Could the Lions be the Cincinnati Bengals of the 2022 NFL season?

Mar 1, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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Detroit Lions, 2021 NFL Draft, Penei Sewell
Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

1. The Lions have a very good offensive line

According to Pro Football Focus , the Lions had the No. 13 offensive line in 2021 and the Bengals came in at No. 20.

Much was made of the Bengals poor offensive line play during the regular season and through the playoffs. Joe Burrow was sacked a league-high 51 times during the regular season, and a eye-opening 70 times counting the four playoff games.

The Lions literally never had the starting five offensive lineman they expected to have together for a game in 2021. Most notably, left tackle Taylor Decker (finger) missed the first eight games and center Frank Ragnow (toe) was out after Week 4. But those injuries allowed tackle Matt Nelson and center Evan Brown to get starting experience, and Brown in particular held his own in place of one of the league’s best centers.

The Lions could look to add more offensive line depth via free agency or the draft. But as it is right now, they are better situated there than the Bengals were a year ago at this time.

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