The Detroit Lions had an awful season by their recent standards in 2025, and ever since the finale in Chicago last January, the focus has been on how they can respond powerfully in 2026.
Most believe after an offseason of finding upgrades at key positons that the Lions are better suited to respond this season. That's even more of the case when the schedule is considered, given that Detroit finished last in the NFC North despite having a winning record.
As of now, Detroit doesn't seem close to breaking through and making a Super Bowl, but that's why games aren't played on paper. There's a chance for the Lions to impress this year and turn things around, and getting into the league's final weekend would be a huge step in that direction.
NFL.com writer Eric Edholm ranked every team that has never won a Super Bowl by their likelihood to do so in 2026. Surprisingly, the Lions ranked No. 2 on the list just behind the Buffalo Bills. Edholm believes that Detroit has the goods to finally get over the top, because their schedule allows for a rebound and they quietly have a loaded roster capable of damage.
"Even after a 9-8 slip-up season, missing the playoffs, the Lions appear well-equipped to bounce back. Some of that record might have come with bad luck. Detroit was plus-68 in scoring differential (eighth-best in the league) with a 3-5 record in one-score games. Head coach Dan Campbell's hyper-aggressive approach backfired down the stretch with all the fourth-down failures."
"There might be some who believe the Lions are on the downswing, but Campbell has lived by this sword previously and had success. His team is also fairly loaded, everything considered, with a battled-tested QB in Jared Goff, other strong offensive components and some firepower on defense."
"The division is a monster, and the Lions aren’t sneaking up on anyone these days, but the schedule lines up pretty favorably to take back the NFC North. Even in the stacked NFC field, you have to give Detroit a chance at breaking a championship-less run that is going on nearly 70 years now."
The Lions famously have never been to a Super Bowl, but have come within an eyelash before. After a few close calls, the chance exists for Detroit to kick down the door once and for all this season. A Lions vs. Bills championship game may electrify the NFL.
Dan Campbell looks forward to Lions getting back to basics this year
If the Lions are able to turn things around and make another run, a big reason will likely be the troubles they have gone through in the last year. There's a sense that Detroit's troubles have made them hungrier in between the lines, and that's the best news because it could return to them the secret sauce from their rise to prominence.
During offseason workouts, Campbell has sounded rejuvenated by the chance to return to the team's roots as an underdog. He believes the Lions have the kind of players that can mentally get back to the basics of playing football and finding the inches needed to rebound.
"It's not one thing when things don't go the way you want. Just like it's not one player, it's not one coach. It takes everybody to win and everybody to lose. I do think it's a lot easier when nobody knows who you are, I'm talking about us as a team, because you just kind of fly under the radar. The better you do, the more you do, the more hype, this player gets paid, this coach moves on. Now it's all this other stuff that has nothing to do with what got us to that point. It's just, let's get back to the business of what it is. It's about football first and foremost, and it's about the guy next to you. That's it."
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The last two seasons, Lions hype was sweltering. The franchise was coming off an NFC Championship game appearance. Additionally, an unheard of 15 win season as well as back-to-back division titles led to thoughts that the Lions were favorites to win it all. When the team fell short, many on the hype train may have jumped off the bandwagon. That could lead Detroit to an unassuming rebound.
Lions fans will believe a Super Bowl when they see it, obviously, but it's notable that many around the league still see the franchise as a viable threat.
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