By Blessing 
32 Teams in 32 Days: For the Lions, It’s Super Bowl or Bust
Despite the heartbreak in the postseason over the last two years, the Detroit Lions remain one of the NFL’s top contenders in the NFC.
Once overlooked and often forgotten, the Lions have transformed themselves into a legitimate powerhouse over the past two seasons. But with each postseason run, Detroit has been met with bitter disappointment. These setbacks have made it clear: there’s still a gap between being a great team and becoming a Super Bowl champion.
Heading into the 2025 season, there’s little question Detroit has the firepower on both offense and defense to finally claim its first Lombardi Trophy. But doing so won’t be easy. The team must overcome key injuries, adjust to changes in the coaching staff, and solve some looming concerns on the offensive line.
—
What’s at Stake: A Season of High Expectations
For decades, simply making the playoffs was enough to ignite the hopes of Lions fans. Before Dan Campbell arrived, the team hadn’t hosted a playoff game since 1993—or won one since 1991. Those streaks defined an era of struggle.
That’s changed. In just a few years, Campbell has turned the culture around and brought playoff football back to Detroit. But the taste of postseason football isn’t enough anymore. The bar has officially been raised. For the 2025 Lions, anything short of a Super Bowl appearance will feel like a letdown.
Two seasons ago, Detroit came tantalizingly close, surging into the NFC Championship Game and holding a 24–7 halftime lead over the 49ers—only to unravel in the second half. Last season, despite battling a wave of injuries, the Lions roared to a league-best 15–2 record and entered the playoffs as the NFC’s top seed. But their season came crashing down in the divisional round with a 45–35 loss to Washington.
This year, with most of the core roster intact and Campbell still leading the charge, expectations are sky-high. A team this talented and experienced must finish the job. If not now, when?
—
Key Question: How Will the New Coordinators Shape the Season?
One of the biggest shifts this offseason came off the field. The Lions, who had enjoyed a rare stretch of coaching stability, lost both of their coordinators. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson took the head coaching role with the Bears, while defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn joined the Jets in the same capacity.
To fill the void, Campbell promoted former linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard to oversee the defense and brought back John Morton—who had been working as a passing-game coordinator with Denver—to run the offense.
Naturally, a new set of play-callers will bring changes. How big those changes are remains to be seen. Some schematic shifts are expected, but training camp at Allen Park will offer the first true glimpse of what this new era of Lions football looks like.
—
Source Insight: Jared Goff’s Strengths
An NFC assistant coach weighed in on Jared Goff’s game, saying:
“I think Jared does very well in the play-action game. His offensive line and runners are tops in the league, so it makes it so hard to defend.”
Goff’s precision, particularly when paired with a strong run game, makes Detroit’s offense one of the toughest to prepare for—at least when things are clicking.
—
Breakout Watch: Mahogany and Ratledge Step In
For years, Detroit’s offensive line has been the backbone of its success. But that unit took a hit this offseason with the unexpected retirement of All-Pro center Frank Ragnow and the free-agent departure of veteran guard Kevin Zeitler.
Now, the Lions will lean on two newcomers: Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge. Mahogany, a sixth-round pick in 2024, and Ratledge, a second-rounder out of Georgia, are being thrown into the fire. Between them, they’ve made just one NFL start. If Detroit hopes to make a serious run, both will need to grow up quickly and hold their own in the trenches.
—
Coach-QB Duo: Room to Rise
Dan Campbell and Jared Goff currently sit 11th in the NFL’s head coach-quarterback rankings. With another strong campaign, they could easily climb.
Goff had an impressive regular season last year, throwing for 4,629 yards and 37 touchdowns. But in the playoffs, three costly interceptions against Washington clouded an otherwise stellar performance. If the Lions want to truly make history, Goff will need to deliver in January.
—
Fantasy Spotlight: Jahmyr Gibbs
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs lit up fantasy leagues in 2024 with 20 touchdowns—earning an RB1 finish. But history suggests some regression is likely. According to Michael Fabiano:
> “None of these runners scored more than 18 touchdowns the following year, and just two (Todd Gurley and Austin Ekeler) scored more than nine.”
Gibbs is still a top-tier fantasy option, but expectations should be tempered just a bit.
—
Betting Edge: NFC North Favorites
At +145 to win the division, the Lions are still the class of the NFC North. The Packers are young and unproven. The Bears and Vikings are navigating quarterback transitions. Despite the losses in the coaching staff, Detroit remains one of the league’s most complete teams.
In 2024, they were one of only two teams to rank in the top seven in both EPA per play and opponent EPA per play—a sign of dominance on both sides of the ball.
Now, it’s all about turning that dominance into postseason glory. And for Detroit, that path must end in Santa Clara at Super Bowl LX.