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1 burning question for Detroit Lions: Will they make Super Bowl 2026?
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- 1 burning question for Detroit Lions: Will they make Super Bowl 2026?
As the Detroit Lions come off their most successful regular season ever — 15 wins and their second NFC North title – and another disappointing postseason defeat, there's one big question looming over their heads:
Will the 2025 Lions make Super Bowl 60?
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Yes, the Lions are still looking for their first Super Bowl appearance in 60 tries — the only NFC team never to make the league's ultimate showcase.
The Vince Lombardi Trophy, awarded yearly to the NFL's Super Bowl champion.
They return as loaded a roster as the franchise has had in the Super Bowl era, with four first-team All-Pros returning, plus a host of Pro Bowl players, and have motivation galore after a playoff loss at Ford Field to the Washington Commanders in the NFC divisional round.
They also have two new coordinators, plus several coaches in new roles after the departures of Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson (to lead the New York Jets and Chicago Bears , respectively), leading to lots of questions entering 2025.
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And yet, there's still the BIG question — Five Free Press sports writers chime in on whether the Lions will make Super Bowl 60 — set for Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California — as well as give their stat predictions and playoff picks:
Dave Birkett
Yes— as long as they stay reasonably healthy. The Lions have as grueling a road schedule as I've ever seen, but that should be enough to harden them for the playoffs. They'll stay afloat during the first half of the season, pile up wins in December and be playing their best football come January.
The Philadelphia Eagles are talented, but no NFC team has gone to back-to-back Super Bowls since the Seahawks a decade ago. The Washington Commanders will suffer the same postseason regression as the Lions a season ago. The Green Bay Packers are young and talented, and don't sleep on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — but the Lions have the best roster in the NFC.
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Final record:11-6.
Eleven wins may feel like a letdown coming off last year's 15-2 season, but it still should be enough to win a competitive NFC North. There'll be some bumps early getting adjusted to new coordinators and with the new faces on the offensive line, but not enough to knock the Lions off their playoff track.
THE STATS
Jared Goff 's passing numbers:4,555 yards, 29 TDs, 10 INTs.
Amon-Ra St. Brown 's receiving numbers:105 catches, 1,355 yards, 8 TDs.
Jahmyr Gibbs ' rushing numbers:241 carries, 1,434 yards, 9 TDs.
Aidan Hutchinson sacks:12½.
THE PLAYOFFS
NFC division winners:Lions, Eagles, 49ers , Buccaneers.
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NFC wild cards:Packers, Cardinals , Commanders.
NFC title game:Lions over Packers.
AFC division winners: Chiefs , Bills, Texans , Ravens .
AFC wildcards: Bengals , Broncos , Patriots .
AFC title game: Ravens over Chiefs.
THE BIG GAME
Super Bowl:Ravens over Lions.
THE LONG GAME: 59 reasons Detroit Lions have never been to the Super Bowl
Carlos Monarrez
No.But it could easily be yes. The Eagles are still a better team, but not by much. The offensive line shakeup and two new coordinators make the Lions too unpredictable.
Final record:12-5.
THE STATS
Jared Goff's passing numbers: 4,556 yards, 30 TDs, 9 INTs.
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Amon-Ra St. Brown's receiving numbers: 106 catches, 1,356 yards, 10 TDs.
Jahmyr Gibbs' rushing numbers: 242 carries, 1,435 yards, 10 TDs.
Aidan Hutchinson sacks: 13.
THE PLAYOFFS
NFC division winners:Lions, Eagles, 49ers, Buccaneers.
NFC wild cards: Packers, Cardinals, Commanders.
NFC title game: Eagles over Lions.
AFC division winners: Chiefs, Bills, Texans, Ravens.
AFC wildcards: Bengals, Broncos, Patriots.
AFC title game: Bills over Ravens.
THE BIG GAME
Super Bowl: Bills over Eagles.
Rainer Sabin
No.Before the season, Dan Campbell said the Lions' roster was better, top to bottom, than it has ever been during his transformative tenure as the team's coach. Considering that the Lions won a franchise-record 15 games last season, Campbell's strong appraisal suggests Detroit has what it takes to reach Super Bowl. But a tough schedule that features seven road games against 2024 playoff teams means fewer wins, which will make the road to Santa Clara longer and more challenging to navigate once the postseason begins. Somewhere along that obstacle-littered route, the Lions fall short.
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Final record:11-6.
THE STATS
Jared Goff's passing numbers:4,548 yards, 32 TDs, 11 INTs.
Amon-Ra St. Brown's receiving numbers:114 catches, 1,310 yards, 10 TDs.
Jahmyr Gibbs' rushing numbers:289 carries, 1,532 yards, 16 TDs.
Aidan Hutchinson's sacks:14½.
THE PLAYOFFS
NFC division winners:Lions, Eagles, 49ers, Buccaneers.
NFC wild cards:Packers, Rams , Commanders.
NFC title game:Eagles over Lions.
AFC division winners:Ravens, Chiefs, Bills, Texans.
AFC wild cards:Bengals, Broncos, Chargers .
AFC title game:Bills over Ravens.
THE BIG GAME
Super Bowl:Bills over Eagles.
Jeff Seidel
Yes— and they are going to win it . They will struggle through a rough patch in the middle of the season, losing four of six games. Fans will freak out. So will the media. But that adversity will sharpen this team. They will come out of it better and tougher and smarter and stronger and hungrier — and it will take them all the way to the Super Bowl, beating Baltimore . Right on cue, Hell (Michigan) will freeze over as the Lions' parade ends in downtown Detroit.
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Final record:12-5.
THE STATS
Jared Goff's passing numbers: 4,725 yards, 24 TDs, 14 INTs.
Amon-Ra St. Brown's receiving numbers: 112 catches, 1,300 yards, 9 TDs.
Jahmyr Gibbs' rushing numbers: 275 carries, 1,300 yards, 12 TDs.
Aidan Hutchinson sacks: 14.
THE PLAYOFFS
NFC division winners:Lions, Eagles, Rams, Buccaneers.
NFC wild cards: Packers, Commanders, 49ers.
NFC title game: Lions over Eagles.
AFC division winners: Broncos, Bills, Texans, Ravens.
AFC wild cards: Chiefs, Bengals, Steelers .
AFC title game: Ravens over Chiefs.
THE BIG GAME
Super Bowl: Lions over Ravens.
Shawn Windsor
Yes— even as it won't look like it at various points through the season. They still have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. The defense is healthy again — obviously, it will need to stay that way. And the offensive line will be good enough when the playoffs start.
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Final record:11-6.
THE STATS
Jared Goff's passing numbers: 4,345 yards, 33 TDs, 12 INTs.
Amon-Ra St. Brown's receiving numbers: 101 catches, 1,230 yards, 9 TDs.
Jahmyr Gibbs' rushing numbers: 260 carries, 1,560 yards, 11 TDs.
Aidan Hutchinson sacks: 14½.
THE PLAYOFFS
NFC division winners: Lions, Commanders, 49ers, Buccaneers.
NFC wild cards: Packers, Cardinals, Eagles.
NFC title game: Lions over Commanders.
AFC division winners: Chargers, Bills, Texans, Ravens.
AFC wildcards: Bengals, Chiefs, Steelers.
AFC title game: Bills over Ravens.
THE BIG GAME
Super Bowl: Bills over Lions.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Will Detroit Lions make Super Bowl? 5 experts weigh in
