Five reasons the Lions are no longer Super Bowl contenders

This latest underwhelming performance is a continuation of what has been an up-and-down season for the Lions, who have not been nearly as dominant as in their 15-win 2024 season.

Here are five reasons why the Lions are no longer in the inner circle of NFC contenders.

1. The loss of Sam LaPorta

Though Gibbs and St. Brown garner most of the attention of both fans and opposing defenses, tight end Sam LaPorta has played a critical role in the offense as a safety net for quarterback Jared Goff. Losing the 24-year-old tight end to season-ending back surgery has had an immediate effect on the offense, as backup Brock Wright is not nearly as dynamic a playmaker. After posting a passer rating of 117.7 over his first nine games, Goff has seen that figure drop to 76.7 over the last two contests since LaPorta went down. LaPorta’s absence only puts more pressure on St. Brown to carry the passing attack, and if a team can take away the two-time All-Pro like the Philadelphia Eagles did in Week 11, the Lions will struggle to consistently move the ball through the air.

2. Jared Goff’s outdoor struggles

While Goff has been a steady, if unspectacular, signal-caller during his time with the Lions, he has been far more effective in a domed environment like Ford Field than outdoors. This is especially true in cold-weather situations, as evident with his dismal outing in Philadelphia in Week 11, where he completed just 37.8 percent of his passes and looked uncomfortable pushing the ball downfield. Barring a miraculous run to the top seed in the NFC, the Lions will be forced to win playoff games on the to reach the Super Bowl, potentially including trips to frigid Chicago, Green Bay or Philadelphia.

3.  The decline of David Montgomery

A key aspect of the Lions' success over the last two years was the “Sonic and Knuckles” running back combination of Gibbs and David Montgomery. While Gibbs was the more dynamic and explosive playmaker, Montgomery would help the Lions salt away late leads with his physical style of running and tallied 25 rushing touchdowns over that span. This season, however, Montgomery has not been nearly as effective or consistent, as he has tallied just five rushing touchdowns and totaled 30 rushing yards or less on six separate occasions. The last two games have seen him receive just 11 rushing attempts, a sign that the Lions may be moving away from their once offensive-defining combination.

4.  A lack of consistency

As explosive and flashy as the 2024 Lions were, they were also remarkably consistent. Their only two losses were one-score defeats to the eventual division champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills, meaning they had a legitimate chance to win all 17 games they played. While the 2025 Lions have certainly had some dominant performances, they have also turned in their fair share of clunkers, whether it be a home loss to J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings, a disastrous Week 1 blowout in Green Bay or even their most recent performance against the lowly Giants. They may have once again avoided consecutive losses, securing victories after all four of their defeats, but their inability to string a series of well-rounded performances together could haunt them come January.

5. The strength of the NFC

While the Lions have taken a step back across the board in 2025, their NFC rivals appear even more daunting. The Los Angeles Rams offense has been unstoppable with the addition of Davante Adams, and the Seattle Seahawks have taken off with new quarterback Sam Darnold. Both of the Lions’ NFC North rivals have taken steps forward with the Packers acquiring Micah Parsons and the Bears hiring Ben Johnson. And even though the Eagles have had a chaotic season offensively, they still have a defense that can match up with anyone, as the Lions just saw firsthand. Simply put, the gap between the Lions and the NFC North hasn’t just closed, it has evaporated, and they will need to make significant adjustments to have a chance of making their first Super Bowl.