6 reasons why the Lions will make the playoffs in 2020
The Patriots Midwest Experiment finally works
At some point, this thing has to click right? I mean, outside of shifting the entire New England Patriots’ roster to Detroit, the Lions’ brass have invested heavily in bringing ex-Pats like defensive end Trey Flowers, wide receiver Danny Amendola, cornerback Justin Coleman, linebacker Jamie Collins, safety Duron Harmon, and defensive tackle Danny Shelton into the fold.
There has to be a tipping point. And it seems to be only a matter of time before the changes force the desired culture change.
But time is something both general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia are running out of. If the Patriots Midwest experiment was ever going to work, it seems it has to be now.
Offensively, this team seems to be set. The Lions have Matthew Stafford under center, a trio of talented and experienced veterans including Amendola, a 2019 first-round pick at tight end in T.J. Hockenson, plus a new-shiny toy in rookie running back D’Andre Swift.
The defense is the biggest question mark, which is ironic as Patricia is known as a defensive genius and literal rocket scientist. So Detroit peppered that side of the ball with heavy changes this offseason, including the hiring of a new defensive coordinator in Cory Undlin. Every positional group saw changes, with several former Patriots filling critical roles.
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If the New England Midwest experiment is ever going to work for the Detroit Lions, it’s now. The players know it. The coaches know it. And they should everything they can to make it work. With a little luck to boot, a playoff berth could be the outcome.