Rival of Vikings Called a “Loser”
It’s probably dangerous to call the Detroit Lions a “loser” at anything these days, but Bleacher Report did it anyway.
Rival of Vikings Called a “Loser”
Detroit barnstormed the NFL last season — and the year before that — before getting flogged by the upstart Washington Commanders in the NFC’s Divisional Round four months ago.
So, to prevent that from happening again — a home playoff loss to an inferior opponent — Detroit embarked on a momentous offseason, hoping to get over the hump and finally reach a Super Bowl.
But according to Bleacher Report, Detroit is the offseason loser of the NFC North.
BR’s Mo Moton used this criteria: “After an in-depth look at the moves made across the league, we have tabbed the biggest loser in each division. These selections are determined by the team’s key departures, coaching changes, signings and draft selections compared to its division rivals.”
“In a few cases, a team didn’t have a poor offseason, but its foes did more to improve over the last two months.”
Detroit as Offseason Loser, per Bleacher Report
Moton found one team per division, called it a loser, and explained why.
He noted on the Lions: “When a team levels up in the NFL, it can lose key contributors in free agency and the coaching hiring cycle. Head coach Dan Campbell has transformed the Detroit Lions into a playoff contender after the club finished last in the NFC North for four consecutive terms between 2018 and 2021.”
“Campbell had help, though. He propelled the Lions to postseason contention with Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn as his coordinators, and they both took head-coaching jobs this offseason. Johnson went to a divisional rival, the Chicago Bears.”
The Lions are still expected to win 10 or 11 games, according to sportsbooks. ESPN recently forecasted them as the best team in the NFL.
Moton continued, “In 2022, Campbell promoted Johnson from tight ends coach to offensive coordinator, a key move in turning around the franchise. As a play-caller, Johnson led a top-five scoring offense for three seasons.”
“Glenn turned a defensive unit that was a liability into a strength last season. In his first year with the club, Detroit gave up the second-most points. The Lions ranked seventh in points allowed for the 2024 term. Campbell built a foundation with his coordinators, and it won’t be the same without them. Detroit must reinvent itself in 2025.”
Losing Coordinators Is a Big Deal but Not a Death Sentence
While Detroit indeed lost Aaron Glenn to the New York Jets and Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears, Detroit fans shouldn’t prepare for an utter faceplant. Often, a short-term regression plagues teams that lose impactful coordinators, adjusting to new ways and leaders.
However, as the Philadelphia Eagles proved in 2024, sturdy programs remain resilient and can even win a championship. The Eagles lost Jonathan Gannon and Shane Steichen in 2023, and many believed Philadelphia could be cooked.
It won a Super Bowl one season removed from their departures.
Curiously Little EDGE Priority
One strange facet of Detroit’s offseason is little priority on the defensive line’s edges. Superstar defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was lost to a season-ending injury last year, and while Dan Campbell’s team battled valiantly to overcome his absence, no single player or hodgepodge of substitutes filled the void.
Surely Detroit would prepare this offseason after learning a lesson, right? Nope. The club’s “other” defensive end on Detroit’s current depth chart is Marcus Davenport, a former Minnesota Vikings pass rusher, and he, too, missed most of the campaign due to injury.
During last month’s draft, Detroit used Round 1 to select a defensive tackle, Tyleik Williams of Ohio State. Most believed an EDGE rusher would be the choice. No cigar.
For a second consecutive season, the Lions’ EDGE depth is skimpy, which doesn’t help Moton’s offseason “loser” declaration.
Still the Top Dog in NFC North
No matter what, though, the Lions are still perceived as the NFC North’s top dog. They won 15 games last year, and even reducing that win total to 13 because of Glenn and Johnson’s exits wouldn’t be doomsday.
Detroit’s roster is pretty stacked, even with EDGE concerns — probably why oddsmakers believe it will win the division for a third straight year.
Other “Losers”
On the whole, Moton listed these clubs as offseason losers:
- AFC East: Miami Dolphins
- AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers
- AFC South: Indianapolis Colts
- AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs
- NFC East: Dallas Cowboys
- NFC North: Detroit Lions
- NFC South: New Orleans Saints
- NFC West: Seattle Seahawks
The next step in the offseason is nine days away, even for Moton’s losers: the schedule release on May 14th.
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