The 2025 season was a major step back for the Detroit Lions. After winning back-to-back NFC North titles, the Lions finished in last place despite a 9-8 record.
Their mission to reclaim the NFC North is underway with a host of new changes, including a new offensive coordinator in Drew Petzing and a revamped offensive line headlined by first round offensive tackle Blake Miller.
It's going to be another bloodbath in the NFC North in 2026, as NFL.com senior news writer Kevin Patra found it "fairly easy" to make a case for each of the four NFC North teams to win the division in 2026 in his article going over the cases for and against each team coming out on top.
Patra's case for the Lions winning the NFC North
For the Lions, Patra's leads off case for them winning the NFC North with that new-look offensive line, saying, "Yes, the play-calling was an issue for much of last season, but the biggest problem was an offensive line that blocked like a paper doll for large stretches."
Patra points to the shifting of right tackle Penei Sewell over to the left tackle position, the drafting of Miller, and the signing of center Cade Mays, saying that all three "should provide an upgrade" from last season. Patra adds that the Lions' "blocking should significantly improve" if guards Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany continue to develop entering their second season as starters.
With improved blocking comes an even more dynamic offense led by quarterback Jared Goff and his multitude of weapons on offense. Patra joins the growing number of analysts who believe running back Jahmyr Gibbs could be an Offensive Player of the Year candidate "if everything breaks right," as an increased workload "will make the Lions offense even more dangerous."
READ MORE: Alim McNeill can put the NFC on notice if he can live up to the hype
On the defensive side of the ball, Patra highlights the Lions drafting EDGE Derrick Moore to pair with Aidan Hutchinson, which can be a boon for the Lions' defense if the pass rushing duo is able to "provide consistent pressure." If the O-line and defense both improve, Patra says, last season will be a "will be a blip on the radar."
The Lions also benefit from their last place finish with an easier fourth-place schedule compared to the rest of the division. Patra can see the Lions sitting at the top of the division heading into a brutal end-of-season stretch where they'll head on the road gauntlet against their divisional foes.
Patra's case against the Lions winning the NFC North
Patra makes an excellent case for the Lions to win the division, but like many, he also has some reservations. Even though Patra notes Moore's potential upside in the Lions' pass rush, he doesn't think Moore, nor any of the Lions other additions to the pass rush, are "a sure thing." Add in the multitude of injures, like that of safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, and it could again be "feast-or-famine" for the defense.
Another area Patra doesn't see as a sure thing is the O-line. Until the games are actually played, we won't know how this O-line will truly look. The Lions still have young players on that O-line, which has a chance to rear its ugly head once again in 2026, providing a repeat of 2025. It's not just Patra who's concerned, as even Lions legend Lomas Brown isn't immediately sold the Lions did enough.
Lastly, much of the Lions' offensive success will come down to whether or not new OC Petzing could do what only Ben Johnson has done -- make it one full season as a play-caller under Dan Campbell. Patra questions if Petzing can succeed where Anthony Lynn and John Morton failed, asking, "what if Campbell simply can’t find his next Ben Johnson?"
The Lions path back to the top of the NFC North will be a tough one, and it's easy to see Patra's cases for an against playing out. Fans will start to see the first hints of which direction the Lions will go once training camp opens up on July 25.
Add us as a preferred source on Google