And so it begins, the long offseason. The Detroit Lions did not leave a good taste in the mouth of many fans after losing four consecutive games–including a poor performance in the playoffs. In saying this, you could reason that the Lions overachieved with their nine-win season. They willed themselves into the postseason despite a roster that would generate a below .500 team most years. You would be hard-pressed to find a national pundit that gave the Lions more than nine wins to start the season.
Mediocrity should not be tolerated, but it is better than the alternative of a perennial bottom feeder. The Lions were 0-6 against playoff teams and yet won a majority of the games that were considered “should-wins.” They were a middle-of-the-pack team and their record would back that statement. If you were one that truly believed this was a Super Bowl contender, I can see how you might be greatly disappointed.
NOTE: Grading scale in comparison to the rest of the league.
- A: Excellent
- B: Above average
- C: Average
- D: Below average
- F: Fail
Without further ado, here are the grades for each position group:
