5 bold predictions for the Detroit Lions in 2022

4. Two players with double-digit sacks

The Lions have rarely had one player reach double-digit sacks in a season lately, though Romeo Okwara did get there with an even 10 just in 2020. In this century, counting Okwara, the Lions have had six players reach double-digit sacks in a season.

Robert Porcher (11, 2001)
James Hall (11.5, 2004)
Ndamukong Suh (10, 2010)
Cliff Avril (11, 2011)
Ezekiel Ansah (14.5, 2015; 12, 2017)
Romeo Okwara (10, 2020)

With a nod to a response to a question about who will lead the Lions in sacks this year over on the Sidelion Report Facebook page, Aidan Hutchinson and Charles Harris will both take down opposing quarterbacks at least 10 times this year.

3. 125 receptions for Amon-Ra St. Brown

St. Brown led the Lions with 90 receptions last season, spurred by his massive finish (51 catches over the final six games). That six-game pace would be 144 receptions over 17 games–he will not be doing that, most likely, but there are people who see the Lions’ second-year receiver as an appealing long shot bet to lead the NFL in receptions.

I’ve comfortably projected St. Brown for a 100-plus catch season to lead the Lions this year. But it’s not entirely unrealistic to raise that bar to 125 receptions, and for him to reach/exceed it. So let’s go bold and say he’ll get at least 125 receptions, as a key piece to an improved Lions’ offense that will have plenty of production to go around.