Jared Goff Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Looking ahead to the 2023 season, the Detroit Lions seem to be a trendy team among prognosticators. Their quarterback, Jared Goff, is a little more measured.

Detroit being popular in projections makes sense. The Green Bay Packers, the perennial favorites in the NFC North, are coming off of an 8-9 season. With Aaron Rodgers likely soon to be traded, they may be entering a rebuilding phase. The Minnesota Vikings, meanwhile, are reigning NFC North champions, coming off of a 13-4 campaign. But the team’s -3 point differential has led to some wonder about how sustainable the team’s 2022 success was. That leaves the Lions and Chicago Bears.

Detroit narrowly missed the playoffs in 2022, going 9-8. Additionally, their point differential of +26 was the fourth best in the NFC, behind only the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. As a young team, why wouldn’t they be a trendy pick in the NFC North, if not the entire NFC?

Goff doesn’t think the Lions, or anyone, should be considered favorites at this point.

“I don’t believe there are any favorites to win anything in April. But what do I know?” Goff said, per Grant Gordon, NFL.com. “A lot can change from now until August or whatever. We like what we’ve done in the offseason and last year, but [there is] plenty of stuff to get better at and work on.”

Goff’s response is understandable.

The Lions looked like a team on the rise in 2022. But they wouldn’t be the first team to fall flat after a promising season.

Furthermore, no team’s roster is completely set and won’t be until the NFL Draft comes to an end. We don’t know who the Lions — or any other team — will end up with. Even once we do know that, we don’t know how the rookies will adjust to life in the NFL and won’t until the season gets going.

Goff is on the money. While a lot has been done, a lot has yet to be determined.

[NFL.com]

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