not remembered except for its elderly fans. Detroit has never made the Super Bowl since the game's inception in the 1966 season.

The Lions may not have a lot of championships, but they have had many memorable star players through the years. Bobby Layne was the Lions' quarterback in their 1950s era of glory.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Lions had some tough teams that were pretty good, including its 1970 playoff team. Those teams had big-name stars such as cornerback Lem Barney, defensive tackle Alex Karras, cornerback Dick LeBeau, linebacker Joe Schmidt, center Ed Flanigan, kicker Errol Mann, and tight end Charlie Sanders.

The Lions were such an attractive team in that era they were featured in a major motion picture. Alan Alda starred in Paper Lion as the writer that tried out for the team and chronicled his training camp experience in a book.

In later years the Lions had to of the most exciting running backs in NFL history. Billy Sims and Barry Sanders electrified fans and gamblers with their exploits.

In 1991 the Lions had their closest shot at a Super Bowl. Detroit made the NFC championship game but was eliminated by the eventual champion Washington Redskins.

Wayne Fontes was the coach of that Lions team and led Detroit to the playoffs four times from 1991 through 1995.

Since 2000 the Lions have made the NFL playoffs just three times. Their last appearance was in 2016.

Detroit Lions Past Seasons (2000)

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