Detroit may still be reeling from its early playoff exit, but Lions legend Barry Sanders isn’t panicking. In fact, he’s doubling down on his belief that the team is built to bounce back—using the Philadelphia Eagles as a prime example.
After going 15-2 and locking up the NFC’s top seed, the Lions were stunned by the Commanders in the Divisional Round, surrendering 45 points in a game they were favored to win. That heartbreak came just a year after Detroit let a 17-point lead slip away in the NFC title game.
But Sanders says those losses are just part of the learning curve—and he’s not wrong. He pointed to the Eagles, who were blown out of the playoffs in 2023 but rebounded with a Super Bowl win thanks to a core of returning talent and a big addition in Saquon Barkley, who racked up over 2,000 yards and won Offensive Player of the Year.
Detroit, meanwhile, is bringing back its main core, including head coach Dan Campbell, quarterback Jared Goff, and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The only major loss? Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who took the top job in Chicago. And yes, the Lions were hit hard by injuries—21 players on IR, including Aidan Hutchinson, who was on pace for DPOY before his season-ending injury.
As Sanders put it, “We still have the main ingredient, which is the head coach and the players.” He’s calling the recent setbacks “lessons,” not defeats—and with Hutchinson coming back and the core intact, there’s every reason to believe Detroit isn’t done yet.
Barry Sanders Still Believes in the Lions — and He’s Got a Good Reason Why
