The Detroit Lions are nearing the midpoint of their campaign and already find themselves facing more defeats than they suffered during last year’s remarkable run.
At 5-3, Detroit’s path was always expected to be more challenging than its 15-2 record-setting regular season in 2024. The team entered this year with a reshaped offensive line, two new coordinators, and one of the league’s toughest schedules.
Detroit’s season began on a sour note with a loss to Green Bay, but the Lions quickly rebounded, dominating Chicago 52–21 before grinding out an eight-point road win over Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens. They then strung together convincing victories — a 24-point blowout of Cleveland and a 13-point win in Cincinnati.
Momentum stalled after a 30–17 defeat at Kansas City, though Detroit bounced back once again with a 24–9 triumph over the Bears. Coming off their bye week, however, the Lions turned in a sloppy effort at home, falling 27–24 to Minnesota on Sunday.
Despite the sting of that loss, head coach Dan Campbell struck an optimistic tone.“As bad as it tastes right now, I’m a big believer that later you look back and realize it was one of the best things that happened because you had to fight through it,” Campbell said Monday.
Next up, Detroit travels to face the Washington Commanders (3–6) — a team missing rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels — as they look to extend the NFL’s longest active streak without consecutive regular-season losses. The Lions haven’t dropped back-to-back regular-season games since a five-game skid between Sept. 25 and Oct. 30, 2022.
Areas of Concern
One persistent issue for the Lions has been their struggles on third down. Campbell has voiced frustration about it for weeks, and the numbers back him up. Detroit is converting only 36% of its third-down attempts, ranking near the bottom of the league. That inefficiency has contributed to an average of 60.8 offensive plays per game, a steep drop from their tempo-driven success over the past two seasons.
Trending Up
Linebacker Jack Campbell continues to shine in his second year, positioning himself for a possible offseason extension. Under general manager Brad Holmes, the Lions have made a habit of developing and retaining homegrown stars such as Aidan Hutchinson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Penei Sewell, and Kerby Joseph — and Campbell could be next.
The 2023 first-round pick (No. 18 overall) leads Detroit with 71 tackles, ranks second with six tackles for loss, and sits tied for third with four sacks through eight games.
Trending Down
While Jameson Williams flashed his big-play potential against the Vikings — catching four passes for 66 yards and a 37-yard touchdown — his overall production remains modest. He’s averaging just 2.6 receptions and 44 yards per game, totaling three touchdowns so far.
That’s a noticeable dip from his breakout 2024 season, when he hauled in 58 catches for 1,001 yards and seven scores. Detroit rewarded him with a three-year, $83 million extension before this season, but the team is still waiting for him to consistently replicate last year’s form.
Injury Updates
The Lions’ offensive line has taken a beating. The biggest blow came Sunday when guard Christian Mahogany suffered a broken left leg, sidelining him indefinitely.“He’s going to be out for a while — for a long time,” Campbell said, though he left open the possibility of a late-December return.
Detroit’s other linemen are also nursing injuries. Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker both played through issues against Minnesota, while rookie Tate Ratledge also dealt with minor pain. Campbell doesn’t believe Sewell or Decker are facing long-term absences but remains uncertain about their Week 10 availability. Ratledge, however, is expected to suit up.
The Lions should get a wave of reinforcements soon, with Kerby Joseph, D.J. Reed, Marcus Davenport, Josh Paschal, Malcolm Rodriguez, and Khalil Dorsey all nearing returns.“We’re going to start getting some good players back — some real impact guys,” Campbell said.
By the Numbers
Detroit’s defense has quietly become a force in the pass rush, recording 28 sacks — tied for the second-most through eight games in franchise history. Aidan Hutchinson leads the way with seven, while Al-Quadin Muhammad has already matched his career high of six, turning what was once a weakness into a clear strength.
Looking Ahead
With the NFL trade deadline looming, Detroit’s front office must decide whether to make a move to bolster the roster — especially along the offensive and defensive lines — or trust its depth to carry the load through the second half of the season.
