It’s hard to believe that the Detroit Lions were a Super Bowl favorite entering the 2025 NFL season. In the franchise’s history, those four words don’t belong in the same sentence unless it was the punchline of a sarcastic fan’s joke. After the past two seasons, the team known for its “grit” was one half away from reaching the “Big Game,” then posted a 15-2 record in 2024 with a depleted roster.
This season was going to present new challenges for the NFC North back-to-back champions. They are now the hunted. With a 7-5 record and a brutal remaining schedule, some fans have resurrected the three-letter phrase “SOL” in recent days. Are the Lions still in their Super Bowl window, or are they retreating to being the “Same Old Lions?”
Is it the Same Old Lions?
Unless you are from Detroit, you may have never heard of the term “SOL”! Die-hard fans hate the term, and a lot of the time, it feels like a copout when describing things that happen with this franchise. When Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell took over the organization, the team was on life support. Holmes made an excellent trade to move veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, to begin, once again, another rebuild.
To everyone’s surprise, it was the right move for Detroit. In exchange, they received former first overall pick Jared Goff and a slew of draft picks, which would jump-start their success. The past two seasons have been fun and exciting for the Lions’ faithful, arguably the most successful the team has ever had. The question becomes, is it all over?
The 2025 rendition is nothing like the teams from the past two seasons. The offensive line isn’t as dominant, Aidan Hutchinson doesn’t seem the same, the offensive scheme isn’t as dynamic, and Coach Campbell’s lead henchmen, Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson, are no longer here.
The Lions’ offense looks stagnant at times under new Offensive Coordinator John Morton, while Johnson’s Bears are thriving at the top of the NFC North. The use of the guy they once called Knuckles, David Montgomery, feels like his role has completely diminished.
While Hutch is still the face of the defense, Brad Holmes refused to address the need to bring an edge rusher opposite of the former Wolverine. And in response to the criticism, we as fans were told, “We’re good” on the subject. Are we really good, Brad? Because last time I checked, the Lions were dead last in allowing almost three seconds to opposing quarterbacks on each drop back.
Don’t get me started with the Frank Ragnow situation! The Pro Bowl Center retires right before the season, leaving Holmes without a solution. Then, in only Lions’ fashion, he tries to make a comeback but fails his physical with a grade 3 hamstring injury! Name another franchise (besides maybe the Browns) that this stuff happens to on a regular basis!
Final Thoughts
Are you ready to throw in this team’s version of the terrible towel? With a 7-5 record and having still to face the Rams, Steelers, and Bears, the schedule doesn’t get any easier, making the game against the red-hot Cowboys even more critical. The current odds for the Lions to make the playoffs are 43%, which is chronically low for a team that was considered a Super Bowl favorite.
By now, we all know what Jared Goff is and can be. He is an elite pocket passer when he has time. The offensive line used to be a strength of the team, which now seems to be in shambles. Holmes also has to address the pass rush in the offseason, but before we get to that, they have five more games to make a playoff push.
The road to the dance may not be as easy as we thought it might be, but like my good friend Meg always says, “Keep your positive pants on, Detroit!” So is “Same Old Lions” dead? Or like The Undertaker, is it being resurrected once again? I have seen the Lions reach the NFC Championship before, in the early ’90s, and they had six playoff appearances in that decade alone. We may be in uncharted territory with the back-to-back division titles, but is this franchise destined to return to its old ways? Only time will tell!
