Is there any reason to feel optimistic that Patricia and the Lions will get things right in 2020?
“It’s hard. If you look at what has happened these last couple of years, there’s really no reason to have optimism,” former Super Bowl champion and All-Pro Lomas Brown said on Tiki & Tierney. “But [because of the virus] all the teams are kind of starting off [on equal footing], doing everything virtually. Everybody is at a disadvantage, all the things they have to go through to make sure that their teams are going to be healthy enough to make it through a season.
“So I just think all the teams are starting off [at the same point],” Brown continued. “Even the teams that we’re predicting to do well, you just never know what’s going to happen during this year. I think because of that, I think the Lions have just as good a chance as any team to win their division because of the circumstances that we’re all going through right now.”
The Lions, believe it or not, haven’t won a division title since 1993. They have finished last in the NFC North in each of the last two seasons.
If the Lions want to turn things around, they’ll need their quarterback, Matthew Stafford, to stay healthy. Stafford threw for 2,499 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games last season.
Can Stafford and his back make it through a full season?
“I’m telling you, that’s the million-dollar question in the state of Michigan,” Brown said. “There’s so much riding on his back. Without Matthew, you’re looking at a team that may be fortunate to win three games. He’s everything for this team. Think of all these years he’s played and really hasn’t had a run game behind him. You know how important a run game is, not only to the quarterback, but to the offensive line, too. For him to go into his 12th year and not have a running back in those 12 years, he’s been put at a disadvantage.
“So it’s a lot on his shoulders and back that he has to carry,” Brown continued. “The one thing that has to happen is he has to stay healthy. That’s the No. 1 question around here: will Matthew be able to stay healthy and lead this team this year?”