The number for the 2022 Lions is six.
If everything goes right, they might get to seven. If it goes really, really well, eight could happen.
If the Lions get to nine, well, throw them on Sunday Night Football and bring back Al Michaels to declare, "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!!!"
An exaggeration? Not really.
While the Lions have a chance to feature a middle-of-the-pack offense, their defense will likely remain a sieve.
If you think that's meant as a knock on head coach Dan Campbell or general manager Brad Holmes or their coordinators, it's not.
They inherited a terrible situation. The idea they can go from zero to 100 mph in two seasons is ridiculous.
Their player personnel last season was so bad it seemed possible early on the Lions might not win a game.
Well, they won three and got a tie.
In the process, the Lions added bellwethers in offensive tackle Penei Sewell and slot receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Rookie defensive end Aidan Hutchinson appears to be a similar talent, but this is just the early stage of the process.
The Lions, wisely, didn't waste resources this offseason on pricey free agents.
It's far from ideal that rookies Jameson Williams and Josh Paschal are unlikely to have a significant impact this season because of injuries, yet it matters much more that they excel in the future.
It would be a poor season if the Lions don't win more games, sure.
Year-to-year improvement is a reasonable expectation for Holmes' first draft class, and it would be nice for a surprise or two to emerge this season. Hutchinson and Charles Harris should improve the defense overall because of what figures to be a strong outside pass rush.
It would be absurd, though, to suggest the future is now.
'Hard Knocks' served a useful purpose for the Lions. There are big expectations for Sunday's opener at Ford Field. It's a sellout, but the Lions are a decided underdog for good reason: the Eagles are better. Jalen Hurts carved up the Lions last season and receivers DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown are exceptional. The Eagles' line is strong on both sides of the ball.
It's, frankly, not a good matchup for the Lions.
And the Lions are being set up for a dramatic mood swing, one way or another, from their understandably fickle fans.
If the Lions win, they will be overly praised. If they lose, they will be skewered.
While obviously a victory is the desired option, the bigger picture is much more important.
Too often in the past, the Lions have gotten ahead of themselves.
Six wins, with promise of a brighter future, is reasonable.
And could ultimately prove ideal.
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