The Lions have been the laughingstock of the league for a while, having strung together 10 consecutive losing seasons and failing to make the playoffs since 1999. So you can see why even six wins gives hope – plus Detroit won its final four last year. The offense is potentially explosive if QB Matthew Stafford can stay healthy. The 2009 No. 1 overall pick has played in just 13 of 32 possible games so far but has played well when healthy. For example, in the two full games he played last year, Stafford was 46 of 81 passing for 452 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. The Lions have a good young back in Jahvid Best, who got off to a very fast start early last year before injuries slowed him. The team did lose a potential complement to Best in rookie second-round pick Mikel Leshoure, who was lost for the season in camp. The Lions were only 23rd in rushing in 2010. Detroit also has one of the NFL’s top receivers in Calvin Johnson and added a potential deep threat in another 2011 second-round pick in Titus Young.

On defense, the Lions have probably the most exciting young defender in the league in tackle Ndamukong Suh. Last year, Suh was named Defensive Rookie of the Year after compiling 10 sacks and 66 tackles. The addition of 2011 first-round pick Nick Fairley, a Lombardi Award winner last year at Auburn, gives Detroit as feared a defensive front as any in the NFL. Fairley did miss all of the exhibition season with an injury.

On the NFL prop on whether Detroit makes the playoffs this year, yes is +225 and no is -285.

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