Mailbag: Can the Detroit Lions significantly exceed expectations in 2021?

Look around, and you’ll find just about every NFL expert or analyst—national or local—expecting a poor year out of the Detroit Lions. Whether it’s Vegas, who is projecting the Lions to finish somewhere within the bottom three and have the Lions favored in exactly zero games this season, or even most local fans, who aren’t expecting anything better than a 6-11 season.

But the NFL is all about parity. We are reminded every week during the season that this is truly an “Any Given Sunday” league.

So is there any chance that the stars somehow align this year, and the Lions significantly exceed expectations?

No one here is talking playoffs or NFC North titles, but is it possible this is a team that could hit .500 or maybe even slightly more? Given the defense has nowhere to go but up, and the Lions have built a rushing attack with actual potential, at least it looks like they have an identity. And what if the majority of people are wrong about Jared Goff? What if the 26-year-old quarterback’s career has a second wind?

That’s one of the main topics on this week’s Locker Room session, in which we answer fan questions live on the Locker Room app. Other topics include:

• What are the Lions going to do at safety?
• More OTA observations
• Should the Lions sign Todd Gurley? Would he take reps from D’Andre Swift?
• Who are the NFC North favorites if Aaron Rodgers leaves Green Bay?
• What is Detroit going to do about their (lack of) guard depth?

If you want to join our live Locker Room Q&As, download the Locker Room app on any iOS device, follow @PrideOfDetroit, and tune in on Saturday morning.

You can always listen to the Locker Room sessions the day after by subscribing to our podcast feed on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or iHeartRadio.