MOST IMPROVED TEAMS DIVISION BY DIVISION, PART 8 of 8 NFC NORTH

AUTHOR:PETER DIPAOLA (TWITTER: @PETERSSPORTS88)

ONLINE POLL RESULTS OF WHICH NFC NORTH TEAM HAS IMPROVED THE MOST THIS OFFSEASON:

TWITTER
Bears 47%
Vikings 27%
Lions 20%
Packers 6%

FACEBOOK
Lions 42%
Packers 42%
Bears 16%
Vikings 0%

WRITERS PICK: DETROIT LIONS 

Detroit went 9-7 in 2016, and ended up as a wildcard team, losing to the Seahawks in the opening round of the playoffs.  In 2016 the Lions had the following rankings in passing yards, rushing yards, total yards and points:
Offense- 11th in passing, 30th in rushing, 21st in total yards and 20th in points scored
Defense- 19th against the pass, 18th against the run, 18th total yards allowed and 13th in points allowed

This offseason the Lions have been heavily active in free agency (see for yourself here how busy they have been: http://www.detroitlions.com/news/transactions.html) as well as landing Rams offensive tackle Greg Robinson in a trade.  Offensive tackles Rick Wagner and Cyrus Kouandjio, cornerback DJ Hayden, tight end Darren Fells, running back Matt Asiata and guard T.J. Lang are some of the players brought in via free agency.

The Lions were able to add more talent via the draft:
Round 1- Linebacker Jarrad Davis
Round 2- Cornberback Teez Tabor
Round 3- Wide Receiver Kenny Golladay
Round 4- Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Tight End Michael Roberts
Round 5- Cornerback Jamal Agnew
Round 6- Defensive End Jeremiah Ledbetter and Quarterback Brad Kaaya
Round 7- Defensive End Pat O'Connor

Detroit managed to acquire needed pieces on both sides of the football to improve on offense and defense in order to better their record and make another attempt at the playoffs in 2017.  The Vikings have made moves and the Packers have been the top dog in the NFC North for some time so the Lions needed to do their part to better themselves.  Based on their offseason moves in free agency, trading and the draft, they have done just that.  Matthew Stafford will have more help on the line, a running back (Asiata)  who has played in the NFC North (for the Vikings) and other weapons on offense.  The defense gets much needed help, a good thing considering they have to face a very talent Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay with great weapons at receiver, tight end and running back.

2017 RECORD PREDICTION: 10-6, Second in the NFC North, Wildcard berth

ALL STATISTICS AND DRAFT INFORMATION ARE FROM WWW.NFL.COM