By Sunday 
The 2025 season for the Detroit Lions felt baffling on the surface. A year after winning 15 games, they missed the playoffs entirely. But a closer look at their victories shows the Lions weren’t winning randomly — they were winning when a few specific things went right, and losing when they didn’t.
Defensively, pressure was everything. While Aidan Hutchinson remained a constant threat, the Lions were far more effective when the pass rush didn’t rely on him alone. In wins, Detroit totaled 28 sacks, compared to 19 in losses. That balance was boosted by Al-Quadin Muhammad, who recorded seven of his career-best 10 sacks in victories, giving the defense a much-needed second punch.
Turnovers told an even clearer story. Of the Lions’ 12 interceptions on the season, 10 came in wins. Detroit didn’t lose a single game when they forced more than one takeaway and went 6–3 when they generated at least one. When the defense flipped the field, the entire team played with more control and confidence.
Fast starts also mattered more than anything else. When Detroit scored a first-quarter touchdown, they went 8–1. When they didn’t, climbing back became a problem. That flaw was exposed late in the year, as the Lions scored just two first-quarter touchdowns in their final seven games and finished that stretch 2–5.
Put together, the numbers explain the season in pieces. When pressure came in waves, turnovers followed, and games started fast, Detroit looked like a playoff team. When those elements faded, so did the wins — a frustrating reality as they close the season against the Chicago Bears and look ahead under Dan Campbell.