The Detroit Lions’ national notoriety is skyrocketing this offseason. There is a palpable buzz around the NFL about the Lions’ chances to contend in the NFC in the 2023 season.

One former Lion is now taking up the fight. Michael Brockers, who has spent his last two seasons with the team, went on NFL Network's Good Morning Football to make sure nobody is forgetting about the Lions.

“The division is wide open. And I know not a lot of attention goes to the Lions, and I’m biased because I just came from there. They’re waiting in the shadows. They’re the lion in the shadows. They’re hoping that you forget about them.”

Dan Campbell took his 3 win Lions from last year and turned them into a winning football team.

Kneecaps were bit. The culture has changed in Detroit.

— Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) January 9, 2023

Part of the reason Detroit is getting more respect this offseason has to do with how the team finished its 2022 campaign. The Lions went 8-2 in its last 10 games, including a Week 18 win over the Green Bay Packers to eliminate their divisional foe from postseason contention.

“We didn’t start well, but we finished very well,” noted Brockers. “I think they’re gonna take that momentum onto next year and I think you’ll be seeing a different color flag in the ground in the NFC North sometime soon.”

The NFC North is truly up for grabs for the first time in a while. With Aaron Rodgers on his way out of Green Bay, the door is open for a new team to take the throne. It’s up to the Lions to capitalize on a transition year in the division and host a playoff game for the first time since 1993. 

nfc north win totals:

•9.5: lions
•8.5: vikings, packers
•7.5: bears

this marks the first time since 1992 the lions have the highest win total in their division. what a time to be alive

— Tej Seth (@tejfbanalytics) March 26, 2023