Lions grace cover of Sports Illustrated’s season preview, picked to win Super Bowl

If Sports Illustrated’s (SI) forecast for the upcoming NFL season holds true, Detroit Lions fans could be in for an unforgettable February. The renowned publication has boldly predicted that the Lions will win Super Bowl 59, set to take place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

This bold prediction is featured in SI’s annual “Football Preview” issue, with Lions stars Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Penei Sewell gracing the cover. The headline reads: “DRIVE TO REVIVE: The Resurgent Lions: Right Team, Right Town, Right Time.” SI writers Conor Orr and Greg Bishop credit the team’s rise to a cultural shift within the organization since Brad Holmes took over as general manager and Dan Campbell as head coach.

Since the arrival of Holmes and Campbell in 2021, the Lions have shown consistent improvement each season. What started as a three-win team in Year One has transformed into a squad that finished just shy of the Super Bowl, ending Year 3 as the runner-up in the NFC Championship. SI shared that the journey reflects the heart and resilience of a team that has come to embody the spirit of Detroit.

“All of it suggests—no, screams—that these Lions are ready for more. More expectations,” Sports Illustrated expressed. “More wins. More success. They’re ready to grab the wheel from Campbell and drive this franchise straight to New Orleans in February, to the Lions’ first Super Bowl.

“This offseason Goff, Sewell and St. Brown all signed massive contract extensions, securing themselves as tentpoles of the franchise for years to come.”

The Lions will kick off their 2024 campaign following what could be considered the best season in franchise history. In 2023, they secured their first NFC North division title, posted a 12-5 record, and notched their first two home playoff wins at Ford Field. However, their season ended in heartbreak with a 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship after leading by 17 points at halftime.

Orr and Bishop believe the heartbreak from earlier this January will propel the Lions to take the next step in accomplishing their goal, writing, “While the ending was painful, the impact the Lions had in Detroit last season was undeniable and created a hunger to finish the plan, to realize Campbell’s vision.”

For Campbell, that vision is lifting the Vince Lombardi trophy at season’s end, a goal he made clear earlier this May when asked if it was a Super Bowl or bust season.

“I don’t see bust,” Campbell told reporters. “I see Super Bowl. I don’t know what the ‘bust’ is.”