When it comes to the top contenders for a Super Bowl this coming season, the Detroit Lions should absolutely be at or near the top of the list after a campaign in which they fell just short of the Big Game following a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.
The Lions have beefed up their roster on the defensive side of the ball and are returning much of the same offense that was elite in 2023. If you need more evidence (you don't) for how talented Detroit's roster is, look no further than a recent top-100 players list that had a whopping seven Lions on it, with two more listed as honorable mentions.
One NFL analyst who is no doubt a fan of the Lions' talented roster is Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr, who recently stated that Detroit will beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LIX in his bold predictions article. Here's what he said:
1. The Detroit Lions will defeat the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LIX
My most recent set of predictions—one bold one for all 32 teams the day after Super Bowl LVIII—had the Bengals edging the Lions, but I am slightly altering my pick based on a Lions team that is absolutely stacked and powered by the best of vibes. I have seen first-hand (as a Rex Ryan era New York Jets beat writer) what making it to a conference title game can do for a team, and there’s a difference between an accidental tightening disguised as confidence and real, true confidence. I think this Lions team could not only claw its way to the Super Bowl, but romp in the process.
Considering the Lions' status as one of the best teams in the NFL entering the 2024 campaign, that's not exactly bold, but we'll take it nonetheless. That wasn't the only bold prediction Orr made about the Lions, though.
He predicts wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown will go over 1,800 receiving yards, cornerback Terrion Arnold will lead rookie cornerbacks in interceptions, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will win Assistant Coach of the Year before staying in Detroit for another season, and the city of Detroit will be recognized as one of America's best barbecue destinations.
St. Brown going over 1,800 yards is probably the most unrealistic of the bunch, but certainly not impossible given how great he has been. Nevertheless, it's hard not to love what Orr has cooked up for the Lions in 2024.
