Following the trade that sent Montgomery to the Houston Texans, Gibbs has become the undisputed RB1. However, “Sonic” may be eyeing a more versatile role than a traditional lead back.

Dan Campbell hinted during the NFL owners’ meetings that Gibbs’ unique talents could be utilized all over the field. He revealed that the team is even considering lining the young star up at wide receiver to maximize his explosive playmaking ability.

“Gibbs, we didn’t view Gibbs as a runner, he was a weapon,” Campbell said. “We felt like Gibbs, this guy is gonna explode. Yes, he’s a runner, he can run all schemes, he can run inside, outside, the perimeters, but he also can be lethal out of the backfield, and we’re not even there yet. We feel like this guy can play some receiver. He’s dynamic and he’s a difference-maker. They don’t come around often.”

A new chapter for the Lions’ offense

There is no doubt that Dan Campbell has revitalized the Lions, but 2025 proved to be a challenging season. Following the exit of Ben Johnson last year, the offense lost the creative spark that had previously made the unit one of the league’s most feared.

After a disappointing stint under John Morton, the Lions moved on and named Drew Petzing as the new offensive coordinator. There are high hopes for Petzing, especially given the wealth of talent at his disposal and his history of creative personnel grouping.

With Campbell confirming that Gibbs could feature prominently as a receiver, it is clear that Petzing is exploring new schematic variations to jumpstart the offense. However, matching the efficiency and production seen under Ben Johnson’s guidance remains a tall order.

A new RB duo in Detroit

Following the Montgomery trade, the Lions moved quickly to bolster their backfield by signing free agent Isiah Pacheco to a one-year, $1.81 million deal. Pacheco is slated to serve as the RB2, with the hope that he can recapture the high-energy form he displayed during his championship years with the Kansas City Chiefs.

While Pacheco is regarded as a physical, downhill runner, his recent injury history has raised some concerns among the fanbase. However, if he can remain healthy, the Lions may once again possess one of the most intimidating backfield duos in the NFL.

Upon his arrival, David Montgomery made a bold promise to the Texans regarding his future performance. However, he hasn’t forgotten his past, especially his experience playing under Dan Campbell.

The running back spoke about his move to Houston, which took him by surprise. Nevertheless, he accepted the trade gladly, noting that Dan Campbell continually praised Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans.

“When I was in Detroit, Coach Campbell would talk about Coach Ryans all the time,” Montgomery said in a video uploaded by the Texans. “When we had joint practices or he was talking about another coach, he always would talk about Coach Ryans. So now, to be under him and see, and be a part of it now, I’m super excited. I couldn’t think of a more ideal place to be.”

The Texans are building something solid

Last season, Houston managed to secure a Wild Card spot despite the various struggles the team faced throughout the year. They even advanced to the Divisional Round, where they eventually lost to the New England Patriots.

Despite falling short of a title, their performance during the 2025 NFL season surprised many, especially considering the lack of a consistent rushing attack. With Montgomery now in the backfield, that dynamic is set to change significantly.

David Montgomery is slated to become the RB1, with Joe Mixon and Nick Chubb no longer with the club. Woody Marks, who had a solid rookie season while Mixon and Chubb were unavailable, will serve as his backup.

Is Stefon Diggs returning to the Texans?

Following his release from the Patriots, fans are wondering whether Stefon Diggs might return to the Texans. He is currently a free agent, and while many clubs have already signed other wide receivers, Diggs remains on the market.

While Nico Collins is a standout receiver, the recent departure of Christian Kirk to the San Francisco 49ers has raised questions about whether the club should pursue Diggs to build a stronger receiving corps for C.J. Stroud.

Securing a win at Soldier Field won’t be easy, making St. Brown’s presence a potentially significant boost for the team in such a hostile environment. Fortunately, Dan Campbell seems to have some good news on that front.

While the NFL’s official site initially listed the wide receiver as questionable for the Week 18 matchup, multiple reports—including one from The Detroit Times—indicate that Amon-Ra St. Brown is expected to play against the Bears.

