The Lions secure their first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history in an ESPN simulation of the 2024 NFL season.
The Detroit Lions came so close to their first Super Bowl berth in 2023. Detroit dominated the first half of the NFC Championship game against San Francisco, but let it all slip away in the second half. However, one ESPN projection predicts that the Lions will win it all in 2024.
ESPN's Seth Walder released an article on Monday that simulates the 2024 NFL season using ESPN's Football Power Index. Walder ran 20,000 simulations of the 2024 season, but picked one example to highlight one possible scenario for how things could unfold.
The simulation is very kind to the Detroit Lions. It has the Lions finishing as the #1 seed in the NFC with a record of 13-4, guaranteeing them home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The simulation then has Detroit rattle off home playoff victories against the Bears in the divisional round and 49ers in the NFC Championship to reach their first ever Super Bowl.
Walder's simulation puts the Lions in the way of the Chiefs' dreams of a threepeat. The simulated Super Bowl was an explosive, offense-driven game that sees Detroit conduct an impressive fourth-quarter comeback. Kansas City had a lead of 28-14 halfway through the fourth quarter. However, a Jahmyr Gibbs touchdown and a Dan Campbell two-point conversion makes it a six-point game late.
Then, unlikely Super Bowl hero Kalif Raymond catches an eight-yard touchdown pass to give the Lions the lead with three minutes left. The Lions manage to stop the Chiefs on the next possession, giving Detroit its first championship since 1957.
If the Lions manage to win a Super Bowl this season, they will no doubt do it on the back of Jared Goff.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes gave a press conference on Thursday where he talked up Goff to the local media.
“He’s the right guy, he’s the leader for us,” Holmes said.
