By Blessing 
The Detroit Lions are heading into a pivotal 2025 NFL season, and with the official schedule now released, analysts are weighing in on what this year might look like for the team. Although no one can predict the future with certainty, that hasn’t stopped NFL experts from forecasting records — and the Lions’ outlook isn’t quite as glowing as last year.
Last season, Detroit surprised many with a stellar 15-2 run, dominating their division and establishing themselves as a legitimate threat in the NFC. But according to some analysts, things may not be so smooth this time around.
Key Departures Could Shake Things Up
NFL analyst Moe Moton shared his projections for every team following the schedule release, and his take on the Lions raised some eyebrows. Writing for Bleacher Report on May 14, Moton offered a more sobering prediction for Detroit’s upcoming campaign: a 9-8 record.
He pointed out that the Lions are dealing with some major changes. “Detroit lost both its coordinators to head coaching vacancies,” Moton noted. “Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn were instrumental in the club’s rise to the NFC mountaintop.” Johnson helped the offense become one of the league’s best, consistently ranking in the top five for scoring over the last three seasons. On the other side of the ball, Glenn led a defense that was seventh in points allowed and tied for 10th in takeaways in 2024.
Those contributions were key, and losing both coaches in the same offseason could have a ripple effect.
Moton cautioned against expecting the same level of dominance the Lions displayed last year. “I expect a drop-off in Detroit’s win-loss record after an incredible run last season,” he wrote. “The Lions will find it hard to replicate that in a highly competitive division with their former offensive coordinator going to a rival.”
To support his prediction, he compared Detroit’s situation to what happened with the Philadelphia Eagles. “Remember, the Philadelphia Eagles went 14-3 in 2022 and dropped to 11-6 the following year with a pair of new coordinators,” he wrote. “The Lions will take a bigger fall with their daunting road schedule in a competitive division.”
Another Set of Cautious Predictions
Detroit’s not just facing skepticism from Bleacher Report. Over at Fox Sports, a team of experts also released win-loss forecasts for all 32 NFL teams. In their May 14 article, the analysts acknowledged how hard it is to lock in predictions this early — especially with kickoff still months away on September 4. Still, they weren’t overly optimistic about Detroit repeating last year’s magic.
One of those experts, Carmen Vitali, still has high expectations for the Lions, but recognizes the challenges ahead. “The Lions are, and should be, the favorites to win the NFC North again,” Vitali said. “Their roster still looks great top to bottom, and they’ll be getting perhaps the league’s best pass rusher back from injury in Aidan Hutchinson.”
However, like Moton, Vitali sees the loss of Detroit’s coordinators as a potential stumbling block. “Still, there’s bound to be some regression when you lose both coordinators to head coaching jobs,” Vitali added. Despite that, she’s not convinced it will derail their season. “After Detroit won 15 games last season though, I’m just not sure a little regression is going to matter all that much.”
Her final prediction? A respectable 11-6 record.
What’s Next for the Lions?
While a step back from a 15-2 season might seem disappointing, it’s important to keep things in perspective. Both Moton and Vitali acknowledge the talent on Detroit’s roster and believe the Lions are still strong contenders in the NFC North.
The NFL is unpredictable, and a lot can happen between now and Week 1. Losing two top coordinators certainly presents a challenge, but with a solid core and returning stars like Hutchinson, Detroit fans still have reason to believe.
In the end, predictions are just that — educated guesses. And if last year taught us anything, it’s that the Lions are more than capable of proving people wrong.