The Detroit Lions have experienced a thrilling resurgence that reflects the revitalization of their city. Unfortunately, a return to disappointing football might be on the horizon.

The top seed in the NFC playoffs faced a shocking defeat on Saturday night, losing 45-31 at Ford Field to the Washington Commanders. What began as a season filled with promise, potentially leading to the team’s first Super Bowl appearance, has now turned into an unimaginable disappointment.

The Lions struggled to regain control, unable to defend against the emerging talent of Washington’s Jayden Daniels and an offense that only had to punt once, compounded by multiple mistakes, including five turnovers while the Commanders had none.

“We just didn’t perform well enough. We didn’t support each other – I felt that way going into halftime, and it really never improved,” lamented Detroit head coach Dan Campbell, visibly affected by the defeat during his postgame press conference.

In the end, the coach, known for his emotional honesty, could barely say: “It’s my fault.”

Whether that statement holds weight, it might not be the most troubling aspect.

In the days ahead, Detroit’s coordinators – Ben Johnson (offense) and Aaron Glenn (defense) – are likely to pursue head coaching positions elsewhere in the NFL. Johnson, who has turned down multiple opportunities in the past, is expected to be a hot commodity this coaching cycle, taking with him the foundation of his explosive offense. While Glenn’s defense struggled against the Commanders, his ability to motivate and strategize was evident in how far the Lions progressed despite numerous injuries to key players, including Aidan Hutchinson and Amik Robertson.

“I hope he doesn’t leave, but he’s an outstanding coach,” Pro Bowl defensive back Brian Branch stated on NFL Network’s “The Insiders” when discussing the possibility of Glenn’s departure.

Beyond tactical skills, both Glenn and Johnson have played crucial roles in establishing the team’s culture. This includes the grit that Campbell frequently highlights, the toughness evident across the roster, and the confidence displayed by the offense—qualities that have made this Lions team unique in recent memory.

This isn’t merely a subjective observation either.

The Lions have clinched the NFC North title for two consecutive seasons—something they had never achieved until the 2023 season. The team secured the conference’s top seed for the first time and also recorded a remarkable 15 wins in the regular season, the most in franchise history. Furthermore, they scored a record-breaking 564 points with a key differential of 222.

Simply put, the Lions have never been more engaging nor enjoyable for fans in Detroit to support.

While Campbell and his staff may not be starting over completely in 2025—with standout players like Hutchinson and Alim McNeill returning—they also didn’t secure that elusive Lombardi Trophy. Last season’s mistakes, particularly Campbell’s controversial choices in the NFC championship game against the San Francisco 49ers, have also haunted him, especially after relinquishing a 17-point lead.

Quarterback Jared Goff regretted a pivotal first-half interception to Quan Martin that deepened the Lions’ deficit just before halftime.

“That was just a poor decision on my part,” he admitted.

The Lions’ five turnovers directly led to three touchdowns for Washington, with two more occurring at the ends of each half.

Goff added, “If I had performed better, could we have won? Possibly. That’s something I’ll struggle with all offseason.”

But teams that push boundaries—like the Lions with their constant fourth-down attempts and unconventional plays—often face repercussions.

“Unfortunate, obviously. It’s hard. You hate to feel like you’ve let your teammates down, especially at home,” Goff said, who fumbled and threw three interceptions, one frustratingly in the end zone during a critical drive intended to narrow the lead to 31-28.

“Words can’t truly express it.”

However, perhaps the harshest truth is this: This could have been the peak for this team.

Franchises like the Lions sometimes experience sudden success but often struggle to sustain it. Think back to the Cleveland Browns, who lost two AFC championship games, or Rex Ryan’s New York Jets, who haven’t made the playoffs since their run to the AFC Championship in 2009-2010. The once-promising Jacksonville Jaguars faltered with Blake Bortles on board, and the Houston Texans. well, that’s another story.

For the past four years, Campbell has been a formidable leader for the Lions, and if anyone can address the emerging issues in the foundation he’s built, it’s him.

“He’s our cornerstone, truly,” Goff said about his coach, feeling the weight of letting him down after the loss.

“We draw fuel from his passion and energy. He believes in us, and he cares about us.”

Fortunately for the Lions and their supporters, Campbell is not going anywhere. However, maintaining continuity—often a crucial and overlooked element for success in the NFL—will present a significant challenge, especially with the potential loss of key assistants like Johnson and Glenn, especially in a division where two teams have also secured playoff berths this season. Now, the Lions share the same fate as the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, who are also one-and-done postseason teams.

“At the end of the day, I didn’t have them prepared,” Campbell reflected.

This will likely become even more challenging in the forthcoming months, and possibly for years to come.

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Follow YSL News Sports’ Nate Davis on X, previously Twitter, @ByNateDavis.