The Final Week of the 2025 NFL Season for the Detroit Lions

As the 2025 NFL season comes to a close, the Detroit Lions will face the Chicago Bears in a Week 18 matchup at Soldier Field. This game is particularly significant as it marks the end of the Lions’ campaign, while the Bears are heading into the playoffs. For the Lions, this final contest serves as both a chance to reflect on their performance and a moment of painful realization—Chicago will experience playoff football, while Detroit’s reign as champions of the NFC North has come to an end.

One of the more bitter aspects of this game is that the Bears are now led by Ben Johnson, who was once the offensive coordinator for the Lions. Meanwhile, his successor in Detroit, John Morton, had his play-calling responsibilities reduced by head coach Dan Campbell in Week 10. This shift in leadership adds another layer of complexity to the Lions’ struggles this season.

Dan Campbell Identifies the Biggest Weakness in the Lions’ Performance

When asked about what he believes was the biggest weakness in the Lions’ 2025 season, Coach Dan Campbell was straightforward. He pointed to the team’s ground game as a critical area of concern.

“It’s everything,” Campbell said regarding the run game. “There’s a lot of things that go into it. And do I have a couple of ideas? Maybe right now, but I need some time here. I need time to really sit down and think about all this. But what we do know is one way or another probably change is inevitable.”

Campbell hinted that there may be changes coming to the organization after he has had time to reflect on the season’s challenges. However, he emphasized that any adjustments would likely be minimal, stating, “Now, it may not be much, but there will be something that’ll change.”

Morton, who will remain with the team for at least one more game, also acknowledged the importance of the run game. He stated, “It’s always been a big emphasis every single week, the run game and trying to get it going.” However, he admitted that the team sometimes found itself in difficult situations where they had to rely heavily on passing plays.

“We all have our hand in all of this, so it’s just a little bit of everything,” Morton added.

The Lions, who had one of the most effective rushing attacks in 2024, saw a dramatic decline in their performance this season. Their rushing attack fell to one of the worst-ranked in the league, highlighting the need for improvement in this area.

Offensive Line Concerns

Another key area of concern for the Lions is their offensive line. Throughout the season, the unit was plagued by injuries, which significantly weakened their depth. Additionally, the retirement of four-time Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow further complicated matters.

According to Campbell, the offensive line is one of the areas he plans to focus on in the off-season. “I’d probably start with the O-line,” he said. “Just want to see—and just a tick more, just a little bit better. See if we can polish some things up, work together, work our combinations just a little bit.”

Detroit’s offensive line, currently ranked 20th in run block win rate and 31st in pass block win rate, has struggled throughout the season. In 16 games, the unit has allowed a total of 36 sacks, which underscores the need for improvement.

With only one game left in the regular season, the Lions will look to finish strong while preparing for the challenges ahead. As they move forward, the focus will likely remain on strengthening their run game and rebuilding a more cohesive offensive line.