Over the past two seasons, the Detroit Lions looked like one of the NFL’s fastest-rising contenders. A combined 27–7 record and back-to-back NFC North titles had erased years of irrelevance and placed Dan Campbell’s team squarely in the Super Bowl conversation.

Fast forward to late in the 2025 season, and that momentum has stalled. Sitting at 8–7 entering Week 17, Detroit is now fighting just to stay alive in the playoff race—and could miss the postseason entirely.

So how did a team that once embodied toughness, creativity, and balance slip back toward mediocrity?
Coaching turnover and roster erosion
Detroit’s offseason was unusually quiet for a team trying to sustain contention.

The Lions made few splash additions through free agency or the draft, and the losses on the coaching staff were far more impactful. Both offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn departed for head-coaching opportunities, leaving significant voids on both sides of the ball.

Their replacements, John Morton and Kelvin Sheppard, have been solid under difficult circumstances, but they inherited a roster that lacked the same depth and reinforcement. That problem became glaring once injuries began to pile up.

Key contributors such as tight end Sam LaPorta, rookie corner Terrion Arnold, and standout safety Brian Branch all missed time. While many teams dealt with injuries, Detroit’s absences hit disproportionately hard at core positions, weakening both the passing attack and the secondary. The Lions simply haven’t had enough quality reinforcements to survive prolonged attrition.

A less dominant ground game
Detroit’s offensive identity has long been built on physicality and a punishing rushing attack.

Last season, the Lions ranked near the top of the league, averaging over 146 rushing yards per game. In 2025, that figure has dipped to roughly 123 yards, pushing them closer to the middle of the pack.

While the raw decline may seem modest, the impact has been severe in critical games. Opponents like Green Bay, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh found ways to completely neutralize Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, holding Detroit to shockingly low rushing totals. Changes along the offensive line have made the run game easier to disrupt, eliminating the consistent baseline production Detroit once relied on.

Decline on third down
One of the quieter but most damaging regressions has come on third down. The Lions were elite in this area a year ago, converting nearly half of their opportunities. This season, they’ve dropped into the league’s middle tier.

That drop-off is closely tied to struggles on early downs. With fewer successful runs setting up manageable situations, Detroit has faced longer third downs, putting more pressure on the passing game and limiting sustained drives.

Defense giving up more points
While Detroit’s offense remains productive, the defense hasn’t held up its end of the bargain. After ranking among the league’s best in scoring defense last season, the Lions now sit near the bottom third, allowing nearly five more points per game.

Previously, Detroit routinely built large leads, which helped control game flow and protect the defense. In 2025, closer games have exposed defensive weaknesses, and the offense hasn’t been explosive enough to fully offset the difference. The team’s average scoring margin has been cut by more than half, a major indicator of overall decline.