Can a healthy Detroit Lions offense carry them to contention?

Which side of the ball will carry the Lions?

As we look ahead to the coming season, the Detroit Lions are a team on the rise offensively, but the real question is; will the defense rebound and have a good year?

Despite the continuing rules changes that give every advantage possible to the offense, I still believe in the old adage that defense wins championships. So what will the Lions do defensively? Will they start making the necessary improvements to become respectable defensively or will they continue to flounder and look like they have no clue what they’re doing on that side of the ball?

Despite the reputation that Matt Patricia arrived with from New England, the defense has been the unequivocal weakness of the Lions in both of his first two seasons at the helm.

Rome wasn’t built overnight, but they at least could put on their togas without injuring themselves. For Lions fans watching this team play defense, the past two years have been nothing shy of painful. I think most fans would rather get a root canal without any kind of anesthetic than have to watch this defense in any state close to sobriety.

For the second straight offseason, Matt Patricia has added more of his type of players, or as we simply call them; former New England Patriots. The defensive line has been completely revamped at defensive tackle, although the numbers are still thin there, Jamie Collins has been added to the linebacker corps while key draft choices Jeff Okudah and Julian Okwara will have an opportunity to make an impact from day one.

But what we’re all waiting to see is if this defense will finally take hold. Finally, execute the way it’s supposed to. Finally, make a stop or two and maybe even actually win a game for the Lions.

Last season the Lions defense was about as close to rock bottom as possible. One would suspect, just because of the odds, that since they have nowhere to go but up they will have to be improved. Won’t they?

If Matt Patricia can actually turn around this defense, then the Lions do have an opportunity to contend in the NFC North, but I would suspect if we’re being honest with ourselves, it will be the other side of the ball that carries this team.