The Detroit Lions haven’t had a winning season since 2017, but a “bold prediction” they’ll end the streak this year doesn’t feel all that bold.
The Detroit Lions last had a winning season in 2017, Jim Caldwell’s last season as head coach. Frankly, the streak feels longer than four seasons given the slow, painful, metaphorical burn that was the Matt Patricia era.
With an easier schedule in terms of opponents’ strength and travel distance, the Lions could very well double their win total from 2021 this year. That would of course mean a 6-11 mark in Dan Campbell’s second season as head coach. The question may then become if that’s a meaningful enough step to allow him a third season, but we’re a long way from genuine hot seat talk.
Winning record for the Detroit Lions in 2022 isn’t that ‘bold’
Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report has authored nine bold predictions for the 2022 NFL season.
Not that they’re in ranked order of likelihood, but the Lions land third on the list.
"Detroit Lions Finish with Winning Record for First Time Since 2017The Detroit Lions have won eight games over the last two seasons, but this year, they’ll take a big step forward under head coach Dan Campbell.The Lions can win high-scoring matchups and beat their opponents in the trenches, which makes them a dangerous sleeper team in 2022. They’re +290 to finish with a winning record. Roll the dice on this squad."
Our own game-by-game prediction for the Lions this year landed them with an 8-9 record, which fits with other predictions that are out there. Flip one of those losses to a win, one of our predicted losses to division rival Vikings?, and you get 9-8.
Given their history over the last 25-30 years, post-Wayne Fontes and with three winning seasons in four under Caldwell, predicting the Lions to have a winning season is hard to do with a lot of confidence. But for this year, with 6-8 wins as an easy baseline, predicting it is just not that bold.