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In years past, it was quite notable when a national NFL analyst projected big things for the Detroit Lions. Years of futility and disappointment made finding an optimistic, bullish take on the Lions ahead of training camp a rarity.
Not anymore, certainly not after Detroit’s 2023 campaign — the best season for the Lions in the Super Bowl era. This summer, it’s notable when an analyst pours some cold water on the fiery dreams and visions of Detroit grandeur for 2024. Yet we did manage to find one…
Nate Davis of USA TODAY is one of the few national analysts who has broken ranks with the Lions as the predicted winners of the NFC North. Davis instead projects the Green Bay Packers to take back the divisional crown in 2024, with the Lions finishing second.
Davis does have the Lions finishing comfortably in the playoffs with a record of 11-6, good enough for the top wild card seed.
The rest of a division the Lions just won for the first time is also fast improving. A pathway to the first Super Bowl berth in franchise history likely requires a strong start as the Lions play just two home games over an eight-week period spanning October and November. But it could happen if a young core continues to blossom – WR Jameson Williams needs to step up – and reaps results from an upgraded pass defense.
In propping up the Packers, Davis notes their youth and also a change in defensive coordinator that Green Bay hopes overcome recent underachievement from that unit.
Expanding out the projections, Davis has the Lions knocking off the NFC South champs, the Atlanta Falcons, in the wild card round game before succumbing to the Packers in Green Bay in the NFC Divisional Round.
A quick check of last year’s predictions shows Davis is not a Lions hater; he correctly pegged them as the NFC North champs, going 11-6. Detroit did indeed win the division for the first time, finishing 12-5.
Editor’s note: Lions Wire is part of the USA TODAY SMG network but is not represented by Davis.