Nick Fairley: Detroit Lions will make it to Super Bowl

The Detroit Lions finished the 2012 season losing their final eight games for a 4-12 record.

Those facts didn't stop defensive tackle Nick Fairley from declaring the LionsSuper Bowl contenders.

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"I expect big things," Fairley told Detroit News columnist Terry Foster on Thursday. "I am going to say we are going to the Super Bowl because I am competitive and that is what I want for the team, and it is one of the goals. I am sure we are going to take it game by game and day by day."

We'll stop just short of saying Fairley's over-exuberance must have come after he read Around The League's pathetic-to-playoffs post yesterday.

Fairley's refrain, which reminds us of an overconfident Rex Ryan, comes after Fairley spent the final three games of the season on injured reserve. He will be expected to play a key role in any improvement the Lions defense makes this season.

Part of the thought process when Lions general manager Martin Mayhew drafted raw defensive end Ziggy Ansah No. 5 overall was that BYU product could thrive because Fairley and fellow defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh would be the focal point of blocking schemes.

"I expect big things," Fairley said. "We picked up some good guys in the draft. It is going to be up to us (players) to getting the chemistry up to where we can play off each other. We are going to do some big things this year."

But the Super Bowl, prodded Foster?

"Those are our expectations," Fairley replied.

(Cut to Lions fans rolling their eyes.)

Follow Kevin Patra on Twitter @kpatra.