Coming off a regular season in which they went 15-2, the Detroit Lions have high expectations once again in 2025. Per DraftKings, Detroit will win double-digit games for the third straight season.
Regular-season win total: 10.5 (DraftKings) | Odds to win NFC North: +140 | Odds to win Super Bowl: +1000
Outlook: The Lions suffered a huge loss this offseason when offensive coordinator Ben Johnson left to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears. Detroit’s offense ranked top five in the NFL in points and yards in all three years of Johnson’s tenure with the team. It’s reasonable to expect a step back under new OC John Morton, but oddsmakers still have faith in this deep, talented group.
The core of quarterback Jared Goff (4,629 passing yards in 2024), running backs Jahmyr Gibbs (20 TDs overall in ’24) and David Montgomery (12 TDs overall in ’24), wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (12 receiving TDs in ’24) and tight end Sam LaPorta (726 receiving yards in ’24) is back for another run. WR Jameson Williams has the tools to improve upon his 1,001-yard receiving season in 2024, and right tackle Penei Sewell, center Frank Ragnow and left tackle Taylor Decker are as steady as they come on the offensive line.
Kelvin Sheppard, Detroit’s former linebackers coach, has replaced Aaron Glenn as defensive coordinator, and he has a ton of talent to work with if this group stays healthy. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, defensive tackle Alim McNeill and linebackers Marcus Davenport, Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes missed time last season, but they should be fully healthy and ready to go for 2025. The addition of DT D.J. Reed in free agency should also help shore up some of the Lions’ coverage issues.
As for the schedule, it won’t be easy for Detroit. According to Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis, Detroit has the third-toughest schedule based on projected win totals.
