Case for Contender: On paper, a Lions team that went 15-2 in 2024 might be the most talented squad in the NFL, despite the fact that they’re 6-4.
Case for Pretender: Win, loss, win, loss, win, loss. That’s what they’ve done in their last six games. Following a Week 11 defeat in Philadelphia, the Lions are now 0-3 against the Eagles in the Dan Campbell era.
Verdict: Contender. Something isn’t clicking, with defensive injuries factoring in. That said, they’re still right there in the NFC North, and the Packers and Bears are more flawed and less talented. Maybe this adversity will do Detroit good compared to last year.
