Dan Campbell's words after the 2023 NFC Championship are getting louder as the years go by. "This may have been our only shot," the head coach said after the Detroit Lions lost to the San Francisco 49ers.
So far, his pragmatism has been hauntingly accurate. The Lions fell short in both 2024 and 2025, even missing the playoffs last season. Heading into the 2026 campaign, though, there is evidence that they can turn things around.
Bill Barnwell of ESPN believes in a bounce-back season for Detroit. He listed the Lions as one of five NFL teams most likely to improve in 2026. Barnwell said, "Their margin for error is narrower given the lack of depth on the roster, and the injuries on offense and defense are already concerning, but the Lions should push their way back into the postseason after an unexpected year off."
Lions are the NFL's strongest bounce-back candidate in 2026
The case for improvement in Detroit is obvious. After a 9-8 finish, it's hard to imagine a team with this much talent on both sides of the ball continuing its decline. As Barnwell laid out, the Lions were one of the league's most unlucky teams last season. Their 2-5 record in one-score games is enough on its own to build an argument for a return to the playoffs.
But "improvement" isn't enough for the Lions this year. The standard should be a return to the NFC Championship Game.
There are plenty of reasons to believe that Campbell's team can get there. The offensive line should be improved after a shaky season in 2025. First-round rookie Blake Miller is taking over the right tackle spot vacated by Penei Sewell, who has moved to the left. Cade Mays is set to miss the early portion of the season, but he'll be an upgrade at center when he returns.
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Drew Petzing's impact on the offensive scheme could lift the unit back into elite territory. The new offensive coordinator built competent units with limited talent with the Arizona Cardinals, so he should thrive with the weapons at his disposal in Detroit.
There are still a few blemishes on the Lions' roster, a banged-up secondary being the most prominent. But if both sides of the ball can avoid the injury bug, Detroit has the tools to make another run in the playoffs. Improvement is necessary, but contending should be the expectation for Campbell's squad.
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