Dan Campbell made it abundantly clear that the Lions are gunning for the Super Bowl in 2024.
Could the Detroit Lions actually do it? Can they compete for the Super Bowl in the 2024 NFL season? Dan Campbell's squad has a lot of talent and made it to the doorstep of the big game last season. As weird as it is for the Lions to be a powerhouse, it’s looking like they are.
The Lions went 12-5 last season and won their first playoff game since 1992. They extended Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell while bringing in defensive reinforcements in D.J. Reader, Carlton Davis III, Amik Robertson and Marcus Davenport. In the NFL Draft, they focused heavily on defense. They have a lot of work to do on that end but have already proven to be a strong offense with a bounty of playmakers.
Another winning season appears to be in store — and the franchise is certainly gunning for more than that. Campbell, always one to get his players in the right frame of mind, laid out how the Lions are gunning for the Super Bowl and aren’t looking to settle for less. “I don't see bust,” he said. “I see Super Bowl.”
Dan Campbell asked if this is a Super Bowl or bust year for the Lions.
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) May 23, 2024
Campbell: "I don't see bust. I see Super Bowl."
He added that every team should be of that mindset — it is the ultimate prize, after all. But it means something much more coming from a coach of a very good team. Campbell has helped the Lions improve each season. Going from a bad team to a promising team to a good team has Detroit feeling confident in its chances to compete for the Super Bowl.
Dan Campbell envisions Super Bowl for Lions in 2024
Campbell's statement looks like a guarantee but feels more like a point in the direction of where the Lions' headspace is at. Detroit was right there in last year’s NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers, leading 24-7 at halftime before blowing it in the second half. The loss serves as even more motivation to go the distance.
The Lions may not have the absolute best roster in the NFC. That title belongs to either the Philadelphia Eagles or 49ers, the last two teams to win the conference. But Detroit's roster is certainly closer to the top of the list than the middle or the bottom. With how good the Lions have become, it’s not crazy to see them winning it all, even if there are still a handful of better teams out there. A lot of things have to go right, though.
One of the biggest storylines this season in Detroit will be how good Goff plays. The veteran quarterback is a bit of a paradox; his sturdy, impressive play has helped the Lions get back to winning but he may not be quite good enough to get them over the hump. With his new extension, the front office is betting that he's their man. Not many people believe that he can be, though the same could be said about Goff looking like a legitimately good quarterback again after leaving Sean McVay.
The Lions hope that the core they have in place now is the one that will go down in history as the first one ever to bring the Lombardi Trophy to the Motor City.