The injury that has been troubling St. Brown

Amon-Ra St. Brown has been battling a combination of injuries that began during the Detroit Lions‘ Thanksgiving Day game against the Green Bay Packers. During the first quarter of that matchup, he suffered a low-ankle sprain when a defender rolled up on the back of his leg while he was engaged in a block.

Although he managed to play through the discomfort in subsequent weeks, his condition was further complicated by knee pain following a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and a hard hit late in the Christmas Day game against the Minnesota Vikings.

The impact of Amon-Ra St. Brown on the field

Despite the Detroit Lions’ disappointing 2025 season and their recent elimination from playoff contention following a Week 17 loss to the Vikings, Amon-Ra St. Brown has remained the undisputed engine of the team’s offense.

His undeniable chemistry with quarterback Jared Goff has reached new heights, as he has hauled in 106 receptions for 1,262 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns, averaging 11.9 yards per catch.

Even as the team struggled with a late-season slide, Goff continued to lean on St. Brown as his most trusted “chain-mover” and red-zone target, cementing the “Sun God” as one of the most productive and consistent receivers in the NFL today.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Dan Campbell will search for a new offensive coordinator during the offseason. Campbell took over play-calling duties from OC John Morton in Week 10 after the Lions suffered a huge loss at home to the Vikings where the offense looked lackluster.

The Lions had a top-tier offense statistically, ranking sixth in total yards and third in points. However, they didn’t look as smooth, powerful, explosive, and creative as they looked in years prior. With Morton, the team lacked the ability to adjust. With Campbell, the offense look more creative but still predictable.

There is one key for the Lions

The Lions went 0-7 in the games where they ran for less than 100 yards. It’s too predictable. If teams want to stop the Lions, they need to stop the run. Last season, the Lions fell short of 100 rushing yards just twice. The lack of use of David Montgomery and instead using Jahmyr Gibbs as the workhorse didn’t pan out well this season. The Lions turned a deadly duo into a one-man backfield, burning it out in the process.

This also meant the passing game was limited to some degree. Much was said during the start of the season about the lack of use of wideout Jamison Williams. Between Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown, they add 2,326 yards and 18 touchdowns. Jahmyr Gibbs also had a similar output that what he had in 2024. However, in 2024, Montgomery was third on the team in scrimmage yards with 1,116 and had 12 touchdowns. In 2025, he fell to 853 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns.

The Lions must also look at the defensive side

While much has been said about the offense, the defense also might need improvements. The defense ranks 18 in yards allowed and 23rd in points allowed. The team was involved in plenty of shootouts.

Situationally, it wasn’t good. Detroit ranks 18th in red zone defense, and eleventh on opponent third down conversion rate. When in shootouts, a team at least needs good situational defense, and that is not the case.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, there is a possibility and it “could make a lot of sense” for the team to bring a new offensive coordinator to take the role of John Morton. Morton failed to deliver on Ben Johnson’s level and the Lions suffered because of it.

Dan Campbell is a no non-sense coach and will do whatever it takes to win. After all, the Lions are too talented to not be able to have a top three offense in the NFL. The Lions went from first in scoring offense (33.2 ppg) in 2024 to fourth (28.9 ppg) in 2025.

The offense also suffered midseason changes

John Morton was given the playcalling duties at the start of the season but that role was taken away from him midseason due to offensive woes. Dan Campbell took the reigns from there.

John Morton might have his days numbered as OC of the Lions. Among this season’s most baffling things is how running back David Montgomery slipped on his production and how little they’ve used rookie WR Isaac TeSlaa. The offense needs another creative playcaller for 2026.

Defense should be on the spot too

Aaron Glenn also departed, so Kelvin Sheppard stepped into the defensive coordinator role. The Lions are the 23rd-ranked scoring defense in the NFL allowing 24.8 points per game.

With how vulnerable the defense has looked this year, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Dan Campbell looking for a new DC too. In the end, he wants to delegate and focus completely on how the game is played, instead of babysitting his coordinators every single game.

As Colton Pouncy of The Athletic noted on X, a third-place schedule would send the Lions on the road to face the Rams, while also hosting the Colts and Commanders. Sliding to fourth, however, would line up road games against the Cardinals and home matchups with the Titans and Giants, a far softer path on paper.

