20. Detroit Lions
You can’t really argue the fact that Detroit has one of the best passing games in the NFL. Quarterback Matthew Stafford committed a career low 14 turnovers last season and put up a 60.3 completion percentage, 2nd in best in his career. He throws to Calvin Johnson, the fastest receiver to ever hit 10,000 career yards, and the NFL’s sixth leading receiver Golden Tate.
The Lions improved in the running game that has held their offense back in recent years by drafting Ameer Abdullah from Wisconsin. Detroit’s biggest problem this season is their defense. The team lost star defensive tackles Nick Fairley and Ndamukong Suh over the offseason, and signed five-time Pro Bowler Haloti Ngata to try to fill in at defensive tackle. The lack of defense makes me doubt the Lions ability to make the playoffs.
19. Atlanta Falcons
Kyle Shanahan will enter Atlanta as the new offensive coordinator as he’ll look to utilize the already dominant passing game that finished top 10 in passing yards last year for the fourth straight time. The passing game features three time Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White who are both phenomenal receivers when healthy.
The Falcons also acquired some tight ends in the offseason in Tony Moeaki and Jacob Tamme. Offense clearly isn’t the problem for Atlanta. It’s the defense, the worst in the NFL in 2014, who need the most help, and the departures of Dwight Lowery, Osi Umenyiora and Sean Weatherspoon certainly did not help the cause.
