By Moses Joshua 
Detroit enters 2025 with a hidden advantage: time on their side.
Rest Is the New Weapon
In the NFL, every edge counts — and in 2025, no team has a bigger one than the Detroit Lions when it comes to recovery. According to ESPN’s Brian Burke, Detroit boasts a +13 net rest advantage, the highest in the league and the second-best since 2002. In a sport where preparation and recovery are often the difference between wins and losses, this could prove pivotal.
What Exactly Is Rest Advantage?
Rest advantage refers to the number of days a team has to recover and prepare between games, especially relative to their opponents. Detroit’s schedule gifts them:
- Three Thursday games (Weeks 13, 14, and 17)
- A strategically placed Week 8 bye
- Zero matchups against teams coming off a bye
Add it all up, and the Lions will benefit from 13 more days of rest than their opponents over the course of the season — a massive hidden edge for a team with championship aspirations.
The Best in the NFL — By Far
Here’s how the Lions stack up in the rest department:
- +13 days of total rest advantage
- 2 more days than the next-closest team (Miami Dolphins)
- Only one game all season where they are at a rest disadvantage (Week 4, following a Monday night matchup with Baltimore)
Key games like Week 15 against the Rams and the season finale against the Bears will come after extended rest — exactly when teams need it most.
Low Travel, High Potential
It’s not just the rest that breaks in Detroit’s favor. The Lions will also avoid the wear and tear of long-distance travel. They skip international games entirely and rank near the bottom of the league in total miles traveled — another key advantage for a team looking to peak in December and January.
What It All Means
Dan Campbell’s squad already has the personnel and the mindset to compete with the NFL’s best. Now, they also have the schedule. With extra rest, limited travel, and no opponent coming off a bye, Detroit is positioned to stay fresh, stay focused, and finish strong.
The Bottom Line
In a league defined by parity, the smallest margins often make the biggest difference. For the 2025 Detroit Lions, that margin might just be the gift of rest. And if they capitalize, it could be the difference between falling short and hoisting a Lombardi.
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