Pouncy also wrote in his post, “Curious if the Lions rest some veterans in the season finale to secure a fourth-place schedule,” raising the possibility that Campbell could be willing to give backups deeper on the depth chart extended opportunities rather than pushing for a win in that game.

The Lions’ 2026 schedule

Much of the Lions’ 2026 schedule is already known, with only three games still to be determined. As Pouncy outlined in his post on X, the most favorable outcome for Detroit would be adding the Cardinals, Titans, and Giants to the schedule.

Of course, there is no guarantee those teams will remain at the bottom. The Cardinals are closing the 2025 season with a poor record that includes more than 10 losses, and both the Titans and Giants are in similar positions, though New York is widely expected to struggle again. Arizona, however, could be a different story, particularly with Kyler Murray, who remains one of the league’s more unpredictable quarterbacks.

How many times has Campbell missed the playoffs?

The 2025 season will mark the third time Dan Campbell has missed the playoffs with the Lions. His first two seasons, 2021 and 2022, ended without a postseason appearance, before the team enjoyed a strong run beginning in 2023. After a relatively promising start to 2025, with five wins in the first eight weeks, expectations were that Detroit would return to the postseason but that never materialized.

“I’m gonna be looking at a lot of things because I do not like being home for the playoffs and I know our guys don’t either. Whenever you lose it takes a village. Everybody’s involved, including myself. I’m always going to look at myself first.” Campbell then said, “Brad [the Lions GM] and I will have a lot of decisions to make, a lot of things to look at. How do we improve? Because we need to improve.”

The departure of both coordinators really hampered the team. The Lions had ups and downs this season, but it seems like the downs were much heavier. The team will have to restructure way too much stuff.

Week 17 was a plagued match for the Lions

When the Vikings announced third-string quarterback Max Brosmer was about to start, it must’ve felt like a Christmas gift for the Lions, but then tragedy struck. The Lions lost 23-10 and it wasn’t because of Brosmer. In fact, Brosmer completed just nine passes for 51 yards. However, there were self-inflicted wounds that cost the Lions the game and hence, their playoff status.

Four fumbles and two interceptions will cost any team a game and the Lions were the only ones responsible to lose the game. Dan Campbell knows it. This ended up being one of the most disappointing teams of the season.

The Lions might have to change from within

While the coordinators might need to change with new faces outside of the franchise, there are some things that could get better from within. For instance, there is no explanation as to why David Montgomery fell so much in the offense. Then, why haven’t they used rookie wideout Isaac TeSlaa much in the offense despite his obvious talent. Changes must be made first from inside the building, and then elsewhere.

Brian Branch tore his Achilles during his latest outing, and the safety will miss the rest of the season alongside his teammates. Despite this serious setback, the coach remains confident in the options he has to replace him.

“We’re good, man. . . . We got options here, but it’s like anything — you lose a good player, it hurts,” the head coach said during his Monday press conference. “But it’s not like we’re in dire straits.”

His natural replacement on the gridiron was Kerby Joseph, who is recovering from a knee injury, but there was also the possibility of Thomas Harper stepping into the role, although he is currently in the concussion protocol. As the days go by, Campbell will determine how to replace the safety.

Detroit’s playoff hopes

Just when it seemed all was lost, the latest victory over the Cowboys puts the Detroit Lions back in the hunt for a Wild Card spot. According to the NFL’s official site, the team currently has a 51% chance of making the playoffs ahead of Week 15.

What’s next for the Lions?

The Detroit Lions face a challenging closing stretch of the regular season that will significantly impact their playoff seeding. Their schedule features a tough road trip to face the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, December 14th. They then return home to Ford Field to host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, December 21st.

The Lions will finish their crucial December run with a Christmas Day road game against a divisional rival, the Minnesota Vikings, on Thursday, December 25th. Their final regular-season game is scheduled on the road against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, January 4th, with the game time to be determined. This sequence of games, including two road trips and a division rivalry, will be a major test of their postseason aspirations.

With only a few games left, the Lions no longer control their own path to the playoffs. Despite the adversity, Campbell has urged his roster to reach peak performance as they make one final push.

