2018 NFL Power Rankings: Brandin Cooks, Ndamukong Suh puts Rams on top

20. Detroit Lions

Moving on from Jim Caldwell seemed way overdue for a team like the Detroit Lions when looking at all of the times he was on the hot seat, and there’s plenty of reasons to be excited over Matt Patricia coming on board. If his time with the New England Patriots is any indication of what to expect, the Lions’ defense should be able to hit a new level to give the team a better chance of competing with teams like the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers in the division.

Unfortunately, Detroit failed to take advantage of controlling their own playoff destiny late last season, but hopefully all of that will change in 2018. When looking at all of the money invested in Matthew Stafford moving forward, the Lions can’t afford to miss out on the playoffs for a second year in a row, and hopefully the former No. 1 pick will benefit from a reliable veteran in LeGarrette Blount now that he’s going to give the offense a pound-for-pound type of running back.

Detroit has never really been able to provide Stafford with a reliable backfield when looking at how much extra pressure he’s had to take on to move the football more through the air. Blount won’t solve all of the problems in the backfield, but at least it’s a start.