How the Detroit Lions can win the NFC North in 2020

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 29: Detroit Lions Head Football Coach Matt Patricia talks with his defense during the third quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field on December 29, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Green Bay defeated Detroit 23-20. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

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Detroit Lions (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

1. The club finds a way to be more competitive vs. their division rivals.

Despite squandering a big lead at Arizona in last year’s season opener (an eventual 27-all overtime tie), Matt Patricia’s club got off to a solid 2-0-1 start this past season and the club had to be encouraged by wins over a pair of 2018 playoff participants in the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles, the latter coming on the road.

But then things became began to unravel. There was a heartbreaking home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4. After returning from their off week, the club went into Lambeau Field on a Monday night and opened up a 13-0 second-quarter lead on the rival Packers but were nipped at the buzzer, 23-22.

It was the first of six losses by the Lions to their NFC North adversaries. Dating back to 2018, Patricia’s club owns a horrid 2-10 divisional record — 0-4 vs. both the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings.

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Under the previous head-coaching regime, Detroit was a combined 16-8 mark vs. their NFC North rivals. Patricia and company won’t be moving out of the divisional basement anytime soon if they can’t manage at least a split vs. the Cheeseheads, Purple Gang and the team from the Windy City.

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