St. Brown, Decker Focused on Lions Making Playoffs in 2023

Amon-Ra St. Brown and Taylor Decker are readily aware of increased expectations for Detroit Lions headed into 2023 season.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is excited for the upcoming season, and he had a hard time hiding it when he spoke to reporters Tuesday.

Much like the Detroit fanbase, the third-year pro is ready for the organization to take the next step and become a playoff team in 2023.

"I have my personal goals. They change every year, obviously hoping to be better each year,” St. Brown told reporters from the team’s Allen Park practice facility. “But, I’m not really worried about those anymore. I’m worried about the team, the playoffs, what we can do as a team. Because I’m going to take care of myself, I already know that. But, making sure this team is where it needs to be, which I know we can do. I’m excited for that. Trying to become more of a leader.”

St. Brown, a fourth-round draft pick of the Lions in 2021, is coming off a career-best campaign. The "Sun God," as he's affectionately known, finished with 1,000-plus receiving yards for the first time as a pro (1,161 yards), and earned his first ever trip to the Pro Bowl during the 2022 season. And, along the way, he helped Detroit win eight of its last 10 games, including its season finale at Lambeau Field against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. 

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown :: © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

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It's led to increased expectations for St. Brown and his teammates headed into the 2023 season. The Lions, in fact, have become the early favorite to win the NFC North division, and have even become a popular pick in Vegas to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LVIII (58).

St. Brown, to his credit, hasn't been bothered one bit by any of the early prognostications. Instead, he's embraced the enlarged expectations for the once dormant franchise. 

"I love having something to look forward to, something to obtain, something to reach. It’s just my personality, personally," St. Brown expressed. "But, I think, as a team, we have a lot of young guys that are hungry, that have seen what we did two years ago, only winning three games, I think it was, (from) our rookie year to last year, to what we can do this year. I think just being a part of that journey is going to help us that much more throughout the year.”

Just like St. Brown, Lions starting left tackle Taylor Decker is fully aware of all the love being heaped upon Detroit this offseason. 

As he noted Tuesday, though, it is far from the time to become satisfied with the progress the organization made last year. Instead, Decker understands that he and his teammates will need to continue to put in the necessary "work" to achieve the larger goals they have set for themselves in 2023. 

"It's nice to come into the building with expectations, and look, it's an enjoyable thing to look forward to next year, knowing that we laid a foundation the prior year. And, that's something we did together as a group. There's excitement for what the future could hold," Decker said. "But, ultimately – and it's a 'dead-horse' statement, like 'beating a dead horse' – you have to come in and your first day of OTAs, you got to do your testing and you got to do your stretching, your soft tissue, your lifting, your running. That's what's important today. And, that's the thing about this league: Are you going to come to work every single day? Because if you don't come to work now, if you didn't start working out till just now, well, then you're not going to have the results you want this season."