Niner Noise
FanSided

The biggest question facing each NFL team in 2017

By Peter Panacy

Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 11, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) reacts against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Lions won 39-35. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) reacts against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Lions won 39-35. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Lions

Can the Lions avoid another late-season meltdown?

There’s plenty of questions to go around when discussing the Detroit Lions.

How well will the offensive line protect quarterback Matthew Stafford? Can the Lions running game get back on track? What about the defense and a lack of a pass rush?

These questions, and more, didn’t seem quite as pressing for the middle part of 2016. The Lions managed eight wins in nine games after starting the year 1-3. But the only problem was Detroit was pulling away with narrow victories. Only once — Week 13 — did the Lions post a two-score win.

And then the last four games of the year happened.

Four consecutive losses to round out 2016 — granted, they were against tough opponents — cost Detroit an NFC North division crown.

The final quarter of games this season is a little easier on the Lions. That’s good.

Because if Detroit wants to make a deep playoff push, they’ll need to enter the postseason with some, any, sort of momentum.