The Detroit Lions had a special run to finish the 2022 season. The Lions won eight of their last 10 games to finish 9-8. Despite having been eliminated from playoff contention, Detroit played spoiler in the final NFL regular-season game against Green Bay as the Lions won at Lambeau Field.
Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown hopes Detroit can replicate its late-season success heading into the 2023 campaign and take it a step further.
"I know we won a few games last year, we finished pretty strong, but man, I want to go to the playoffs bad," St. Brown told Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett. "I feel like Detroit as a city, they want it so bad. I feel like as a team we want it bad. I feel like we got the guys to do it, so I'm just excited to start winning games consistently, week in and week out."
St. Brown's hungry for a postseason the Lions have been absent from for some time.
Detroit's last playoff appearance came in the 2016 season with a wild-card loss to the Seahawks. The playoff matchup featured Russell Wilson and Matthew Stafford; quarterbacks who play with different clubs now. The team's last playoff victory dates to 1991 in a win over the Cowboys.
St. Brown set career highs with 106 receptions, 1,161 receiving yards and six touchdowns to make his first Pro Bowl last season.
Even with the NFL's leading touchdown rusher, Jamaal Williams, signing with New Orleans, St. Brown believes offensive coordinator Ben Johnson could improve on last season's success in 2023.
"We had a pretty decent offense last year," St. Brown said. "Obviously, you want to be No. 1 in every category, so I think that's what we're striving for as an offense. Obviously, No. 1 in total yards per game, total scoring offense, we want to be No. 1 in all those categories. Not turning the ball over. I think we did a pretty good job of that last season, but you can always improve. So I think honestly, I think if you ask Ben, his goal would be to be No. 1 in all categories, and that's my goal, too. I think that's everyone's goal on offense because we know we can do it."
Detroit's offense could also be better with Jameson Williams entering his second season healthy. The 2022 first-round pick only played in six games in a limited role after tearing his ACL in his final college game with Alabama. The 12th overall pick completed the season with one catch for a 41-yard touchdown on nine targets.
St. Brown is eager to work with the second-year receiver and see his development with a healthy offseason.
"I can't wait to see Jamo fully getting a whole offseason under his belt, being able to work with all of us," St. Brown said. "I can't wait to see what he does. I've seen it in practice. I know what he can do. It's just a matter of everything just lining up. He came off that knee, threw him in toward the end of the season, so just him getting a whole offseason under his belt, being able to work out, train how he's used to training. I think the sky's the limit for him. I can't wait to see what he does. I know he's for sure going to stretch that defense so hopefully underneath routes will be much more open, but I can't wait to see what he does on the field."
Detroit's talented young core was on display last year, and St. Brown expects to play a role once again in one of the top emerging offenses.
