Week 1 of the regular season is here, so it’s time for a quick offseason refresher and Week 1 preview for all four teams in the NFC North:
DETROIT
2024 record: 15-2 (division champions)
Week 1 opponent: at Green Bay, Sept. 7, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
2025 strength of schedule: T-2nd (165-124 opponent record last season & includes 11 2024 playoff teams)
New faces: CB D.J. Reed, DL Tyleik Williams, G Tate Ratledge, WR Isaac TeSlaa, LB Grant Stuard, DB Rock Ya-Sin, DB Avonte Maddox, DL Roy Lopez
Key losses: C Frank Ragnow (retirement), CB Carlton Davis, DL Levi Onwuzurike (IR)
Breakout player to watch: WR Jameson Williams
Some might ask how a receiver who had his first 1,000-yard season in 2024 with seven touchdowns could be a breakout candidate in 2025. Williams has had such an impressive spring and training camp that he has the potential to blow those numbers out of the water. New offensive coordinator John Morton has given Williams run of the entire route tree and he made plays all over the field in camp. If opponents don’t double Williams, especially on those deep routes, beware.
Most significant change: Two new coordinators
Dan Campbell was a bit spoiled the last three seasons having so much continuity at the coordinator spots. But with Ben Johnson getting the head coaching job in Chicago and Aaron Glenn with the Jets, for the first time since 2022 the Lions head into a season with a new coordinator. Morton was on staff in 2022 when Detroit built this offense around quarterback Jared Goff. He knows the system and personnel very well as he takes over as OC. Kelvin Sheppard has been preparing to take over the defense for a couple years now and his ascension to the DC role seems seamless so far.
Twentyman: With the start of the season right around the corner, a lot of people have asked me how good I think this Lions team can be in 2025. I tell them they can be a better football team than last year but could lose more games, if that makes sense. Let me explain.
We know how good the offense can be with all the weapons. I don’t see much drop-off there, if at all, with Morton stepping in. Where Detroit could make their biggest gains is on defense. It’s the best defense I’ve seen in camp in my 16 years covering the team. The secondary looks especially good.
The Lions have the second toughest schedule in the NFL with road games in Baltimore, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Washington, and LA Rams. Not to mention the division slate. Campbell is hoping the tough schedule hardens the team for a playoff run come January and hopefully February.