“It takes every guy that we have doing their job,” Dan Campbell said. “The margin for error is small, but it’s doable. We can do it. We’ve got to eliminate the things that keep us from winning before we can win the game. Before you start battling against the opponent you’ve got to stop battling against yourself.”

A complicated ending for Detroit

Detroit has dropped several games that many fans had counted as wins before the 2025 NFL season began. Those losses have made the playoff picture much tighter, and the team is now doing the math to see whether a postseason berth is still within reach.

At 7-5, the Lions currently sit as the 7th seed in the NFC and remain in the hunt. The Bears hold the No. 1 seed at 9-3, while the Packers occupy a Wild Card spot with an 8-3-1 record.

The final stretch will not be easy. Detroit is set to face the Cowboys, Rams, Steelers, Vikings, and Bears. Of those matchups, only the game against Minnesota is widely viewed as winnable, unless Detroit pulls off a surprise.

While the Lions need help from other teams, winning most of their remaining games would greatly boost their playoff chances. If they fall short, their streak of two straight postseason appearances may come to an end.

The talent Matt LaFleur has at his disposal is undeniable—especially on offense, where playmakers like Jordan Love and Josh Jacobs headline the unit. However, according to recent comments from Dan Campbell, the player to watch is Micah Parsons.

“We know he’s a dynamic player, he’s a dynamic rusher,” the head coach said in a recent interview. “This guy plays hard, he’s got a quick first step, he’s powerful, he’s quick.”

Campbell also added: “You see him club the tight end, nudges him, already beats that. Then the tackle engages him, then the slide comes to him, the guard gets on him and he beats both of them. And that’s just it. If you’re going to use that many resources, you have to stop this guy. And he’ll just keep coming.”

Parsons’ impact on the Packers’ defense

Micah Parsons, having joined the Green Bay Packers in the latest offseason, has continued to establish himself as one of the league’s elite defensive players. Through 11 games (10 starts) of the 2025 season with Green Bay, Parsons has accumulated 30 total tackles, including 14 solo tackles and 16 assisted tackles.

His pass-rushing dominance is evident with 10.0 sacks and 9 tackles for loss (TFL). Additionally, he has recorded 1 forced fumble in his tenure with the Packers. These statistics demonstrate Parsons’ immediate and significant impact on the Green Bay defense since his arrival.

A pivotal showdown for Detroit and Green Bay

The annual Thanksgiving clash between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers is absolutely crucial for the NFC North title race. With both teams competing fiercely for the division crown, this game offers more than just a win; it provides a vital tiebreaker advantage.

A Packers victory would complete the season sweep, giving them a significant head-to-head edge over the Lions. Conversely, a win for the Lions would level the standings and keep them firmly in the hunt, preventing Green Bay from gaining a major path to the division title. This holiday contest is essentially a playoff game with massive implications for the postseason.

The move came after signs of disconnect between Morton and the players. Reporters noticed Campbell holding the play sheet and communicating directly through the headset during the Lions’ latest game. As Mike Garafolo wrote, “Campbell appears to have taken over offensive play calling, which he indicated was possible.”

At halftime, Campbell told FOX, “It’s just a changeup, we wanted to mix things up. Everyone is still involved.” Despite the shift, he emphasized Morton’s importance to the team. “John is vital to me,” Campbell explained. “He’s all team, man. That’s all he cares about. He just wants to win.”

Lions offense comes alive under Campbell’s call

The results spoke volumes. In Campbell’s first game calling plays, the Lions exploded for 44 points, 226 rushing yards, and 320 passing yards, totaling 546 yards of offense in a 44–22 win over the Washington Commanders. It was a dominant showing that immediately reignited optimism in Detroit.

While the win came against a Washington team missing quarterback Jayden Daniels, the offensive rhythm was undeniable. The Lions looked confident, creative, and balanced, everything they’d been missing in recent weeks. Campbell’s influence was clear from the opening drive.

Detroit’s expectations remain high. Campbell’s willingness to adapt and take control could be exactly what this team needs to push deeper into January. And if the offense keeps rolling like this, it might be hard to hand the play sheet back.