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How the Detroit Lions can win the NFC North

By Russell S. Baxter

ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 16: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions instructs teammates from the line during the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on December 16, 2018 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 16: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions instructs teammates from the line during the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on December 16, 2018 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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A season ago, the Detroit Lions finished last in the NFC North for the first time since 2012. How can they end their long division title drought in ’19?

This past season, the Detroit Lions embarked on a new era in terms of their head coach as Matt Patricia took over for Jim Caldwell. The latter produced a combined 36-28 win-loss record with the franchise the previous four seasons, led Detroit to a pair of playoff appearances in both 2014 and 2016 and finished with nine wins during his final campaign with the club. But just as has been the case with this franchise and his recent head coaching predecessors, there would be no postseason victory.

A year ago, Patricia and company got off to a 0-2 start and looked bed in doing so. A humbling 48-17 defeat at the hands of the visiting New York Jets on a Monday night was followed by a tough 30-27 loss at San Francisco six days later. But then the mystery of what would become the Detroit Lions’ 2018 season began to unfold.

They humbled the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots on a Sunday night at Ford Field in Week 3. The team would own a 3-3 record after six games. But there would be only three more victories the remainder of the season and a 6-10 record gave them the bottom berth in the division standings.

But it’s another year and that always comes with hope. So if the Lions are to surprise many and win the NFC North in 2019, what are three aspects of their game that must improve to give Patricia’s team a fighting chance?

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