Even though the Detroit Lions were not part of the postseason, the opening round of the NFL playoffs still offered valuable lessons—especially when it comes to special teams. Several playoff games highlighted how unreliable kicking can derail even strong teams, and it’s a situation the Lions would be wise to study closely as they look ahead.

Philadelphia provided a clear example. Late in their playoff matchup, the Eagles were forced to attempt a risky fourth-down conversion despite being in comfortable field-goal range. That decision came after a missed extra point by Jake Elliott, a kicker who had struggled throughout the 2025 season. Despite those inconsistencies, Philadelphia chose not to carry a backup option, and it nearly came back to haunt them.

Green Bay faced a similar collapse. Brandon McManus, who had already shown signs of trouble earlier in the year, completely unraveled in the postseason. His missed field goals and failed point-after attempt played a major role in the Packers blowing an 18-point second-half advantage against the Chicago Bears. Had even one of those kicks gone through, the outcome likely would have been very different.

Those examples serve as a cautionary tale for Detroit—particularly when evaluating Jake Bates moving forward. While there’s no immediate reason to move on from him, his uneven 2025 campaign raises legitimate questions about whether the Lions should rely on him alone next season or consider additional insurance at the position.

Why Detroit Should Add Competition at Kicker

The takeaway isn’t that Bates should be released or demoted outright. Instead, the Lions would benefit from creating competition. Recent playoff results demonstrated the danger of depending solely on a kicker whose performance has declined. In both Philadelphia and Green Bay’s cases, unwavering trust in struggling veterans contributed directly to postseason disappointment—and possibly marked the beginning of the end of their tenures.

Bates’ numbers highlight the concern. In the previous season, he was among the league’s most effective kickers, converting 26 of his 29 field-goal attempts and showing impressive range beyond 50 yards. That efficiency dropped noticeably in 2025, as his accuracy fell below 80 percent overall and his success rate from long distance dipped sharply.

Given that regression, Detroit’s front office should seriously consider adding depth at the position. Whether through free agency or a future draft pick, general manager Brad Holmes has multiple avenues to introduce competition and protect the team from late-game scoring issues.

There’s little downside to strengthening the kicker room. At best, competition could push Bates back to his previous form. At worst, it ensures the Lions aren’t left without alternatives if struggles continue. Either way, Detroit would be better positioned when the 2026 season arrives.