Lions get eye-opening update in latest NFL ranking

The Detroit Lions have their work cut out for them after a difficult 2025 season, which ended in a 9-8 record and no trip to the playoffs, but they've switched up their coaching staff and are going at 2026 with a new look. Just one year ago, the Lions were on top of the world, and now, the team is being labeled as one that needs a comeback, but Detroit is used to being the underdog, so it's all good.

Going into the new season, Aaron Schatz of ESPN has released his tally of the NFL's most likely turnarounds for 2026. The Lions are included on the list, and fans will like their spot.

Lions deemed the NFL team with the best chance for a comeback in 2026

In the piece, Schatz names the Lions the team with the No. 1 best chance of a successful comeback during the 2026 season. It's not close, either. Schatz says the team has "by far the best odds to go from worst to first" because of three reasons: "schedule, injuries and they weren't really that bad last season."

"Yes, there are questions about the interior offensive line, but this is a team that has ranked among the league's top eight offenses for four straight seasons," he notes in the piece. "The defense also has excellent talent, and DVOA ranked the Lions in the top 10 for all three phases of the game in both 2024 and 2025."

Of the three factors, the easier schedule, impact of injuries and being a solid team, the middle one is what means the most. If the Lions can stay injury-free and also get some decent play calls, especially on offense, they could certainly be unstoppable this season.