Detroit Lions: Defining a successful 2018 season in the Motor City

The Detroit Lions’ goal is to win football games, but let’s explore what a successful 2018 season will actually look like in the Motor City.

The Detroit Lions, much like every other NFL team out there, are looking to win football games.  But what are the realistic expectations for the Motor City team in 2018? For starters, let’s take 16-0 and the Super Bowl and put them on a shelf. Obviously, every team has this goal. But what is the realistic definition of success this year for Detroit?

Since 2010, the Lions have finished with a winning record four times. They’ve finished with a losing record four times as well. If the comparison is made using this recent history, anything more than an 8-8 record looks good.

If the scope is narrowed to the past four seasons, a 9-7 record is their average – and, coincidentally, the same record the Lions finished with the past two seasons. Those records led to former head coach Jim Caldwell’s dismissal, meaning this team needs to aim higher.

So, double-digit wins equal success, right? Putting up 10 wins in 2018 would surely have the Lions in contention for a wild-card spot. But the wild-card round is where this team has been defeated in two of the past four seasons. Wild-card teams are also the visitor for their next games and face tougher odds to continually win in the playoffs. Just a note, only 10 wild-card teams since 1970 have made it to the Super Bowl.

Based on this information, what does a successful season in 2018 look like for the Detroit Lions? In a word: playoffs. In two words: playoff victory. This squad needs to make the playoffs and, preferably, host said playoff game.

Is this realistic within the seemingly tough NFC North Division? Yes, but they need a lot of things to go their way. They need to make their own luck and show some toughness. Reports out of Detroit are mostly positive at this time of year as new head coach Matt Patricia is bringing a different feel to his practices. But it all needs to translate into wins or the good vibes will quickly change.

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So, what do you think? Can the Lions win the division and host a playoff game this year? Or will the defending Minnesota Vikings, Aaron Rodgers-led Green Bay Packers or up-and-coming Chicago Bears keep them from the top?