Is the hype warranted? This year's 2022 Philadelphia Eagles

[goldenlions]

First the context of the Eagles:

2020 Eagles 4-11-1  2021 Lions 3-13-1
2021 Eagles 9-8       2022 Lions 9-8
2022 Eagles 14-3     2023 Lions TBD

The Eagles and Lions are constructed differently from QB to DL.  But they also have quite a few similarities, from the OL to dynamic skill players.  Could the Lions have a season like Philly had last season?    The similarities between the 20/21 Eagles to 21/22 Lions just had me wondering.  The Eagles definitely got good QB play from Hurts but he is a run threat who was basically their QB and #2 RB and that put them over the top.  The offense style is just different based on the personnel.  But could the Lions as constructed take that leap that the Eagles did from 21 to 22?


Now for the hype.  Why the hype?  Is it the 8-2 down the stretch?  The GB national tv game that basically chased Rodgers out of the conference.  This team has a lot of up and comers.  The Lions seem to have one of the better offseason with the FA pick up and draft picks.  Could it also be the perceived decline of Minnesota and Green Bay with Chicago just not ready to compete for the division? 
The Lions seem to have a tough start to the schedule but could be looking at another huge run down the stretch.   Dan Campbell has also been brought up as the X factor, do these guys overachieve because Dan is just a motivating force and Holmes gets guys that just want to play ball  and will play hard for Campbell.

Maybe we as fans and the media need to slow the roll on the Lions hype, maybe not.  If the train is rolling downhill, it just can't be stopped.
     

[rustyhilger]

Now that I'm finally getting a sense of what it's like to root for a team with high expectations, I'm starting to feel buyer's remorse / be careful what you wish for.

The hype gets a little out of hand, don't ya think? I wish we could just walk in to a season thinking "Yea, last year was unexpectedly promising. I'm excited to see how things go." Instead, fans get their expectations built up, and when their team fails to deliver, they get their pitch forks out and demand heads.

It will never be as fun as it was last year when no one was expecting anything going in.

[Vic]

If the team continues to progress then this season is a success

For me a playoff birth would be a very successful season

I think jumping to 14 wins is a bit much given the strength or schedule and the defense still has issues.

[Blaming Brad]

May 15, 2023 11:01:34 GMT -6 rustyhilger said:

It will never be as fun as it was last year when no one was expecting anything going in.

This is my fear. As much as I'd like to say this time it feels "different", does it really? Sports fans have a very short memory. Let's not forget people were considering blowing it all up again only last November.

[Vic]

The turning point last year seems to be when they fired the db coach and Campbell got involved in the defense more.

Early in the season. There were some questionable scheming on defense but that seemed to improve.

The way they finished the season, how can you not be optimistic? I think we need to be realistic and be happy with a wildcard birth versus a 14-15 win season. Just make it into the playoffs is something they have not done in a long time.

[rustyhilger]

May 16, 2023 9:36:27 GMT -6 Vic said:

I think we need to be realistic and be happy with a wildcard birth versus a 14-15 win season. Just make it into the playoffs is something they have not done in a long time.

I agree, but you know how things go. There will be one dumb call that Campbell makes, or a specific player gives up a long TD. And the blame game begins. Why wasn't this area addressed in the offseason? Is Campbell / Holmes the right group to take us to the next level? Look at what [insert random team] did. They made it to the division championship after just 2 seasons of rebuild. And they use [insert defensive scheme of the week]. Should we adopt that defensive scheme?

And let's not even get started on the QB position. Goff has excellent season, but not MVP-level season. Makes one errant throw in the playoffs. Is it time for Hooker? Is Goff the guy to get us to the next level?

And it just goes on and on.

[Vic]

May 16, 2023 10:12:35 GMT -6 rustyhilger said:

May 16, 2023 9:36:27 GMT -6 Vic said:

I think we need to be realistic and be happy with a wildcard birth versus a 14-15 win season. Just make it into the playoffs is something they have not done in a long time.

I agree, but you know how things go. There will be one dumb call that Campbell makes, or a specific player gives up a long TD. And the blame game begins. Why wasn't this area addressed in the offseason? Is Campbell / Holmes the right group to take us to the next level? Look at what [insert random team] did. They made it to the division championship after just 2 seasons of rebuild. And they use [insert defensive scheme of the week]. Should we adopt that defensive scheme?

And let's not even get started on the QB position. Goff has excellent season, but not MVP-level season. Makes one errant throw in the playoffs. Is it time for Hooker? Is Goff the guy to get us to the next level?

And it just goes on and on.

It's the drama media with these bullshit stories ( example, the story on Gibbs tweaked ankle ) and the fans knee-jerk reactions. Let's be honest , there were some concerns early last season with Campbells gametime decisions and the defense calls. Those got better and the Lions started winning.

[Blaming Brad]

May 16, 2023 10:12:35 GMT -6 rustyhilger said:

I agree, but you know how things go. There will be one dumb call that Campbell makes, or a specific player gives up a long TD. And the blame game begins. Why wasn't this area addressed in the offseason? Is Campbell / Holmes the right group to take us to the next level? Look at what [insert random team] did. They made it to the division championship after just 2 seasons of rebuild. And they use [insert defensive scheme of the week]. Should we adopt that defensive scheme?

