What once looked like a team that had no flaws, led by a hard-nosed coach who successfully pulled the Detroit Lions franchise out of the basement of the NFL, looks unrecognizable just a year later.
Following their 31-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers (8-3-1) on Thanksgiving Day, Dan Campbell’s Lions drop to 7-5 on the year, and are currently on the outside looking in at a playoff spot in the NFC. For a team that has had Super Bowl aspirations in both this year and last, the concerns are mounting.
Are the Lions the Most Disappointing Team?
So, have the mighty fallen? Matt Infante, PFSN’s Chief Operating Officer, made this statement, which likely describes how the fanbase in Detroit is feeling following another disappointing loss.
Just a season ago, the Lions entered the playoffs as the NFC’s number one seed with a 15-2 record. The vibes were at an all-time high, and a Super Bowl was the only thing on the minds of fans and the players alike.
However, following a defensive collapse that saw the Washington Commanders score 45 points and effectively eliminate the Lions in the Divisional Round, it feels like things have gone strictly downhill.
Following their loss to the Packers, the Lions have lost three out of their four divisional games thus far, with a schedule that will certainly not favor them from here on out.
Is there a more disappointing team in the NFL than the Detroit Lions? PFSN Chief Operating Officer @MattInfante doesn’t think so.
Their Thanksgiving Day loss was their 3rd loss in 5 games since their Week 8 bye. Next, they face the surging Cowboys and Rams in back-to-back weeks,… pic.twitter.com/kHN1EZRIea
— PFSN (@PFSN365) November 28, 2025
Infante notes that their 15-2 record from a year ago feels like a distant memory, and as we enter December, he says that he doesn’t think this Lions team is a playoff team. Campbell’s Lions will have a tall task in front of them to prove Infante wrong, as the odds are stacking up against them.
Their Thanksgiving Day loss was their 3rd loss in 5 games since their Week 8 bye. Next, they face the surging Cowboys and Rams in back-to-back weeks, likely without their top receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown.
What Has Gone Wrong With the Lions?
Could too much change have caused issues with the Lions? Not to say the current coordinators are doing a poor job, but losing continuity is certainly something that could be playing a factor in the Lions’ regression. Losing Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to head coaching positions meant new systems, and ones that simply haven’t worked as well.
Injuries have also been a factor, although that is no excuse for any team in the NFL; they have caused a real drop in production from the defense, mainly. Now with St. Brown expected to miss some time, the Lions find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place, where every game will play a part in deciding their postseason fate.
The Lions’ defence was just tormented by Jordan Love, who threw four touchdown passes, and he is far from the first quarterback to have his way on this defence. The Lions’ defense has a score of 79.0 (C+) according to PFSN’s defensive impact metrics.
Not a bad number, and it actually ranks 10th in the NFL. But the issue has been in the red zone and through the air. The Lions are allowing teams to convert for touchdowns in the red zone 63.2% of the time, while also having allowed 25 passing touchdowns, both numbers which sit near the bottom of the league.
The Lions are running out of games to right the ship, and with a gauntlet of a schedule coming, things will only get tougher. Playoffs are beginning to look out of reach for the Lions unless they go on a run, but that will need to happen as soon as next week when they take on the Cowboys, who are playing their best football.
Is Infante right? Are the Lions the most disappointing team in the NFL? If they fail to make the playoffs, his point will be nearly impossible to argue.