The Lions and playoffs is a combination similar to oil and water, they just 
don’t go together.
During the 2000’s things weren’t getting any better in terms of going to the playoffs either. Fans had to suffer through the god awful Millen years where we saw draft pick after draft pick get squandered only to see passed up players go on to have very successful careers.
Things seem to be different now though. The team rid themselves of Millen and have been tracking in the right direction. So much so the Lions have gained the attention of NFL.com’s Steve Wyche who believes not only will the Lions be better next season, but they are going to the playoffs.
“I’m not kidding, but everything hinges on QB Matthew Stafford staying on the field,” he writes. “I’m pegging him to do so and for Detroit to be a wild-card team. The Lions finished on a four-game winning streak and have learned what it takes to compete. They lost six games by five points or less. Those are games in which Stafford could have made the difference.”
Now unlike Millen’s horrible draft record, Wyche praises the draft strategy and picks from GM Martin Mayhew and head coach Jim Schwartz.
“The last two rookie classes have been solid — especially defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh — and Mayhew and Schwartz have shown that they’ve got things on the right track,” he writes.
The last time the Lions made the playoffs was back in 1999. That season they went 8-8 finishing third in the NFC Central and making the playoffs as a wild card team.
Wyche is right, next season like this past season totally rest on the shoulders (no pun intended) of Matthew Stafford. If he is healthy and successful then the team will be successful. I still don’t believe that they are a playoff team just yet, there are still plenty of holes to fill however they SHOULD be challenging for a playoff spot next season.
Source: NFL.com
