The Detroit Lions will either turn things around from last season's 4-12 record. Or they won't. (How's that for analysis?)

Seriously, though, many NFL observers still see many of the same things in the Lions that propelled them to 10-6 and a wild-card berth in 2011.

Among them is CBSSports.com columnist Clark Judge, who includes Detroit as one of his four long shots to leap from the basement to the postseason.

Judge says the signing of free agent Reggie Bush gives the Lions at least a threat of a running game, something that was sorely lacking last season.

The biggest challenge for Detroit, says Judge, is the NFC North, arguably one of the NFL's toughest divisions. So the Lions' defense will have to up to the task.

Judge also included Kansas City (2-14 in 2012), New Orleans (7-9) and St. Louis (7-8-1) among his teams that could make big turnarounds this season.

-- Email Josh Slagter at jslagter@mlive.com. Download the "Detroit Lions on MLive" app (iPhone or Android) for the latest news.