http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ss...ed: detroit-lions (Detroit Lions - MLive.com) In their hearts and minds, the Detroit Lions believe they are a playoff team. They also believe they could be in the one of toughest divisions in football and making the playoffs won't be easy. Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who arrived in town for the start of training camp on Thursday, was asked about the NFC North. The reporter mentioned both the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings as being tough competition. "It's a tough division,'' Stafford said, getting interrupted by the reporter who belatedly added "and the Green Bay Packers.'' "Yeah, they just won the Super Bowl, but whatever,'' Stafford laughed. "There's a ton of talent in this division, great coaching staffs and great players. It's going to be a fun division to play in. You want to play against the best as much as you can.'' Despite the obstacles, the Lions are still convinced they are a playoff team. "We definitely have the talent and we have the right attitude, the right makeup of players,'' said Lions defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch. "There are a lot of things that have to happen in order for this team to a playoff team. We're in a division with one team that won the Super Bowl (Packers) and one team that was in the NFC Championship game (Bears). We can't just say that we're a playoff team, but we have all the right people. Coach (Jim) Schwartz and the people upstairs have brought in the right personnel and will continue to do so. But I think it's a realistic goal and, hopefully for the guys in this locker room, it's a realistic expectation.'' One of the reasons for the high hopes in and around Allen Park is Detroit's four-game winning streak to close out last season. "It's not just that we won the last four games, it's important how we won those games, winning close games,'' Vanden Bosch said. "We were a good team in the first half of last season but we didn't close out games and that becomes important, especially for a young team, to learn how to close games and learn how to finish games. That's what we did late in the year. I think that will add a lot to our experience this year. "There's really not much separation between the top football teams and the bottom football teams, it's the teams that can finish games and win games that are close in the fourth quarter. In the NFL, there are very few blowouts. We beat some good teams and we beat them late in games.'' Stafford, who only played in three games last year because of right shoulder injuries, said he's 100 percent healthy. His confidence appears to be peaking as well. "Going into camp, I just want to get back into it and hopefully hit the ground running as fast as I can,'' Stafford said. "During the season, I want to be there, that's the biggest thing. The thing I haven't been lucky enough to do the last couple of years is play. I think if I can stay healthy, I don't have to make any predictions. I feel my play will do the talking for me.'' The Lions will open camp on Thursday but will not practice. The first practice will be Friday and the Lions won't have a padded practiced until Sunday at the earliest.
