For much of the team's history, an above-.500 record in a season would be regarded as a success in hindsight. But these are not your grandfather's, father's or maybe even your oldest brother's Detroit Lions, and this season's 9-8 finish is laced with the perception of underachievement in what was a non-playoff disappointment.
That, in itself, is a great credit to the work head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes have done since taking over in 2021. But reaching the NFC Championship Game in 2023 and winning 15 games in 2024 has raised the bar, and heightened the burden, of expectations. Excuses for falling short, as easy or obvious as they can be, will not suffice.
There are some pertinent questions around the Lions as the offseason gets going, from Campbell's practice approach to whether the offensive coordinator hire will exceed what much of the immediate sentiment was about him.
Overall, there may be something intangibly missing that will keep the Lions from having any more deep playoff runs as currently constructed.
Lions earn appropriate grade for disappointing 2025 season
With just the Super Bowl left, Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon has given a "realistic" grade for each NFL team's 2025 season.
The grade the Lions got from Gagnon was harsh, and they were one of six teams to earn that specific mark, but it was appropriate all things considered.
"Detroit Lions (9-8): D-"
"Injuries were undoubtedly a factor, especially on defense, but a nine-win campaign is still unacceptable considering the talent this team has on offense. They still got 17 games out of their quarterback and their top three offensive weapons but continually didn't have it in them when it mattered most. They missed their departed coordinators from 2024, as well as a semblance of defensive depth.
READ MORE: Ravens hire just swung the door wide open an adored Lions coach to be poached
Gagnon finished the case for his grade by reinforcing the general sentiment he has had about the Lions at this early stage of the offseason.
"This core may have peaked."
After the NFC Championship Game loss to the San Francisco 49ers two years ago, Campbell openly acknowledged the harsh reality about ever getting back to that game, or beyond it. It's worth wondering, despite some outward bravado the opposite way, if those words have somehow manifested themselves in a subconcious way with players.
It's possible this core of Lions' players has peaked. But now it's on to the critical phase two of the Campbell/Holmes era, and the results of next season will be a reflection of the ability to meet that need for evolution.