Will the Detroit Lions be the latest team to rise from worst to first in their division? Pro Football Focus believes they have the best chances among the eligible teams next season.
PFF ranked the eight teams who finished at the bottom of their division in 2019 and named the Cincinnati Bengals the least likely to make the jump, followed by Washington, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, and Jacksonville Jaguars, with the Lions finishing in the top spot.
“Prior to Matthew Stafford’s season-ending injury,” PFF’s Ben Linsey said, “the Lions were a competitive team at worst. Through that Week 9 game against the Oakland Raiders, the Lions were 3-4-1 with one-score losses to the Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers. Stafford was a big reason for that, pushing the ball downfield and doing it well. He led the NFL with an average depth of target of 11.4 yards, and his 8.6 yards per attempt were fewer than only Ryan Tannehill among qualifiers. That all unraveled after Stafford’s injury, and the Lions proceeded to lose the rest of their games.”
It seems like a long time ago, but heading into Green Bay on “Monday Night Football” the Lions players and fans spirits were flying high. But things took a sharp turn when — as Barry Sanders commented — the Lions were “robbed” late in the game, and the downward spiral began, exposing problems with the roster.
“Getting a healthy Stafford back next season to get the ball into the hands of downfield playmakers Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. should be a huge boost to this offense,” Linsey continued. “With a high draft slot and a decent amount of cap space to work with, there’s an opportunity for the defense to improve, as well. It’s not difficult to see the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings taking a step back next season, and that opens the door for Detroit to potentially host its first home playoff game since 1993.”
The Vikings, Packers, and Chicago Bears are among the bottom-10 teams when it comes to available cap space and draft pick slot entering the 2020 offseason.
The Packers have $23.7 million in cap space (10th worst) and their first draft pick is No. 30 overall.
The Bears have just $5 million in cap space (5th worst) and their first draft pick is No. 43 overall.
The Vikings are actually $11.3 million over the cap already (worst in NFL), meaning they will have to cut or restructure players just to get within cap compliance, and their first draft pick is No. 25 overall.
Meanwhile, the Lions have $45.8 million in cap space and hold the No. 3 draft pick overall — they also hold pick No. 35 meaning they are scheduled to select twice before the Bears get their first opportunity.