The Detroit Lions are the most effective group within the NFL. A sentence that will as soon as have sounded very unusual could be very authentic this season. And whereas some could have a look at Detroit’s beating down of the Jaguars as simply an anticipated final result between a contender and a struggling group, it nonetheless reveals simply how good they honestly are.
In contrast to in faculty soccer, the place type factors can matter for rankings, successful is all that issues within the NFL. However with that mentioned, the Lions did far more than simply win on Sunday. They made an enormous assertion defeating Jacksonville, 52-6.
Jared Goff, as soon as considered as a castoff of the Rams as they felt a quarterback improve was wanted to win a championship — they usually have been proper on the time, posted some monster numbers in opposition to a weak Jaguars protection. Goff accomplished 24-of-29 for 412 yards whereas throwing for 4 touchdowns and including 21 extra yards on the bottom.
Amon-Ra St. Brown additionally stood out, making 11 receptions for 161 yards and a pair of touchdowns of his personal. Goff and St. Brown have had their finest statistical performances of the 2024 season by far.
Most significantly, Detroit’s protection held Jacksonville to single digits with solely six factors.
Detroit is now 9-1, with solely a Week 2 shut loss to Baker Mayfield and a good Tampa Bay Buccaneers team going in opposition to their report. So now, as Dan Campbell’s group sits on the prime of the convention and enjoys a lead within the NFC North, it is changing into clear the Lions are head and shoulders above the remaining this yr.
When the remainder of the NFC, the opposite division leaders in Philadelphia, Arizona and Atlanta all have a worse report and blemishes on their resume. They’ve every been uncovered at one level or one other.
Issue all of that with the actual fact the Lions personal a head-to-head win over Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings, who’re on Detroit’s heels within the division, and there is no different possibility however to acknowledge the group from the Motor Metropolis.
Over within the AFC, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are undefeated and the back-to-back Tremendous Bowl champions, making them an apparent menace to repeat, however they’ve been successful because of quite a lot of luck and regardless of Patrick Mahomes enjoying under his regular commonplace. Mahomes entered the week with solely a 12-9 touchdown-interception ratio.
And past the Chiefs, the Steelers and Ravens seem evenly matched as standard and have endured their hiccups. Josh Allen and the Payments are harmful however banged up and in an identical place they’ve skilled in current seasons — wanting up on the Chiefs.
As issues stand proper now, the Lions are the one group in the complete league that has but to point out a transparent weak point and has additionally performed like a championship-caliber group all yr for the reason that season kicked off in September.
Whereas the considered the Lions within the Tremendous Bowl nonetheless could sound unusual to some — Detroit is considered one of solely 4 franchises to by no means even seem in a Tremendous Bowl — it is a very actual chance based mostly on what’s been taking place right here in 2024. Town of Detroit has been residence to a champion loads of occasions earlier than, however by no means within the NFL since manner again in 1957.
