Football season starts this week and it’s time to officially get excited for the NFL’s return. Coming off a surprising year for the Detroit Lions. Dan Campbell is looking to build off of a very positive season last year. Finishing with 9 wins and 8 losses. Detroit missed their first playoff appearance in several years by only a game. While Detroit closed out their season with a win, the Seahawks managed to win their way in and keep the Lions out of the postseason. This year the team is poised for a big bounce back year.
Of course, there were several positives to build off of last year, with that came some questions and adversities still left to overcome. The team certainly had some games where they did not show up or didn’t play tough through 4 quarters. The Dallas Cowboys shut down the Lions last year, the Panthers steamrolled Detroit. The defense couldn’t force 1 punt in a game against the Seahawks last season. Needless to say, the team needed to improve in some areas. Detroit Lions General Manager Brad Holmes overhauled the defense this year by drastically improving the secondary and bolstering the Offense giving Jared Goff 2 more weapons out of the backfield.
Heading into the 2023 the lions have an expectation to make the playoffs and do some damage along the way. If this is to happen the team has some serious hurdles to overcome. If the defense can play consistently better and the offense is anything like last year, they should be great. There are 3 games this year that are of the utmost importance to the Lions. While ideally you could consider every game a must win, these 3 are pivotal to the success of Detroit’s season! Read on to find out which games are the most crucial!
The Kansas City Chiefs
Week one (September 7th) against the Chiefs is one of the most important games of the year for Detroit. It’s always important to start the season off strong. However, this game is big primarily because it’s a winnable prove it game. The Lions pride themselves in their high-octane Offense and if they play up to their abilities, they should have no problem carving up the Kansas City Defense. If the Lions start off the year beating the defending super bowl champs at their own game, it will be a defining moment for Detroit.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – AUGUST 19: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs scrambles and looks to pass during an NFL preseason football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs at State Farm Stadium on August 19, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona.
The Dallas Cowboys
Dallas and Detroit square off right at the end of the year on December 30th. This will be a very important game for a couple of reasons. Last year the Cowboys shut down the Lions in the first half of the season. Detroit had serious difficulty putting up any points in a 24-6 loss. They can lose games, but it’s crucial to not get completely shut down and look lost out there. Another reason it’s important for Detroit to capture a win here is because this game will be pivotal for their potential playoff position, as even last year it came right down to the wire for the NFC North.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 12: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in a preseason game at AT&T Stadium on August 12, 2023 in Arlington, Texas.
The Denver Broncos
Now this game may come as a surprise to some, but Denver faces off with Detroit on December 17th during the final leg of the season. If the Lions are to make the playoffs and actually do something this year, they have to win games like this one. Especially since the Broncos are more than likely set to be a great team this year. Russell Wilson is likely to have a bounce back year behind the addition of Hall of Fame Coach Sean Payton. Plus, their defense had always been exceptional.
DENVER, COLORADO – AUGUST 26: Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos walks on the field before a preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at Empower Field at Mile High on August 26, 2023 in Denver, Colorado.
