2026 NFC North Preview: The Detroit Lions
Last season: A Disappointing Return to the Basement
After a few seasons of rare excellence, the 2025 Detroit Lions returned to their familiar home at the bottom of the NFC North.
In all fairness, Detroit was probably one of the best division losers in NFL history: they finished 9-8 and finished third in the NFC in point differential (+68) behind just the Seahawks and the Rams. But after a 5-2 start, the Lions faltered down the stretch, and their playoff hopes infamously came to an end after a week 17 loss to a Minnesota Vikings team quarterbacked by the hapless Max Brosmer. The offensive line struggled in the team’s first season since the surprise retirement of All-Pro center Frank Ragnow, and OC John Morton proved an inadequate replacement for Ben Johnson, who had a successful first season as the Bears’ head coach.
Biggest Move: Overhauling the Offensive Staff and Trenches
Detroit fired Morton after just one season and hired Drew Petzing as their OC. This is a lateral move for Petzing, who served as Arizona’s OC for the past three seasons. They also hired Mike Kafka, who recently served as the Giants’ interim head coach, to be their pass game coordinator.
There’s a case to be made that the Lions have over-managed their offensive staff in the past year. Last season, the Lions turned over offensive play-calling duties to HC Dan Campbell after a lackluster 5-3 start, but their 4-5 record the rest of the season was even worse. In 2025, the Lions were 5th in the NFL in yards per game, whereas the Cardinals were 19th. The decision to fire their OC and hire Arizona’s OC is therefore a bit of a surprise.
Meanwhile, the Lions signed former Carolina C Cade Mays, drafted Clemson OT Blake Miller in the first round, and acquired depth G Juice Scruggs via trade with the Texans. So far, the revamped offensive line has drawn praise from HC Dan Campbell, but whether or not the optimism of June continues through September remains to be seen.
Biggest Loss: A Pair of Veterans
For the past three seasons, the Lions’ dynamic running game has relied on the speedy youngster Jahmyr Gibbs and the powerful veteran David Montgomery, also known respectively as “Sonic” and “Knuckles.” This offseason, however, the Lions parted ways with Knuckles, trading him to the Texans for Scruggs and some minor draft capital. To replace Montgomery, the Lions signed former Chiefs RB Isaiah Pacheco, who started off his career with an excellent rookie season but has since struggled with injuries and inconsistent play.
On the defensive side, the Lions let 31 year-old LB Alex Anzalone walk in free agency. Anzalone was never the star of the Lions’ defense, but he brought a veteran presence and contributed to the franchise’s revival in the past four seasons.
Bottom Line: High Floor, Low Ceiling
The Lions were better than their record suggested last season, and their revamped offensive staff and line give them reasons for optimism. The Lions currently have the best odds of any NFC North team to win the division, at roughly +170, and it would quite surprising to see them back at the bottom of the standings.
One major point working in Detroit’s favor is their strength of schedule. Based on 2025 winning percentage, the Bears have the toughest schedule in the NFL, the Packers are 3rd, the Vikings 11th, and the Lions 27th. In a wide open, tightly contested division, that may well prove the difference for Detroit.
Still, it’s hard to look at this 2026 Lions team and believe that they could reclaim their 2024 dominance. Rookie OT Blake Miller and OC Drew Petzing have promise, but 2025 departures Frank Ragnow and Ben Johnson left some enormous shoes to fill. Jared Goff is a good but not elite QB, but it’s hard to imagine that he’s going to take a step forward at age 31. All this suggests that the Lions will be in the mix in 2026, but their best years are likely behind them.