Tag: 2022 projection

Predicting the Detroit Lions player stats for 2022

Projecting the stats for Detroit Lions players in the 2022 regular season

The 2022 regular season kicks off in a few short days for the Detroit Lions. The roster is set, the plays installed and the gameplans ready to roll for Dan Campbell’s second season in Detroit.

Projecting the stats for the key players in Detroit is a difficult challenge. There are new schemes on both offense and defense, with each unit efforting to be more aggressive and proactive than they were a season ago. Many of the key players return, with some high-end newcomers also impacting the depth chart and stat projections.

All of these statistical projections are calculated on the assumption of each player participating in all 17 games. Injuries unfortunately will derail that, but predicting injuries is even harder than forecasting stats.

Here are the fearless predictions for Lions player stats in 2022.

USA TODAY projects the Lions to finish in 2nd place in NFC North

The Lions rocket up the standings in the 2022 season record predictions from USA TODAY

Summer is often the season of NFL record predictions for the upcoming season. A few of those 2022 projections have the Detroit Lions nicely improving on the 3-13-1 record from a year ago.

One of those who foresees even bigger and better things for Detroit is Nate Davis of USA TODAY (subscription required). His official prediction is for the Lions to rocket up to eight wins and finish in second place in the NFC North division.

Here’s what Davis wrote in predicting the Lions to finish 8-9,

They played .500 football over the final six weeks of last season after going winless during the first 11 games. The culture seems to be established even if a building talent quotient probably still isn’t quite ready to challenge for a wild card.

The Minnesota Vikings are also projected to finish 8-9, well behind the Green Bay Packers at the top of the division. The Chicago Bears are at the bottom of the barrel at 4-13.

It’s a rosy picture painted for Detroit and it’s based as much on how well-coached the team is under Dan Campbell than it is the players themselves. That might explain why Campbell is a betting darling on the NFL Coach of the Year front.

Lions schedule: Too-early game-by-game predictions for all 17 games

Peter King offers up some genuine Lions optimism

NBC’s Peter King offers up some genuine Lions optimism in his latest article and projects a lot more wins in 2022

Now serving up a healthy helping of Honolulu Blue Kool-aid: NBC Sports’ Peter King.

In his latest edition of Football Morning in America, King features the Detroit Lions. It’s a piece bubbling with optimism as King includes reports from an earlier trip to Lions HQ in Allen Park and snippets of interviews with head coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes.

“I’m more bullish on the Lions than the wiseguys are, more bullish than the NFL is.,” King writes.

He’s not alone in that sentiment, but King’s unexpected praise is a nice shot of measured optimism on the eve of training camp. He notes the team’s strong finish (3-3 after a 0-10-1 start) and the overwhelming sense of unity around Campbell from the players as reasons why he believes the Lions can win eight games, a huge improvement over last year’s 3-13-1.

It’s always nice to see outside reporters have something positive to say about the Lions.