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One NFL team executive believes the Detroit Lions are the stiffest challengers to the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl three-peat bid.
“Detroit has more talent than K.C., good coaching and is tougher,” the exec said to The Athletic’s Mike Sando.
Sando also cited a defensive coach who thought the Lions’ 24-14 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday was a prime example of their new identity.
“Have we transformed to where Green Bay with its well-manicured coach looks like they should be in a dome while tough, red-faced Dan Campbell looks like he should be the one on the frozen tundra?” the coach said. “Because the ‘rug’ team (Lions with an indoor stadium sporting artificial turf) was the one securely handling the ball in the cold rain with 15 mph wind.”
Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson didn’t try to win any style points with the conditions at Lambeau Field being less than favorable. Jared Goff’s 145 passing yards were his second-fewest on the season, while neither David Montgomery nor Jahmyr Gibbs had a run go for more than 18 yards.
The Lions might’ve been out-gained 411-261 by the Packers, but they avoided making any critical mistakes. Kerby Joseph’s pick-six was the only turnover of the game and he made it count.
Coming into this season, the expectations surrounding the franchise were higher than they’ve been in decades. Detroit was two quarters away from making the Super Bowl in 2023 and boasted a deep roster with stars in their prime or just entering their prime.
A sense of fatalism may have continued to linger within the fanbase, though. The last time the Lions won 12 games and reached the NFC title game, they missed the playoffs altogether the next year.
Surely it couldn’t be as straightforward as Detroit building on last year and improving, right? Well, that’s exactly what’s happening in the Motor City.
No team is playing better than the Lions right now.
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