And let's not even get started on the QB position. Goff has excellent season, but not MVP-level season. Makes one errant throw in the playoffs. Is it time for Hooker? Is Goff the guy to get us to the next level?

And it just goes on and on.

[Blaming Brad]

May 16, 2023 10:22:33 GMT -6 Vic said:

It's the drama media with these bullshit stories ( example, the story on Gibbs tweaked ankle ) and the fans knee-jerk reactions.

Did the media really make a big deal about Gibbs' ankle? Admittedly I don't watch any of the network coverage but I just saw some mentions of it on Twitter and that he would sit out practice. I posted it on here partially as a joke and partially just to show how easy it is for a RB to get injured in this league.

[rustyhilger]

May 16, 2023 10:22:33 GMT -6 Vic said:

May 16, 2023 10:12:35 GMT -6 rustyhilger said:

I agree, but you know how things go. There will be one dumb call that Campbell makes, or a specific player gives up a long TD. And the blame game begins. Why wasn't this area addressed in the offseason? Is Campbell / Holmes the right group to take us to the next level? Look at what [insert random team] did. They made it to the division championship after just 2 seasons of rebuild. And they use [insert defensive scheme of the week]. Should we adopt that defensive scheme?

And let's not even get started on the QB position. Goff has excellent season, but not MVP-level season. Makes one errant throw in the playoffs. Is it time for Hooker? Is Goff the guy to get us to the next level?

And it just goes on and on.

It's the drama media 

Yea, and it's not so much the in-season stuff, but the off-season hype, getting everyone's hopes up. There is still a realistic possibility Gibbs, Campbell and La Porta don't make significant contributions this season, because it's not like they don't have more experienced competition. I can already hear the "I told you so's" about position value.

[Vic]

May 16, 2023 10:29:52 GMT -6 Blaming Brad said:

May 16, 2023 10:22:33 GMT -6 Vic said:

It's the drama media with these bullshit stories ( example, the story on Gibbs tweaked ankle ) and the fans knee-jerk reactions.

Did the media really make a big deal about Gibbs' ankle? Admittedly I don't watch any of the network coverage but I just saw some mentions of it on Twitter and that he would sit out practice. I posted it on here partially as a joke and partially just to show how easy it is for a RB to get injured in this league.

fansided.com/2023/05/13/jahmyr-gibbs-lions-front-office-gamble/

There we a couple crap stories like these floating around 

[Blaming Brad]

May 16, 2023 12:30:42 GMT -6 Vic said:

May 16, 2023 10:29:52 GMT -6 Blaming Brad said:

Did the media really make a big deal about Gibbs' ankle? Admittedly I don't watch any of the network coverage but I just saw some mentions of it on Twitter and that he would sit out practice. I posted it on here partially as a joke and partially just to show how easy it is for a RB to get injured in this league.

fansided.com/2023/05/13/jahmyr-gibbs-lions-front-office-gamble/

There we a couple crap stories like these floating around 

Is that even a real site with actual journalists? Looks pretty dicey, like a bunch of slappies like us put a website together.

[rustyhilger]

May 16, 2023 14:09:45 GMT -6 Blaming Brad said:

May 16, 2023 12:30:42 GMT -6 Vic said:

fansided.com/2023/05/13/jahmyr-gibbs-lions-front-office-gamble/

There we a couple crap stories like these floating around 

Is that even a real site with actual journalists? Looks pretty dicey, like a bunch of slappies like us put a website together.

[Vic]

There is def some garbage out there. There were a few about Gibbs..I was like wtf..trash

[TRUMP]

it would suck but i have a bad feeling that Love will take a huge step and become a very good QB for GB.

[Blaming Brad]

May 16, 2023 20:35:33 GMT -6 TRUMP said:

it would suck but i have a bad feeling that Love will take a huge step and become a very good QB for GB.

Yep, that is exactly how I see it going. I recently saw something that said Love will be the third week 1 starting QB for GB in 31 years. That's mind blowing. And I fully expect Love to continue the trend.

[goldenlions]

Love is more Blake Bortles than Patrick Mahomes. Unless he is physically something more than what we have seen in a few games, I don't see it. He could be an okay QB, but he will not have a career anything like Favre or Rodgers. If GB was smart, and based on how they went about FA they just might be since they did nothing to help improve the team outside of the draft. Looks like they are banking on giving Love a chance and if he can't show much, they will move on.

[Blaming Brad]

May 17, 2023 0:43:32 GMT -6 goldenlions said:

Love is more Blake Bortles than Patrick Mahomes. Unless he is physically something more than what we have seen in a few games, I don't see it. He could be an okay QB, but he will not have a career anything like Favre or Rodgers. If GB was smart, and based on how they went about FA they just might be since they did nothing to help improve the team outside of the draft. Looks like they are banking on giving Love a chance and if he can't show much, they will move on.

Rodgers didn't show much his first 3 seasons in spot duty. If I remember correctly there were even rumblings that there were some doubts among the coaching staff if he was the guy. Green Bay went 6-10 Rodgers' first year as starter and we all know what happened after that.

[rustyhilger]

Dude's got some serious talent. I think he'll do just fine.