Last season, the Detroit Lions were considered a Super Bowl contender. However, the NFL gods decided to send the seven plagues to them by injuring key players like Aidan Hutchinson, Alex Anzalone, and Carlton Davis, just to mention a few. Now, with the 2025 season getting closer, one Pro Bowler from the team has said that they’re looking forward to get back on track.
Brian Branch, who played mostly as strong safety, spoke with Rainer Sabin of the Detroit Free Press. “We fought together in tough games. We have been in a game where it depended on us to win. So, it just makes everybody buy in. Once you have a group that has bought in and has gone through trials and tribulations, we feel invincible,” Branch said.
Selected to his first Pro Bowl, Branch added, “I feel like we’re better than last year. We’re hungry, and I feel that’s gonna separate us. Our chemistry is on a whole ‘nother level.” The message is loud and clear, they’re coming for everything.
Brian Branch might have forgotten something
While it’s something to admire, Brian Branch’s determination might’ve made him forget one key thing. Detroit lost both its coordinators and that is something that can actually affect a team. Ben Johnson went from offensive coordinator to Chicago Bears head coach. Aaron Glenn went from defensive coordinator to New York Jets head coach.
Few years ago, the Philadelphia Eagles went to the Super Bowl in a losing effort to the Kansas City Chiefs. They lost both of their then-coordinators, and next year, they took the toll on it. Now, they reformed and won the NFL ring last year, but it took readjustment.
Can the Lions still contend?
John Morton will take control of the offense following Ben Johnson‘s departure. He was the Denver Broncos’ passing game coordinator for the last two years. Now, he gets a big break on a stacked offensive roster. However, Johnson’s are big shoes to fill.
Kelvin Sheppard was promoted to be the Lions DC after being the linebackers coach for the past three years. Sheppard played eight years in the NFL as a linebacker and ended his career in 2018 after one year in Detroit.