Are the Detroit Lions ready for a playoff run?

After starting the season 1-3, the Detroit Lions have dramatically turned around their season and are coming off a Thanksgiving Day win with a solid 7-4 record. The team is flying high after winning 6 of its last 7 games thanks to Lions Quarterback Matthew Stafford´s late game heroics. The Lions are leading the division after both the Vikings and Packers have recently struggled..

Detroit Lions fan Noah Poser thinks the Lions will definitely make the playoffs by winning the NFC North.

“They will win the NFC North with an improved defense while maintaining a high level of play on offense,” Poser said. After the injuries to star players Ezekiel Ansah, Deandre Levy, Darius Slay, and Haloti Ngata on defense early in the season, they are finally getting healthy to boost the production of the defense in the coming weeks. It couldn’t have happened at a better time as the Lions try to push for the playoffs and win the NFC North. “It ain’t easy being cheesy or in 1st place”, another Lions fan, Allen Trevizo, said on the Lions holding onto first place with the tough competition throughout the division.

All season long though the defense has struggled due to all the injuries. he real hero to the Lions being atop the NFC North as of today has been QB Matthew Stafford,  according to Lions fan Alex Allen.

“Stafford has stepped up to lead the Lions to wins with his late 4th quarter comebacks,”Allen said. Every single win this season for the Lions came after trailing in the 4th quarter and the only team to trail in the 4th quarter every game is the Cleveland Brown and they’re 0-12.

Stafford has been a big part to the Lions’ success but other players have stepped up big time on offense. Tight end Eric Ebron has proved himself in the NFL.

“He’s always had the potential, but now he’s healthy, smarter, and more of a playmaker for the offense,” Poser said. Also, wide receiver Golden Tate who was nowhere to be seen in the Lions first four games totaling just 95 receiving yards,has since then, broke loose to be one of the Lions top pass catchers with 418 yards in the next 5 games,leading the team in receptions.

Detroit Lions fan Henry Combs said on Lions making playoffs,” as long as they give the ball to Tate and continue their late comebacks, they will make it,” Combs said.

Ryan Kolb agreed, saying, “Stafford will lead us to the playoffs”. These fans definitely have high hopes for their team making the playoffs and even winning the NFC North for first time since 1993. Some don’t think they will go far in playoffs due to other tough teams in the league. The Lions beat the Redskins earlier this year, but Combs thinks they are going to, even in the series, “ In the semis, Kirk Cousins and the Skins will beat the Lions,” Combs said.         

Coming into week 13, the Lions will have a difficult road game against the New Orleans Saints before hosting the Chicago Bears.They will then have a tough road ahead of them against the Cowboys, Giants and Packers, who all will be likely fighting for the playoffs. Coming into these games it’s important that Stafford keeps up his previous success and the defense stays healthy if the Lions have a shot for a division championship since 1991.