The Detroit Lions are a group on the rise. They are ones to observe. They have excessive expectations coming into 2023 and lots of expect them to win their NFC North division this season, however quarterback Jared Goff is just not counting his chips earlier than he cashes them.
There is lots of time left earlier than the Lions play a recreation that counts this yr. Goff addressed the offseason hype, noting that he’s assured the place his group is now, however says it doesn’t suggest it is going to keep that approach.
“I do not imagine there are any favorites to win something in April. But what do I do know?” Goff stated (by way of NFL.com). “Quite a bit can change from now till August or no matter. We like what we have executed within the offseason and final yr, however [there is] loads of stuff to get higher at and work on.”
There is a motive groups play the video games and the season is just not based mostly on offseason predictions, as a result of the season is rarely with out surprises.
Things are wanting good for the Lions’ future, particularly with how their division is shaping up this offseason. The Green Bay Packers are set to lose Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets this offseason, the Chicago Bears are in a rebuilding stage and success for the Minnesota Vikings is just not a positive wager.
With a lot chatter in regards to the Lions this offseason, they might have a goal on their backs, however Goff does not suppose that is the case. After Detroit missed the playoffs and having lots of work to do to enhance, Goff doesn’t really feel that groups ought to put a highlight on them.
“I do not suppose now we have a bullseye,” he stated. “We missed the playoffs. Why would now we have a bullseye? I imply, we have performed higher. We performed higher final yr and have lots of work to do nonetheless. But yeah, we’re a greater group. We’ll get groups’ higher pictures, possibly. But we actually have executed lots of issues which have improved our possibilities and hopefully may give us a greater likelihood this yr.”
The Lions have the recipe for an important yr, coming off a strong 2022 that not solely proved they will compete with the remainder of the league, but additionally will give them confidence heading into the subsequent season. They have additionally added some key items to achieve the subsequent stage, like signing cornerback Cam Sutton, security C.J. Gardner-Johnson and working again David Montgomery.
“You see it up prime, simply the strikes they [Lions front office] made within the offseason. It’s barely extra aggressive this yr,” Goff stated. “This is my third offseason right here now, and you may see the aggressiveness in them and it trickles into us. We see all the things. We know what is going on on. In a pair weeks, the draft will come and there shall be extra of that there. But [there is] the aggressiveness of taking our shot and realizing that now we have a group that may compete with anyone and actually attempt to go make some noise this yr.”
The Lions completed 9-8 after profitable eight of their final 10 video games, with the ultimate win coming within the regular-season finale in opposition to the division-rival Packers to bump them out of the playoffs.
