The Detroit Lions are primed for a bounce-back season after last year’s nightmare. Following a 15-2 in 2024, the Lions were unable to withstand injuries or the loss of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson in 2025. They have since retooled the coaching staff and solved needs within the roster, leading to the fourth-best odds (+790) to finish as the top seed in the NFC.
Not Far Removed
Since arriving in Detroit, Dan Campbell has given the organization a complete overhaul in terms of direction and perception, giving little reason to doubt him or the team. Detroit has won 57% of its games with Campbell at the helm and was the number one seed in 2024.
Last season was the first real adversity Campbell and the team faced. They had lost both coordinators to head coaching jobs and dealt with cluster injuries at multiple position groups all season. The result was a 9-8 record, and a last place finish in the division. This led to a re-worked the coaching staff, a good draft position, and being aggressive in offseason acquisitions.
Last year was tough for Detroit, but having a fourth-place schedule after a winning record is a reward for them. This is a roster that was extremely talented last year and has gotten better. They are a well-run organization that had top-20 selections in each round of the NFL Draft. Campbell and the Lions are primed for another breakout year.
Ready for 2026
The new regime in Detroit has done an incredible job at identifying and utilizing talent. They’ve had a long list of pro-bowlers and highly productive players since 2021, and not just from crushing the first round. They picked up Amon-ra St. Brown in the fourth, Kerby Joseph, and Isaac TeSlaa in the third. This year was no different, as they snagged the most pro-ready tackle in the draft, Blake Miller, and two productive members of a great Michigan defense in the following rounds.
Detroit also attacked free agency this year, adding Chuck Clark, Cade Mays, and Isiah Pacheco to fill needs at multiple positions. Losing David Montgomery sounds like a major hit, but Jahmyr Gibbs is an elite feature back, and Pacheco fills the role of a physical short-down back.
The makeup of this team heading into 2026 looks similar to that of the elite 2024 team. Detroit bolstered the offensive line and gained depth in the secondary, all while maintaining a strong receiving core and front seven. The addition of Offensive Coordinator Drew Petzing adds some experience at the position, and a second year of Kelvin Sheppard in the defensive coordinator position brings continuity.
Scheduling Breaks
Part of the reason the Lions were so successful two years ago was their schedule. In 2024, Detroit played three games outside all season. The rest of the time, they were playing on fast tracks that were able to showcase their speed on offense and controlled conditions for quarterback Jared Goff, who has notoriously struggled playing in the elements, prompting jokes about his small hands.
This year, while not as friendly as the three games, the Lions only have to go outside five times all season. Three of those five games are incredibly favorable. They go to Buffalo in Week 2 before it gets cold, and then to Carolina and Miami as the weather cools down to avoid extreme heat and humidity.
The Campbell-led team also got two scheduling breaks. They earned a fourth-place schedule and drew the NFC South and AFC East this year. The NFC South was one of the weakest divisions last year, and has done little this year to say it will be otherwise. The AFC East has two teams that will be vying for the number one pick. The Bills and Patriots are no slouches, but Buffalo early is a plus, and New England on a neutral site makes that much less scary.
Detroit has two tough stretches all year. Weeks 10-12, where they play the Patriots, Buccaneers, and Bears, having one neutral site and two home games. Then in Weeks 17 and 18, they have to go to Chicago and Green Bay. The plus side is that there is a real chance they could have the division locked up at the very least by then.
NFC Landscape
The rest of the NFC is another reason to like the Lions this year, especially the North. The Vikings are going to be starting yet another new quarterback. The Packers haven’t shown the ability to play a complete season, and Micah Parsons is going to miss around a month as he continues his rehab. The Bears are vulnerable to regression after living off takeaways. Chicago led the league in turnover differential last year, which is a statistic that is rarely linear year to year.
Some people may turn to the LA Rams or the reigning champion Seahawks. While Seattle grabbed the top seed last year, the problem with those two is that they are in the same division. Those two teams, along with San Francisco, will beat up on each other. They also have much tougher divisional draws in playing the NFC East and the AFC West this season.
The NFC East poses little threat to the Lions in taking the number one seed. The Eagles are dealing with locker room turmoil. The Giants are entering year one with John Harbaugh, so it will take time for them to be completely on the same page. The Commanders still lack the defensive talent to be consistently great. Lastly, the Cowboys should be improved, but are still short of being an elite-level team.
The NFC South poses no real threats, as previously noted. All of this adds up to seeing Detroit at the top of the standings come playoff time. The schedule, the roster construction, and questions around the NFC show a clear path for Detroit.
