Insider places lofty expectations on resurgent Lions

During a recent episode of "The MMQB NFL Podcast", Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer shared what he believes the Detroit Lions are capable of in the upcoming 2024 season.

"I have a hard time picking anybody but the Lions [to win the NFC North]. I think the Lions have a chance to win 13 or 14 games, maybe more than they did last year."

Wow, 13 or 14 wins for the Lions next season would be an incredible accomplishment for a team that is coming off of a 2023 campaign in which they won their first playoff game since 1991.

It would also be something Detroit has never done in the history of its franchise.

Since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, the Lions have finished a season with 12 wins twice (2023 and 1991), but they've never won more than 12 games on their schedule. So, Breer has set historic expectations for Detroit heading into the 2024 season.

Despite the height of these expectations, it's certainly not something that seems unattainable for the Lions in 2024.

Dan Campbell is entering his fourth season as the head coach of the Lions and in each of his previous seasons, the team was able to improve its win total from the year before. Detroit won three games in 2021, nine in 2022 and 12 last season.

Based on this pattern, the Lions should finish with more than 12 wins in 2024. But this is also definitely something that is easier said than done.

Given the team's success last season, the Lions are going to have a target on their back in 2024. Opposing teams no longer view the Lions as lovable losers, and Detroit will have to be at its best for each and every matchup on its schedule.

Luckily for the Lions, the majority of players and coaches from their 2023 team are still with the organization, including offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who has turned down head-coaching opportunities so that he can continue to help Detroit attempt to win its first Super Bowl.

Will the Lions continue their ascension under Campbell next season, or will they fall back toward the results the NFL world has come to expect form them?