Why all the talk of a Lions 'bounce back' is exaggerated
Yahoo Sports NFL analyst Nate Tice is joined by ESPN's Mina Kimes to discuss the outlook for Detroit's offense this season - and why what many called a 'down year' in 2025 wasn't as bad as the critics think. Check out the full conversation on "Football 301" - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
It's sort of similar to the Packers where I can, we can start, we can express concerns about this offensive line and we can talk about all the changes.
But I would say the exact same thing.
Is it gonna be worse than it was last year when they were seventh in offensive DVOA, Nate?
Like, is it?
I, I know.
It, I, I don't think it is.
That's what's crazy.
It's- It was pretty bad last year sixth in EPA per play.
Their, their run game stinks in that by game, in, in my head, okay, maybe this is what it is, is that so good in EPA, they're super explosive still, but then success rate, they're 14th, because in run game they're 26th.
So it was just, it didn't feel like as-- I, I thought Ben Johnson's Lions, they just, they just steamrolled you.
It was just steamroll, steamroll, and then here's a trick play that we all clip and tweet about, and say that Ben Johnson's showing off to the league, which he was.
But that, that, like, then they would do that.
That would just be The, the Lions had like a top five scoring offense of like, of the millennium.
Like, and it's one of those that's kinda just gone away.
And so anything from that feeling of those highs is gonna feel like, you know, a big down step.
You know, a big step down, I should say.
But it was still like a top 10 offense.
So I think Petzing is gonna maybe just make it solidify and just make it feel a little bit more holistic, and I-- or, or whole, I should say.
And because I just don't really see a downside here as long as, you know, Goff is healthy, because I just think they have the weapons and they have the horses up front to at least get back to at least pretty good.
I think, like looking at their line.
So I, I've, I've, you know, nitpicks that I can get into if you want me to.
You know, you know, a little bit of running back protection stuff, a little bit of blocking tight end stuff, you know, those little nitpicks, but I think this is a locked-in top 10 offense.
I, I really don't see too much downside.
