You’ve all been waiting for today. BOLD PREDICTIONS IS BACK. Let’s take a look at how things will turn out for the 2018 NFL Season.
Matt Stafford wins League MVP
Stafford has continued to progress every year under Jim Bob Cooter and earned a 99 rating (better than Rodgers) in 2017. Stafford has 73 TDs and 24 interceptions with Cooter leading him to glory at OC even without much run game and protection (due to injuries and fluke picks).
Cooter returns despite a new coach in Matt Patricia and Stafford has the weapons, run game and healthy offensive line to dominate the league. Stafford has a better QB rating than Aaron Rodgers for 3 of the past 4 season. Can’t wait
Stafford Stats: 5,050 yards passing 42 TDS and 8 interceptions for Stafford with 68% completion. Book it.
Lions Run Game is 12th best in the league
Lions spent the offseason bolstering their run game and getting healthy on the offensive line. Frank Ragnow, Kerryon Johnson and LeGarrette Blount were added. Taylor Decker, Rick Wagner, TJ Lang and Ameer Abdullah all get healthier.
Lions are 12th at 4.2 YPC with 1,850 team rushing yards.
Lions only team again with two 1,000 yard WRS again. Weapon City
Marvin Jones notches 1,200 yards and 10 TDs and Golden Tate adds 1,100 yards and 7 TDs. Best WR combo in the league.
Kenny Golladay flourishes in year 2 with 750 yards and 7 TDs. TJ Jones is the best 4th WR in the game with 400 yards and 2 TDs. Riddick gets his 650 yards and 6 TDs.
Tight Ends add 650 yards combined and 8 TDs between Willson, Roberts, Valles and Toilolo. Abdullah notches another 200 yards receiving and the other backs (Johnson/Blount/FB) fill in the rest with 2 TDs.
Offensive Line
The Lions have a top five offensive line in protection. Decker, Lang and Wagner are healthy and Ragnow was added. This is a really great unit with decent experienced depth in Corey Robinson, rookie Tyrell Crosby, Kenny Wiggins, Wesley Johnson and Joe Dahl.
Points Scored
Lions are top 3 in points scored led by Stafford and new run game. The only thing that can stop them is themselves.
Defense
Lions Top 10 in Defensive Points Allowed
Matt Patricia is a scheming master and will help the Lions defense with 3-4 and 3-3-5 looks compared to Austin’s vanilla 4-3 with blitzes. Ziggy Ansah is healthy and can be a beast. He had 12 sacks in 14 games while hurt last year. 20 sacks is on the table for Ansah.
Devon Kennard, rookie D’Shawn Hand, Ricky Jean Francois and Sylvester Williams were under the radar additions to the front 7. A’Shawn Robinson and Jarrad Davis continue to develop at DT and ILB. Cornelius Washington fits Patricia’s scheme much better than Austin’s scheme.
The Lions might/may have a pass rush. They will get top 12 pressure (sacks, hits and hurries) with 42 sacks.
Turnovers
The Lions were 3rd in turnovers forced in 2017. That trend continues as the Lions force 32 turnovers again in 2018.
Run Defense
The Lions are 15th in run defense in YPC and yards allowed. The Lions are 8th in passer rating allowed with a very strong secondary.
Special Teams
Prater is top 5 in kicking accuracy and Martin is top 10 in punt average. Jamaal Agnew/Ameer Abdullah have 4 returns for TDS.
North Standings
Lions 12-4
Vikings 10-6
Packers 8-8
Bears 6-10
Lions win the North and beat the Saints in the divisional round and the Vikings in the NFC Championship game. Detroit smokes the Patriots in the Super Bowl 42-14.
This is guaranteed.
Note: All bold predictions void and cannot be used against LKP if bold predictions are shattered from flukes, poor referring, injuries (key and concentrated), acts of God, Man Cans deflated, or flat out freak plays by the Vikings, Bears and Packers.