Factory Of Sadness
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Browns: Evaluating the opponents for the 2021 NFL Season

By Chad Porto

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 17: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns drops back to pass against the defense of the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 17, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 17: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns drops back to pass against the defense of the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 17, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 30: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns tries to escape the tackle of Cam Johnson #57 of the Detroit Lions during a preseason game at Ford Field on August 30, 2018, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 30: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns tries to escape the tackle of Cam Johnson #57 of the Detroit Lions during a preseason game at Ford Field on August 30, 2018, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Week 11 – Lions (Home)

Cue the “LOLz Detroit.” This isn’t even worth talking about, which may be exactly why it’s my pick for the upset special of the season. The Lions weren’t a good team with Matt Stafford and they won’t be without him. They were the 20th best offense and the 32nd best defense last year. They also got rid of a lot of big names who could’ve helped get them better but they’re going into full rebuild mode.

Kenny Golladay, Adrian Peterson, Danny Amendola, and Everson Griffen were all effective players for the Lions last year. While Golladay was having a down year, he was a Pro Bowler in 2019. Peterson put up an impressive 3.9 YPC for a man who’s 35 years old, Amendola stayed around his usual 600 yards per season despite also being 35 and Griffen put up six sacks last year in just 14 games across two teams.

Sure, they’re all older but if they’re all competent players still if you’re looking to compete. The Lions apparently aren’t. Not only did they let go of Griffen defensively, but they also let go of Danny Shelton and Desmond Trufant. They still have Jamie Collins Sr., who’s coming off of a terrible year. Granted, none of those three names previously mentioned had great years, but they could’ve bounced back as they were all solid players before 2020.

The Lions are going nowhere fast and it seems unlikely that the Stafford for Jared Goff trade isn’t going to help any. The earliest the Lions can get out of the deal without getting nuked is after June 1, 2023. Any time sooner and they’re going to eat at least $10 million+ in a given year, not to mention $5 million in others on top of the previous $10 million+. So you’re looking at a deal you’re stuck with for a few years. Might as well kept the veteran talent and tried to win.

Expectations: The Lions seem like they’re going forward in a strange, but promising new direction. The team owner, Sheila Ford Hamp, is putting a lot of effort into making sure the team is going in the right direction and may eventually be in a place to compete. That place is not at the corner of 2021 and Next Season.

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