Three years ago, then-Lions quarterback Jon Kitna predicted that his team would win more than ten games. Detroit started the 2007 season 6-2.
They’re 3-37 since.
Second-year safety Louis Delmas, the team’s defensive captain, is the latest Lion to make a prediction for the season. He’s not quite as bold as Kitna.
“It’s no surprise if we come out and get eight wins -- I won’t be surprised at all,” said Delmas. “We know we can do it. ... I know that we lost a lot of games on last drives last year.”
Delmas also believes that eight wins would all but assure the Lions a postseason berth.
“If we get eight wins and don’t make it to the playoffs, I’ll be pissed,” he said. “So that’s what we’re shooting for.” Five NFL teams went 8-8 last season: the Giants, Panthers, 49ers, Titans, and Broncos. None of them made the playoffs.
While it’s true that the Lions should be better as Delmas and Matthew Stafford enter their second years, and the defensive line play improves following the additions of Kyle Vanden Bosch, Ndamukong Suh, and Corey Williams, 8-8 is an obviously optimistic goal for the Lions. They’re two for their last 32, play in one of the league’s toughest divisions, and have to face the NFC East and AFC East this year.
Something like 5-11 or 6-10 would qualify as a significant leap in the right direction, and is probably more realistic.
