When the Detroit Lions lost to the Washington Commanders in the NFC Divisional Round back in 2024, it felt like they were still very much on the precipise of reaching the Super Bowl in this Dan Campbell-era of Lions football. Injuries set them back majorly that year and in that postseason, helping to dismantle what had been one of the greatest regular seasons in franchise history.
Of course, injuries continued to decimate them in 2025, and they missed the postseason altogether. However, things still don't feel like they've teetered into the territory of the team's window being completely closed.
NFL Spin Zone's Lou Scataglia recently put together a ranking of the seven NFC teams he sees clinching a postseason berth this year, and in a continued love fest between Scataglia and this Lions team, he placed Detroit on the list, and as his pick to win the entire conference.
"I am riding with the Detroit Lions as the NFC's top seed in our playoff predictions. The Lions did not make the playoffs in 2025, but the last time they did, in 2024, they went 15-2 and earned the top seed. This roster is simply too good and too secure at a ton of positions to miss the playoffs two years in a row."
"Getting some better injury luck and perhaps an improvement in the defense would go a long way, and given how much this team has won over the last four seasons, head coach Dan Campbell is going to find a way, right?"
Lions predicted to bulldoze NFC after lackluster 2025 season
This could be a tough sell to anyone outside of Lions fandom, to be sure. The Los Angeles Rams look like a juggernaut after acquiring Myles Garrett in a blockbuster trade this offseason, while the Seattle Seahawks didn't experience too much turnover to cause concern over their ability to repeat as NFC champions this year.
READ MORE: 3 Lions players whose contract says it all for 2026
The NFC North is a struggle all by itself. The Minnesota Vikings have landed a quarterback that could, probably, find Justin Jefferson with a ton more consistency than J.J. McCarthy did, the Green Bay Packers are experiencing almost the same level of roster consistency as the Lions are, and the Chicago Bears are banking on yet another leap from Caleb Williams this season.
But, the Lions seem to have health on their side - for now - which makes them a larger threat than those three other squads at the moment. Assuming they figure out what to do about their secondary for this season, especially as they will potentially be without Terrion Arnold due to his recent arrest, they feel like great candidates for positive regression this year.
Add us as a preferred source on Google